Nana Patekar’s portrayal of Uday Shetty in “Welcome” left a lasting impression. Anees Bazmee, the filmmaker, shared on “The Kapil Sharma Show” how he persuaded the serious actor to take on the comedic role. Bazmee recounted Nana’s condition of vouching for the film’s suitability without hearing the script.
Bazmee assured Nana that the script could be narrated in 3 hours, 30 minutes, or even 3 minutes. After a lengthy narration, Nana embraced the project, stating, “I am like raw clay, will come to your set, shape me however you like.” Bazmee expressed admiration for Nana’s comedic talent and the experience of working with him in “Welcome.”
The film, released in 2007, featured a star-studded cast including Anil Kapoor, Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif, Paresh Rawal, and Mallika Sherawat. Notably, Feroz Khan made his final screen appearance in the movie before his passing in 2009. “Welcome” drew inspiration from the 1999 English comedy “Mickey Blue Eyes” and spawned a successful sequel, “Welcome Back,” in 2015. The franchise continued with “Welcome to the Jungle,” released in June 2021.
