Director Ahmed Khan recently opened up about the challenges of managing a large ensemble cast in his upcoming adventure comedy, "Welcome to the Jungle," slated for release in mid-2026. With a star-studded lineup including the reunion of the beloved "Hera Pheri" trio – Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, and Paresh Rawal – Khan revealed the complexities of balancing multiple personalities, schedules, and expectations on set.
"It's a tough job, yaar," Khan admitted, emphasizing that modern filmmaking extends far beyond simply calling "action" and "cut". He elaborated on the multifaceted role of a director today, which includes navigating public relations, providing "ego massages," and resolving various on-set issues, such as actors having different personal requirements. "It's not easy to manage each actor's ego, their dates, their personal requirements, their dialogues," he stated.
Khan contrasted the current filmmaking environment with the more relaxed atmosphere of the past, saying, "Filmmaking is not like K Asif's anymore, where you just smoke on set and demand real diamonds instead of pearls". He noted that such demands would be unacceptable today, adding, "If you have to survive today, you've to scratch their back so that they scratch yours".
The director highlighted the logistical challenges of coordinating a massive cast, recalling days with "a minimum of 20 actors in a scene, and they went up to 34". He joked that days with only 15 actors felt less stressful, which is still a full cast for an average film. He even admitted that sometimes they forgot whether an actor was even scheduled to be on set that day.
Despite these hurdles, Khan expressed his delight in reuniting Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, and Paresh Rawal, acknowledging their impeccable comedic timing. "They have the timing. If Akshay says something, then Paresh Rawal takes it from there, and then Suniel jumps in," he shared, noting his efforts to ensure the actors snap out of their "Hera Pheri" mode for the new film. "Baburao, Raju and Shyam somewhere pop up in them", says Khan.
The director's insights shed light on the evolving role of a director in contemporary cinema, where managing personalities and expectations is just as crucial as the creative and technical aspects of filmmaking. Veteran directors have also spoken out about dealing with actors' egos, with some even admitting to being afraid of certain actors. Christopher Nolan admitted to being 'a little afraid' of Robert Downey Jr. before filming Oppenheimer.
Khan's upcoming film, "Welcome to the Jungle," seems to be a testament to his ability to navigate these challenges, bringing together a diverse cast and promising audiences a hilarious cinematic experience.
