The Hera Pheri 3 drama has taken another twist, and this time, Paresh Rawal himself has broken his silence. After reports surfaced that Akshay Kumar’s production house is suing Rawal for ₹25 crore over his sudden exit, the veteran actor has finally opened up about what really made him step away from the project.
In a candid interview with Mid-day, Paresh Rawal, who played the iconic Baburao Ganpatrao Apte in the beloved comedy series, revealed that he walked out of Hera Pheri 3 not due to any creative conflict with the makers but because he simply didn’t feel like being a part of it anymore. “We three make a great combination with Priyadarshanji directing us, but the fact is that I opted out because today I don’t feel like a part of it”, he shared. He also mentioned that while this is his final decision for now, the future is always unpredictable.
Earlier, it was reported that Akshay Kumar, who has taken over as producer of the film after purchasing rights from Firoz Nadiadwala, is extremely disappointed and may take legal action against Paresh Rawal for breaching the contract. According to sources, the actor left the film despite signing an agreement and even accepting a token advance. This has reportedly led Akshay’s production house, Cape of Good Films, to consider suing him for ₹25 crore due to the financial and production losses incurred.
This isn’t the first time Paresh Rawal has hinted at his lack of excitement about returning to the franchise. In a previous interview with Lallantop, he said, “Everybody wants to cash in on sequels, but do something different with the character that has ₹500 crore worth of goodwill. Why not fly with it? But there’s mental bankruptcy or mental lethargy. I’m doing the sequel because I don’t want the film to get stuck, but there is no happiness.”
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The Hera Pheri series, a cult favourite, is incomplete without the trio of Raju (Akshay Kumar), Shyam (Suniel Shetty), and Baburao (Paresh Rawal). So, Rawal’s departure has left many fans disappointed and worried about the film’s future. Social media has been buzzing with reactions, with several fans pleading for him to return.
Even Suniel Shetty had recently expressed doubts about whether the third part could match the charm of the original. Speaking to Pinkvilla, he said, “The only fear is — can we even get remotely close to the original? Hera Pheri was a very honest film. If we maintain that honesty, people will latch on to it again because it’s got a great recall value.”
Director Priyadarshan, who returned to helm the third part, has also spoken emotionally about Rawal’s exit. He admitted he was “hurt” and “shocked” by the decision and still doesn’t know the full reason. Despite repeated calls, Paresh has not responded to him directly.
With the future of Hera Pheri 3 hanging in uncertainty, fans are still holding out hope for a reunion of the legendary trio. But for now, it seems Baburao may not be returning, and legal drama may take centre stage over the comedy the franchise is known for.
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