Premium17 years of Welcome: Why Bollywood fans still can't stop talking about Akshay Kumar-Anil Kapoor-Nana Patekar's iconic comedy
Welcome rewinds to the film that turned mafia comedy into a hit genre in Bollywood.
Last Updated: 12.15 PM, Dec 21, 2024
Over the course of 17 years, Welcome has become a staple in Bollywood fans' conversations. The 2007 release, directed and co-written by Anees Bazmee, features notable actors including Feroz Khan (in his last film appearance), Anil Kapoor, Nana Patekar, Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif, Paresh Rawal, and Mallika Sherawat, who are on hand. Meanwhile, Suniel Shetty and Malaika Arora make guest appearances.
The plot of Welcome
In the film, Uday (Patekar) and Majnu (Kapoor) are keen on arranging a marriage for their stunning sister Sanjana (Kaif). No one is willing to marry Sanjana (Kaif) because she belongs to a family of dons. Meanwhile, Dr. Ghungroo (Rawal) is actively seeking a respectable family's daughter to marry his nephew Rajiv (Kumar). In his heroic rescue of Sanjana from a burning building, Rajiv falls hopelessly in love with her. Uday and Majnu are rooting for Rajiv to marry their sister. Although Uday is a don, Dr. Ghungroo initially perceives him as a kind man, leading him to agree to the marriage. After Dr. Ghungroo and his family make a hasty escape to South Africa, Sanjana and Rajiv reunite and develop romantic feelings for each other. After much back-and-forth, they are finally on the verge of marriage, but Dr. Ghungroo imposes an impossible condition.
Box office performance and competition
One of its main influences was the 1999 comedy Mickey Blue Eyes. In time for the holiday season, Welcome opened in theatres around the world on December 21, 2007. Many critics gave the film mixed reviews, with some praising Patekar and Kapoor for their mafia roles. It sparked intense rivalry with Taare Zameen Par, starring and helmed by Aamir Khan. However, with worldwide earnings of ₹1.22 billion (US$15 million), Welcome became the second highest-grossing Hindi film of the year, solidifying its position as a big economic success. The movie has gained cult status in recent years.
Welcome had an overwhelming reception from local audiences when it premiered, earning Rs. 35 crore in its first week of business. While Taare Zameen Par was also a smashing hit, Welcome managed to earn ₹97.43 crore at the domestic box office. Its 2007 box office take was second only to Om Shanti Om. Roughly ₹117.91 crore was the global gross.
Cultural impact and legacy
The dialogue and chemistry between Anil Kapoor and Nana Patekar in Welcome are the main reasons the film has become a cult classic among fans in the years after its debut. Thanks to its abundance of situational comedy, the film has also become a cultural touchstone for memes.
The film is the initial entry in the Welcome series, and its 2015 sequel, Welcome Back, was moderately successful at the box office. Releasing on the horizon comes Welcome to the Jungle, the third and completely unconnected part in the series.
Streaming availability
You can stream Welcome on multiple OTT platforms, including JioCinema (OTTplay Premium), Prime Video, ShemarooMe (OTTplay Premium), and Lionsgate Play (OTTplay Premium).