Actor Akshay Kumar has opened up about a generational shift he has observed in Bollywood actresses, saying that while today's crop is far better prepared than their predecessors, they are noticeably less inclined to take bold professional risks — particularly when it comes to multi-starrer films. He made these remarks ahead of the release of his upcoming comedy 'Welcome to the Jungle', directed by Ahmed Khan, which is scheduled to hit theatres on 26 June 2026.

What Akshay Kumar Said

Speaking at a promotional interaction, Akshay reflected on his experience working alongside actresses from multiple generations in the film — including veterans from the 1990s, Lara Dutta representing the 2000s era, and Disha Patani from the current generation.

'They are all very professional. They are all beautiful. They are all good actresses. So, there is not much of a difference,' he said. 'Yes, I would say that today's actresses are more prepared than we used to be. They know everything. They have learnt a lot before entering the industry.'

However, Akshay was candid about what he sees as a trade-off. He pointed out that today's actresses are not willing to take major risks, specifically citing the reluctance to appear in multi-starrer projects. 'Not a lot of multi-starrers are made these days because they are not ready to adapt to the fact that why should we work in a multi-starrer movie,' he added.

Director Ahmed Khan Weighs In

Director Ahmed Khan echoed a similar sentiment when asked whether the polish of today's actors comes at the cost of rawness. 'See, earlier, actors used to be raw, we had to teach them. We had to teach them, fundamentally, what to do. Today, they are fundamentally correct,' he said — implying that technical readiness has improved even as a certain instinctive spontaneity has faded.

Akshay's Appeal to Young Actors

Akshay went further, making a direct appeal to the younger generation of actors to embrace ensemble films. He invoked the legacy of Bollywood's golden era to make his case: 'If you see, Amitabh Bachchan, Shatrughan Sinha, Shashi Kapoor, Vinod Khanna, they all used to do films together. I think, if we can do multi-starrers, it will be good for the industry.'

The comment carries weight given that 'Welcome to the Jungle' is itself a large-scale ensemble comedy — a format that has become increasingly rare in contemporary Hindi cinema.

Context: The Decline of Multi-Starrers

Akshay's observation taps into a broader industry conversation. The rise of the solo-star vehicle — driven partly by OTT economics and partly by individual brand-building — has made multi-starrer productions less common. Notably, when they do arrive, as with the 'Welcome' franchise, they tend to generate outsized audience interest. The original 'Welcome' (2007) and 'Welcome Back' (2015) both performed well commercially, suggesting the appetite for ensemble comedies remains — even if the supply has dwindled.

With 'Welcome to the Jungle' arriving in theatres on 26 June 2026, it will serve as a live test of whether the ensemble format can still draw crowds in the current competitive landscape.