Akshay Kumar On Reports Of Charging Rs 1.7 Crore For Welcome To The Jungle: “I Didn’t Even Take That Much”

Amid reports claiming he charged just Rs 1.7 crore for Welcome To The Jungle, Akshay Kumar has dismissed the figure altogether. However, rather than dwelling on the speculation surrounding his remuneration, the actor used the trailer launch of the comedy entertainer to speak about the late Neeraj Vora’s contribution to his career, the importance of Vora’s story to the project and his decades-long association with producer Firoz Nadiadwala.

Responding to the speculation, Akshay said, “Well, to be honest, whoever said that I charged Rs 1.7 crore, (is not right)? I didn’t even take that much. I didn’t even get that much.”

The actor then explained that for him, the biggest reason to be associated with the film was its story, which he said was written by his long-time collaborator and late writer-director Neeraj Vora.
Kumar elaborated, “And this film, for me, was such that the most important thing was the story of this film, written by Neeraj Vohra. In my interviews, I have always said that I have learned a lot in comedy from Priyadarshan Ji, Rajkumar Santoshi, and Neeraj Vohra. These three people have taught me a lot in my life, and whatever comes in life, I have learned a lot from these three. Neeraj’s contribution was very big in it.”

Akshay also spoke about his long-standing association with producer Firoz Nadiadwala, revealing that the two go back more than three decades. He said, “So this story, obviously, was Neeraj’s, and along with it, Firoz Nadiadwala, whom I have known for almost 36 years. I still remember the struggle I used to do with him. And I am still struggling with him,” he said with a laugh.

In an industry that’s rather transitionary and transactionary in nature, Akshay Kumar always leads the way as the man who is there for his friends and collaborators in good and dark times alike!