Incomplete Without RDX…: Anil Kapoor Remembers Feroz Khan As Welcome Completes 18 Years

Superhit film Welcome completed 18 years today, and Anil Kapoor marks the milestone with a heartfelt tribute to Feroz Khan. The 2007 comedy still attracts young viewers for its sharp humour and colourful characters. For many fans, Feroz Khan's RDX remains the film's emotional core, and Anil Kapoor now credits that performance for shaping the cult status.

To celebrate the anniversary, Anil Kapoor shared old photos from the Welcome shoot on X, formerly Twitter. The images show Anil Kapoor with Feroz Khan and Nana Patekar during comic sequences. Another black-and-white picture from 1986 captures Feroz Khan holding Anil Kapoor in a warm hug. Anil Kapoor added a simple caption: "18 years of Welcome."

Anil Kapoor Feroz Khan Welcome RDX legacy and film details

Welcome, directed and co-written by Anees Bazmee, draws inspiration from the 1999 British film Mickey Blue Eyes. The film features a large ensemble, including Feroz Khan, Anil Kapoor, Nana Patekar, Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif, Paresh Rawal, and Mallika Sherawat. Suniel Shetty and Malaika Arora also appear briefly in special cameos, adding to the star-heavy lineup.

The film carries extra emotional weight because Welcome becomes Feroz Khan's final appearance on screen. Feroz Khan died two years later after a long fight with lung cancer. As RDX, Feroz Khan plays a stylish yet menacing underworld figure. The role is widely seen as one of the most memorable performances in Feroz Khan's long Hindi cinema career.

Anil Kapoor Feroz Khan Welcome RDX impact and memories

Over time, Welcome gains cult status among Bollywood comedies, especially with younger audiences streaming older films. Viewers often quote RDX's scenes and dialogues in memes and reels. For many, the combination of RDX with Uday, Majnu, and the rest of the gang defines the film's identity, beyond its love story and slapstick action.

Looking back on the production, Anil Kapoor recalls feeling unsure when first hearing the script. Anil Kapoor explained how Feroz Khan's casting changed the mood on set. Kapoor said, "I remember hearing the script and wondering how it would land. Picture yaha ruk jati hai baith jati hain. Anees bhai said, 'Chinta mat karo… Feroz Saab picture utha lenge.' And he did. RDX lifted the film. This film, this character, this madness, magic."

In a separate emotional note, Anil Kapoor directly compared Feroz Khan's RDX with another iconic villain. Anil Kapoor wrote, "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." The message underlines how strongly Anil Kapoor links the film's success to Feroz Khan's work.

As Welcome reaches its 18-year mark, the film continues to entertain new viewers while reminding older fans of Feroz Khan's final role. Anil Kapoor's posts highlight both the humour on screen and the affection shared off screen. The anniversary becomes less about numbers and more about remembering RDX and the lasting bond between the cast members.