Adi Irani reveals Anil Kapoor slapped him hard thrice during Welcome shoot: 'He did that purposefully... didn't apologise'

Actor Adi Irani has collaborated with many Bollywood stars, but not all experiences have been pleasant. Recalling an incident from the 2007 hit Welcome, he revealed that Anil Kapoor slapped him hard three times during a scene. He also shared how Anil reacted when he later confronted him about it.
In a conversation with Filmymantra Media, Adi Irani recalled an intense scene from Welcome where both Anil Kapoor and Nana Patekar had to slap him. While reacting to their actions, multiple retakes were requested, during which Anil Kapoor ended up slapping him hard two or three times, and Nana Patekar once. The repeated slaps, combined with his glasses shifting, caused discomfort and hurt his eye. After the scene, Nana immediately apologized, but Anil Kapoor walked away. When Adi confronted him about the forceful slaps, Anil dismissed it as an accident, leaving Adi questioning how the same mistake could happen multiple times.

When asked if Anil Kapoor would do the same with superstars like Shah Rukh Khan or Salman Khan, Adi Irani suggested that Anil deliberately takes a method approach, believing that real actions enhance authenticity. However, he pointed out that there are limits—one wouldn’t actually use a knife in a scene. He also noted that Anil wouldn’t behave this way with Salman or Shah Rukh and mentioned hearing about similar issues involving Amjad Khan.

Anees Bazmee’s Welcome was a box office hit, boasting an ensemble cast that included the late Feroz Khan, Anil Kapoor, Nana Patekar, Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif, Paresh Rawal, and Mallika Sherawat. The much-awaited third installment, Welcome to the Jungle, is set to hit theaters in 2025.