Nana Patekar On NOT Being A Part Of Welcome 3: 'Unko Lagta Hai Hum Purane Ho Gaye'

Actor Nana Patekar, who is eagerly anticipating the release of his highly anticipated film "The Vaccine War," recently responded to his absence from the cast of "Welcome 3 (Welcome To The Jungle)." The official announcement video for the film, which stars Akshay Kumar, was shared by the filmmakers a few days ago, and noticeably, Nana Patekar was not included.

Following the video's release, many social media users expressed their disappointment at Nana Patekar's omission from the movie, considering him one of the beloved characters in the "Welcome" franchise.

In response to his exclusion from the film, Nana Patekar commented, "Perhaps they believe I've become outdated, which is why they didn't choose me. They may think (pointing towards 'The Vaccine War' director Vivek Agnihotri) that I haven't aged yet, so they brought me on board. It's straightforward."

The actor added, "The entertainment industry never stops for anyone. If you aspire to do quality work, opportunities will come your way. I consider this to be my first and last chance, so I must give it my all. Everyone has opportunities; it's up to you whether you want to seize them."

It's worth noting that Nana Patekar portrayed the character of Uday Shetty in both "Welcome" and "Welcome Back."

Meanwhile, Nana Patekar is set to lead Vivek Agnihotri's upcoming film, "The Vaccine War." The film's trailer was officially released by the filmmakers on Tuesday. The movie explores India's role in the race to develop a Covid-19 vaccine during the pandemic.

The film also features Anupam Kher, Sapthami Gowda, Pallavi Joshi, Raima Sen, Nivedita Bhattacharya, and others in key roles. It is scheduled to hit theaters on September 28, 2023.

On the other hand, "Welcome 3" features an ensemble cast including Suniel Shetty, Sanjay Dutt, Arshad Warsi, Paresh Rawal, Johnny Lever, Rajpal Yadav, Tusshar Kapoor, Shreyas Talpade, Raveena Tandon, Lara Dutta, Jacqueline Fernandez, and Disha Patani, among others.

Directed by Ahmed Khan, the film is currently in pre-production and is set to be released on December 20, 2024.