Munna Bhai team enters Welcome 3—Anil, Nana out!

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Even as the future of the third sequel to Hera Pheri is under a cloud, another comedy franchise too has some hiccups by way of change. Majnu-bhai (Anil Kapoor) and Uday Shetty (Nana Patekar) are reportedly out of Welcome 3, and the director too is not final!

Anees Bazmee had directed the first two films, the 2007 super-hit featuring Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif, Mallika Sherawat, Feroz Khan and (in a cameo) Suniel Shetty, and also Welcome Back, in which John Abraham was cast and Akshay was out. Of late, Anees has been announcing diverse movies after Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, including No Entry Mein Entry (the sequel to his 2005 topper, No Entry), but none are anywhere near taking off. It is also unlikely that he will helm Welcome 3, as he had problems with producer Firoz Nadiadwala during Welcome Back (2015) itself.

As per a film portal, Pinkvilla, Sanjay Dutt and Arshad Warsi, best known together as Munna Bhai and Circuit from the Munna Bhai franchise (about whose third part too, we have been hearing rumors for ages!) have signed on for this franchise, not in their Munna Bhai roles but as Uday and Majnu respectively!! The reason for Anil’s and Nana’s exit is said to be remuneration, which was not acceptable to the senior actors.

Meanwhile, it is reported also that Akshay will be back in the franchise, but shooting will begin only after he completes work on Jolly LLB 3 and Housefull 5!

Buzz also is that Suniel Shetty just might join the cast, which also means that Akshay and Suniel Shetty will be back on screen after a long, long time—Thank You (2011) was their last film together, though he had made a cameo in Akshay’s home production, The Shaukeens (2014).

Hindi Comedy films into a franchise (CAPITALS indicate Success / Hit)

BHEJA FRY, Bheja Fry 2 (2007-2011)

DHAMAAL, DOUBLE DHAMAAL, TOTAL DHAMAAL (2007-2019)

GOLMAAL—FUN UNLIMITED, GOLMAAL RETURNS, GOLMAAL 3, GOLMAAL AGAIN (2006-2017)

HERA PHERI, PHIR HERA PHERI  (2000-2006)

HOUSEFULL, HOUSEFULL 2, HOUSEFULL 3, HOUSEFULL 4 (2010-2019)

HUNGAMA, Hungama 2 (2003-2021)

MAALAMAAL WEEKLY, Kamaal  (2006-2012)

MASTI, GRAND MASTI, Great Grand Masti (2004-2016)

MUNNA BHAI MBBS, LAGE RAHO MUNNA BHAI (2003-2006)

WELCOME, WELCOME BACK (2007-2015)

STREE, STREE 2 (Forthcoming) (2018-2023)—Horror Comedy