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28 March 2024

After Salman, SRK, John Abraham and Anil Kapoor shake up Dubai

Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor shooting at Dubai's Jumeirah Zabeel Saray for Anees Bazmee's 'Welcome Back'. (Pic: Sneha May Francis)

Published
By Sneha May Francis

Just months after Shah Rukh Khan exited the emirate, after spending nearly a month filming for good friend Farah Khan’s ‘Happy New Year’, it’s now the turn of John Abraham to step in and soak up the spotlight in Dubai.
 
He’s here with the legendary Anil Kapoor and the ravishing Shruti Hassan to lend their heart and soul to Anees Bazmee’s laugh-out-loud comedy ‘Welcome Back’.

The trio, all dressed in their movie costumes, were willing to indulge us in a chat before their shoot at the plush Jumeriah Zabeel Saray kicked-off.
 
“This film is to de-stress. After shooting for ‘24’ (espionage thriller TV series, where he plays the Indian counterpart of Jack Bauer) I was looking to de-stress,” confessed the savvy Kapoor, who reprises his role of the flamboyant Majnu from the 2007-original ‘Welcome’.
 
“It’s total opposite to what I have done. Jai Singh Rathod and Majnu are nothing like each other. It (for ‘24’) was an intense schedule for 8 months, and we shot for almost 187 days. So, after that ‘Welcome Back’ was really a welcome change for me.”

(Pic: Sneha May Francis) 
 

With his tie and formal attire in place, John Abraham, who has shed over 15 kilos for this movie, is raring to give this mad-cap comedy his best.

He, in fact, takes over from Akshay Kumar, who had played the lead in the original. Although such exercises would’ve sparked off another Bollywood rivalry, John insisted there’s no love lost between him and Akki. In fact he considers Akshay to be the best comedy actor.
 
“In fact, he is the first person I called. And, I lovingly call him guruji and told him I’m doing ‘Welcome Back’. And, he was like go for it. He has always been very supportive. Also, I’ve done three funny films with him – ‘Garam Masala’, ‘Desi Boyz’ and ‘Housefull2’. And, in this genre, I’ve learnt so much from Akshay in terms of comic timing,” he admitted.

(Pic: Sneha May Francis)

“Akshay and me share very similar physicality. And, similar habits as well. We are early-to-rise, early-to-bed kind of people, and we are disciplined about fitness. And, even in terms of physicality. If a scene demands some amount of fun, then we’d be literally flying around the place.
 
“He’s such a noble person. And, I’m going to be borrowing a lot of that energy for ‘Welcome Back’.”

The entire cast of ‘Welcome Back’ is also special for John, considering he has worked with the powerhouse performer Paresh Rawal in ‘Garam Masala’, the veteran Anil in ‘Shootout at Wadala’ and ‘Race2’, and the versatile Nana Patekar in ‘Taxi9211’.
 
“I have such a beautiful equation with all of them. And, I’m a big fan of Anees Bazmee. I believe that there’s a certain kind of cinema that is pretentious. And, a certain kind that’s unapologetic and unpretentious. Anees belongs to that school. And, I’m very happy to be here.”
 
He, however, confessed that this equation changes from a producer’s point of view, especially since he has backed unconventional stories – ‘Vicky Donor’ and ‘Madras Café’ before.

“As a producer I’ve backed diametrically opposite films.”

Having been in Dubai for a week, John has found time to sneak away from his film schedule for some retail therapy. “I went to Dubai Mall and every store I went to, I was standing outside and getting clicked. It almost felt like I was endorsing the store by stepping into it,” he quipped.
 
Despite the long hours, and late-night shoots, John insisted that work in Dubai has been fun and pleasing to the eye. “We were shooting outside Zabeel Saray a few days back and it looks absolutely beautiful.”
 
Anil too shares John’s love for Dubai. “You guys are blessed to be here.”

Shruti, who plays the leading lady, also endorses her male colleagues’ fondness for the emirate.
 
“Dubai is a great city. Everything is just so well planned and clean. It’s a treat to work here,” she added.

Soon after our late-night chat, Anil, dressed in a printed monochrome shirt and formal trousers, stepped away to indulge the cameras in an opulent corner of the Zabeel Saray lobby. The hotel
 
In fact, the hotel also featured as his house in ‘Mission Impossible 4’, and now, for a second time in ‘Welcome Back’.

Needless to say, the fans were mesmerized and patiently waited to watch their Bollywood stars doing what they do best. Although the shoot was less about the laughs and more about the technicalities and emotions, we sense this one’s going to be a riot.
 
And with, the premiere of the film scheduled to be held in Dubai next year, this one’s definitely going to be special for the desert city.