Ahead of their upcoming ensemble comedy Welcome To The Jungle, Akshay Kumar and Disha Patani were on the Bombay Times Lounge for a candid conversation packed with laughs, revelations and behind-the-scenes stories from the film. Akshay’s comic timing was as effortless off screen as it is on screen, while Disha brought honesty, warmth and quiet charm to the chat. The promo is out now, and the full episode will drop soon on the Bombay Times YouTube channel. Until then, here’s a sneak peek from the conversation.
Disha Patani on Choosing Happiness Over Quantity of Work
“I actually do very few films, and I think you should enjoy what you do. One film shouldn’t define your entire journey. If you’re unhappy for six months or a year while making a film, then that one release day won’t mean much. The quality of your time while working matters more than quantity,” Disha said.
Akshay Kumar on Keeping Up with Gen Z
“I don’t actively post on social media, but I do keep an eye on what’s happening. Things are changing very fast these days. Even Gen Z language has changed. When I talk to my daughter (Nitara), she speaks in an entirely different language. Most of the time, I need her to explain what she’s saying, as they use so many words and phrases which are new to me,” Akshay shared.
Akshay on Discipline Being a Part of His Identity
“Aisa koi din nahi gaya jab maine ugta hua suraj nahi dekha. Even if I have to work till late, I am up at sunrise every day of my life. Yes, I have cheat days when it comes to food, but when it comes to my mornings, that doesn’t change,” Akshay said.
Comedy Legends Who Inspired Akshay
“The funniest person I’ve met in the industry both on and off camera, was Mehmood saab. I was lucky to get a chance to work with him, though by then he was quite old. The other person who is genuinely hilarious is Johnny Lever. And then there’s Asrani saab who has a unique sense of humour. Now, I am seeing Rajpal Yadav in that category,” Akshay revealed.
Why Improvisation Works in Comedy
“A lot of what you will see in Welcome to the Jungle was created on the spot. Some of the dialogues were not in the script, they happened spontaneously. You can’t be stuck to the script all the time. Lakeer ke fakeer nahi reh sakte. In such films, you have to let the actors move and say dialogues the way they want. One person says something, another responds, and it keeps building. Comedy moves very fast. If you do it in bits and pieces, it doesn’t work. Comedy has a certain rhythm, it should not slow down,” Akshay explained.
Disha on Being an Introvert
“The one thing I am still learning in this industry is being okay with being around people I don’t know. I’m an introvert, so I get very nervous at times.” When asked if she has become better over time, she laughed and said, “I think I have become worse.” On being comfortable in front of the camera, she added, “Yes, because it’s just one lens looking at you instead of people’s eyes.”
Watch out for the full episode of the Bombay Times Lounge with Akshay Kumar and Disha Patani, coming soon on the Bombay Times YouTube channel.
