The anticipated reunion of Anil Kapoor and Nana Patekar for ‘Housefull 5’ has been stalled. Fans, who were looking forward to seeing the duo bring their comedic chemistry from the ‘Welcome’ series to the ‘Housefull’ franchise, will be disappointed to learn that Anil Kapoor has exited the project over fee disputes.
Kapoor and producer Sajid Nadiadwala reportedly could not agree on the actor’s remuneration, leading to Kapoor’s departure from the comedy film. The cast originally included Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan, and Riteish Deshmukh, alongside Kapoor and Patekar.
Following Kapoor’s exit, the makers are now reworking Nana Patekar’s role in the film, which was initially designed to highlight their comedic partnership. According to Bollywood Hungama, Arjun Rampal is in talks to join the cast, though this has not been officially confirmed.
Despite this significant casting change, ‘Housefull 5’ remains on schedule. Director Tarun Mansukhani is set to begin shooting in the UK by the end of August with an extensive schedule. Although the film was initially slated for a Diwali 2024 release, it has been postponed to 2025 to accommodate the high-quality VFX required for the film. The new release date is set for June 6, 2025. The filmmakers expressed their commitment to delivering an enhanced cinematic experience, hoping for a similar reception to the previous installments of the successful franchise.
