Bollywood star Anil Kapoor took a nostalgic trip down memory lane this Sunday, marking the 18th anniversary of the hit comedy film 'Welcome'. In a heartfelt social media post, he paid a warm and emotional tribute to his late co-star, the legendary Feroz Khan.
A Nostalgic Tribute on Social Media
Kapoor shared a series of throwback photographs from the sets of the 2007 film on his X (formerly Twitter) handle. The nostalgic collection featured him posing with Feroz Khan and Nana Patekar. One particularly touching monochrome photo, dated back to 1986, showed the late actor embracing Kapoor with both arms. The other images captured their iconic joint scenes from 'Welcome'.
The actor captioned the post with deep gratitude, writing, "18 years of Welcome. This one’s for Feroz Khan Saab. Welcome wasn’t Welcome without RDX, just like Mr. India wasn’t complete without Mogambo. Both are irreplaceable period." This comparison highlighted the immense impact of Khan's character, RDX, drawing a parallel to one of Bollywood's most famous villains.
Crediting the 'Explosive' Energy of RDX
In his tribute, Anil Kapoor gave full credit to Feroz Khan's dynamic and commanding performance for elevating the entire project. He specifically praised the veteran star's explosive energy and powerful screen presence, which he believes made the RDX character the film's top standout.
Kapoor also recalled a behind-the-scenes anecdote, revealing his initial doubts about the script. "I remember hearing the script and wondering how it would land. Picture yaha ruk jati hai baith jati hain (The film would stop and sit right here)," he shared. He credited director Anees Bazmee for his confidence, quoting him as saying, "Chinta mat karo… Feroz Saab picture utha lenge (Don't worry, Feroz Saab will lift the film)." Kapoor concluded, "And he did. RDX lifted the film. This film, this character, this madness. Magic."
The Legacy of 'Welcome' and Feroz Khan
Released in 2007, 'Welcome' was co-written and directed by Anees Bazmee. Loosely based on the 1999 British film 'Mickey Blue Eyes', it boasted a stellar ensemble cast. The film was led by Feroz Khan, and featured Anil Kapoor, Nana Patekar, Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif, Paresh Rawal, and Mallika Sherawat in key roles. Suniel Shetty and Malaika Arora also made special cameo appearances.
Historically, 'Welcome' holds a special place as it marked Feroz Khan's final on-screen role. The iconic actor passed away two years later, in 2009, after a battle with lung cancer. Kapoor's tribute not only celebrates the film's longevity but also immortalizes the contribution of a cinema legend whose final performance left an indelible mark on audiences.
