Arshad Warsi opens up on how Rajkumar Hirani shaped his career twice
Mumbai, June 11
Actor Arshad Warsi has opened up about his long-standing association with filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani and the significant role he has played in shaping his career.
In an exclusive quote shared with IANS, the actor revealed that Hirani not only helped launch his journey in the industry but also played a key part in reviving it at a crucial stage. Reflecting on their bond, Warsi also expressed gratitude for the filmmaker's impact on his professional life. Interestingly, Rajkumar Hirani is set to make his streaming debut with "Pritam and Pedro," which stars Arshad Warsi and Vir Hirani.
Arshad shared, "Pritam And Pedro is special to me in multiple ways. For starters, I love working with Raju. He means a lot to me. In a way, he started my career and he helped me restart my career. I never imagined the little boy I was holding in my arms, one day we would be sharing the screen together. I enjoyed playing Pedro, he is one rare guy. I am yet to meet someone like him, you'll realise when you see him."
The actor also expressed his excitement over the release of his three big projects within a span of a month - "Welcome To The Jungle," "Dhamaal 4," and "Pritam and Pedro." Speaking about the same, he mentioned, "I feel blessed and excited as i look forward to 3 releases concurrently. I can't wait for the audience reactions to the characters I have portrayed. And of course, I am happy to be back with Javed, one franchise we do purely for kids. Adi-Manav have got so much joy in everyone's lives. We are blessed to be part of this franchise."
"Welcome To The Jungle" and "Dhamaal 4" continue popular comedy franchises, while Pritam And Pedro marks the third collaboration between Arshad Warsi and filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani after Munnabhai MBBS (2003) and Lage Raho Munnabhai (2006). Arshad has already begun promotions for all three projects and is gearing up for back-to-back releases over the next few weeks.
The comedy films are set for theatrical release, with "Welcome To The Jungle" arriving on June 26 and "Dhamaal 4" on July 10. Meanwhile, "Pritam And Pedro" will premiere digitally on JioHotstar on July 3, 2026.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Honestly, I'm skeptical about 'Welcome to the Jungle' - the original was iconic, and these sequels often lose the charm. But Arshad deserves all the success. His role in Munnabhai was unforgettable, and Hirani knows how to bring out the best in actors. Hope 'Pritam and Pedro' has that old-school Hirani touch.
The little boy he was holding! 🥺 That's so touching. Vir Hirani must be thrilled. Also, nice to see a director who genuinely cares about actors' careers beyond just one film. Hirani is a class apart. Arshad Warsi has always been underrated - hope these releases change that.
As someone who grew up watching Bollywood comedies in the US, I'm genuinely excited for this. Arshad Warsi's comic timing is world-class. The fact that Hirani is making a streaming debut shows how the industry is evolving. Hope the content matches the hype! 🤞
Interesting to see three big releases back-to-back! But I wish Bollywood would invest more in new stories instead of relying on sequels. Dhamaal 4? Welcome to the Jungle? Seems like the industry is playing it safe. Still, if anyone can make sequels work, it's Arshad and Hirani. Let's see.
Actually met Arshad Warsi once at a film festival - so humble! He mentioned Hirani as his mentor even back then. This article just confirms what a genuine partnership they have. 'Pritam and Pedro' sounds fresh - a digital
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