Twenty-five years after he made his debut with Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai opposite Kareena Kapoor Khan, Tusshar Kapoor finds himself returning to the same genre that defined a large part of his career. While the actor is gearing up for the release of ‘Welcome To The Jungle’ and ‘Golmaal 5’, he is also exploring a different space with Prakash Jha’s political drama ‘Janaadesh’. Looking back on his journey, Tusshar says the accomplishment seems surreal.
“Twenty-five years passed in the blink of an eye.”Over the years, Tusshar has become one of the most recognizable faces in comedy, largely thanks to the success of his ‘Golmaal’ and ‘Welcome’ series. Speaking to Mid-day, the actor admitted that these films played a huge role in making him a household name across generations. “I feel happy that these universes stayed with me.”Although he is constantly exploring new opportunities, he says there is no question of stepping away from the two franchises that have become synonymous with his career.
“Franchises are a great thing as long as you can keep up with the audience’s expectations. I will never stop doing ‘Welcomes’ and ‘Golmaals’. They are my bread and butter.”Tusshar believes that films have helped him build a connection with audiences that extends beyond box office numbers. “They are the reason I became a household name, connecting with kids and seniors.”Although comedy remains his strongest identity on screen, Tusshar recognizes the need to evolve as an actor.
“However, I have to keep reinventing myself and taking on different roles.” This desire to experiment is one of the reasons he chose to be part of Janadesh, a political thriller that offers a sharp contrast to the fun entertainers he is known for.
Tusshar Kapoor talks about his reunion with… Akshay Kumar
‘Welcome To The Jungle’ reunites Tusshar with Akshay Kumar, a co-star who has previously worked with him in films like ‘Khakee’ and ‘Insan’. The actor is full of praise for director Ahmed Khan, who managed the challenge of handling a cast of over 30 actors.“He never compromised on how he conceived and executed the film. He justified the cast in the story.” Tusshar added that the size and complexity of the film are the reasons why it took so long to put together. “Maybe that’s why it took a while, but this is his passion.”Talking about Akshay, he highlighted the star’s commitment despite his fun personality. “Akshay is sharp and has the entire script on his fingertips.
Although he is always joking and playing pranks, he works just as hard.
Back to the madness of “Golmaal”
For Tusshar, returning to Rohit Shetty’s beloved comedy series feels less like work and more like a reunion with old friends. Before starting work on ‘Golmaal 5’, the crew visited ‘Golmaal Again’ to reconnect with the series’ signature energy and humour.“We watched it to recapture that energy. We all grew up together making these movies.”
He also praised director Rohit Shetty for creating a disciplined and comfortable work environment. “Rohit is another establishment. Everything is organised, everything is scheduled, and his team makes you feel very comfortable.”While the success of comedy films has brought him immense popularity, Tusshar admits that being strongly associated with one genre can sometimes be limiting. However, he chooses to take it as a compliment rather than a challenge. “Of course it gets a print run. But I look at it positively because people love those movies.”As he enters the next phase of his career, Tusshar Kapoor remains grateful for the franchises that have shaped his journey as he continues to look for opportunities that allow him to surprise audiences beyond comedy.
