Anand Raaj Anand Is Back: Akshay-Vidya Film & Kaante 2 Ahead

Studio CarryOnHarry Entertainment Desk | 28 June 2026

After years away from the spotlight, veteran music composer Anand Raaj Anand is making a full-throttle return to Bollywood — and he isn’t stopping at just one project.

In an exclusive interview with Bollywood Hungama, the composer — who ruled the charts through the late 1990s and 2000s — confirmed that he is already attached to the untitled next film starring Akshay Kumar and Vidya Balan, directed by comedy maestro Anees Bazmee. The project marks yet another collaboration between Anand Raaj Anand and Akshay Kumar, following their earlier work together on Welcome (2007) and the recent Welcome To The Jungle.

“Yes, it was, followed by Welcome To The Jungle. I am now also working on his next film, co-starring Vidya Balan. It is directed by Anees Bazmee,” the composer revealed.

But that’s not all. Anand Raaj Anand also teased a potential reunion with filmmaker Sanjay Gupta for the highly anticipated Kaante 2. According to reports, Welcome To The Jungle is set to release on December 4, 2026, and the composer’s bond with Gupta — forged during their earlier collaborations — appears set to be rekindled for the sequel to the cult 2003 crime thriller Kaante.

The Akshay Kumar–Vidya Balan untitled comedy is widely expected to go on floors very soon, and with Anees Bazmee at the helm, audiences are already buzzing with excitement. The combination of Bazmee’s slick comic timing and Anand Raaj Anand’s foot-tapping compositions could well be one of the most-watched pairings of the coming year.

For a composer who defined an era of Bollywood music, this comeback feels both timely and triumphant. With multiple high-profile projects lined up, Anand Raaj Anand is clearly here to stay — and Bollywood is all the better for it.

– Entertainment Desk, Studio Carry On Harry

—