Farhad Samji on Akshay Kumar and Welcome To The Jungle (Photos: Akshay Kumar, Farhad Samji / Instagram)Akshay Kumar’s Welcome To The Jungle earned Rs 186.58 crores worldwide. While the film became a commercial success, it was critically panned for various reasons. Many internet users also gave the film mixed reviews, sharing that the second half of the film was very slow and crowded, and also borrowed heavily from Ben Stiller’s Tropic Thunder. Now, in an exclusive interview with SCREEN, the film’s writer, Farhad Samji, shared his views on these opinions and also recalled how he built on late Neeraj Vohra’s vision.Farhad Samji on how he developed Neeraj Vohra’s vision for Welcome To The JungleAt the film’s trailer launch event, director Ahmed Khan had revealed how the late Neeraj Vohra had written the screenplay for Welcome To The Jungle. After Neeraj died in 2017, Farhad Samji took over to write the dialogues and do the characterization. Talking about how he took over what Neeraj had imagined, Farhad shared, “Neeraj Vohra gave some of the biggest hits of his time. As a writer, I connected with him during Bol Bachchan. He was acting in that film, and as writers, we would keep sharing ideas. This idea about Welcome To The Jungle was told to me by Firoz sir; they wanted me to write the dialogues. After Golmaals and Housefulls, dialogues have become very important. It took time, but everything fell into place. For three and a half years, we were shooting, narrating, and working on the film; it was not an easy process.”Also Read: ‘I could’ve made Welcome to the Jungle for Rs 75 cr, was a hit before release’: Ahmed KhanHe further shared that if he made any changes to the screenplay, Neeraj had developed. “There were no changes I had to make. I specialize in characterization — Kiran Kumar’s dialogue delivery, Farida Jalal’s character, and Johnny Lever going mute while talking; all these I incorporated. There was pressure as the film stars 34 actors; you have a relationship with all of them. I have done 13 films with Akshay, with Johnny Lever, and Arshad. I have collaborated on 18-19 films. What worked for me was transparency.”Farhad on how Akshay Kumar reacted to the ‘flop actor sequence’In the film, Akshay plays the character of a Bhojpuri actor who has delivered a series of flops. While many related this to Akshay’s recent string of duds, the actor took the pun with a pinch of salt. Recalling how the actor reacted to this sequence, Farhad said, “I had gone to London to narrate Welcome’s first draft to Akshay, where he was shooting for Khel Khel Mein. I was also curious to know how he would react to the flop actor sequence, as he plays a flop actor whose 14 films have tanked. He jumped at it and said that was the best line of the whole sequence. He knew the situation in the film demanded that; it was not a joke on him.”In a few other sequences, the film takes a light-hearted peek into the dark realities of the industry. Whether it is producers using black money to make films or actors’ demands for vanity vans. Discussing if it was a conscious effort to add such references in the story, Farhad said, “Having a take on the black money sequence or vanity van discussion was not our first criterion; it was Neeraj Vohra’s screenplay that we were working on and adding laughter to it. In Welcome to the Jungle, we knew this world had producers, vanity vans, etc. Firoz Nadiadwala, me, and Ahmed Khan have been around for 25 years; these discussions happen, fights over vanity vans happen, so why not put it? But the idea was not to put a scene because we wanted to have a take on it; these sequences were like adding masala to the story. We wrote 20-25 drafts, sat multiple times before sequences, and made changes before every schedule as per the actors. We thought of the many ifs, buts, and other options.”Also Read | Welcome to the Jungle director claims film’s budget was Rs 125 cr, shot in 75 shiftsWelcome To The Jungle criticismWhile Welcome To The Jungle has done well at the box office, the audience has called the film’s second half weak. They complained that the film looked crowded; with many pointing out similarities to Tropic Thunder. Sharing his views, Farhad said, “Firoz still thinks the frame is empty. Ahmed and I were trying to explain to him that it was enough. He wanted to add more characters; he wanted actors from other states, too. We also had to be logical, so we had to have quantity in the scenes. I had not seen Tropic Thunder until I was told about the screenplay, and I worked on what was given to me. When I worked on the characters, even the second half of the story is different from Tropic Thunder. But what happens is, we play within some aspects, so similarities would be there, but we have tried to add freshness.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) Farhad also reflected on the challenges that come with writing today, especially when people get offended easily. He said, “Today, as a creative, there is a filter in the mind. While the first draft would have open thoughts, while revising it, some things have to be kept in mind. At times, even when we don’t have any such intention, somewhere, people get offended. So we have to keep a filter, but this kind of comedy was a no-brainer, and people didn’t scrutinize it. If someone is sitting to pick flaws its a different thing, but I don’t think the audience would do this. If I keep thinking about this, I won’t be able to write.”Story continues below this adOn the work front, Farhad is working on another 3-4 scripts and will soon announce his next directorial.Nawaz Javed Kochra is a seasoned entertainment journalist at The Indian Express Online, bringing nearly a decade of expertise to the forefront of cultural reporting. With a focus on the television and Over-The-Top (OTT) landscapes, he has established himself as a prominent voice in the industry, known for his high-profile celebrity interviews and insightful coverage of the Indian entertainment sector. Experience & Career Nawaz holds a Master of Arts in Communication and Journalism from Mumbai University, providing him with a rigorous academic and ethical foundation. In his 11-year career, he has navigated through several of India's leading media houses, building a portfolio that spans digital, print, and broadcast media: The Indian Express: Currently leads coverage of TV and OTT content, producing both written analysis and popular video interview segments. Former Roles: He began his career at the iconic Stardust Magazine and later held key positions at Zoom TV, Zee Multimedia, MissMalini, Bollywood Bubble, and Raindrop Media. Expertise & Focus Areas Nawaz’s beat is characterized by a blend of exclusive access and trend analysis. His core areas of expertise include: Reality Television: Specialized coverage of major franchises like Bigg Boss, providing behind-the-scenes insights and winner profiles. OTT Ecosystem: Tracking the shift from traditional cable to digital streaming platforms, with a focus on web series and digital premieres. Celebrity Profiles & Interviews: Nawaz is celebrated for his ability to foster candid conversations with industry stalwarts, from music composers like Amaal Mallik to other TV legends. Investigative Entertainment News: Reporting on sensitive industry developments, including legal disputes and personal stories of resilience within the acting community. Authoritativeness & Trust With a reputation built on years of networking and credible reporting, Nawaz Kochra is a "known face" in the Mumbai media circuit. His work at The Indian Express adheres to the publication's "Journalism of Courage" standard, ensuring that even entertainment reporting is approached with accuracy, sensitivity, and transparency. His educational background and extensive tenure across diverse media platforms provide him with the authoritative perspective required to analyze the rapid evolution of Indian show business. ... 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