Hera Pheri 3 ‘crisis’: As the current scenario surrounding the continuation of the iconic comedy hit series Hera Pheri would have it, the original cast is churning out major woes instead of rib-tickling laughter. Amid reports of Akshay Kumar suing Paresh Rawal for Rs 25 crores over his sudden exit from the upcoming Bollywood threequel, filmmaker Priyadarshan and co-star Suniel Shetty have also reacted to the developing “crisis” seeking to sabotage the legacy solidified by the beloved Hindi film series.
The Indian director was evidently taken aback by Rawal’s decision to walk out on the highly anticipated project despite initial confirmation of the OG– Raju, Shyam and Babu bhaiya– trio reuniting for the third installment of the 2000 hit comedy. As a following step to claims of Akshay Kumar sending out a legal notice, challenging his longtime co-star for his untimely departure from the film, HT.com reached out to Priyadarshan to hear his take on the issue.
Priyadarshan on Paresh Rawal exiting Hera Pheri 3, Akshay Kumar’s legal action
Unaware of what pushed Paresh Rawal to call it quits, the Hera Pheri director said, “I don’t know why this happened because Paresh didn’t inform us. Before starting the film, Akshay asked me to check with both Paresh and Suniel and I did and both were onboard.” The filmmaker, who has previously directed Akshay and Paresh in Bhool Bhulaiyaa, De Dana Dan and Bhagam Bhag, is also poised to lead them in the upcoming film Bhoot Bangla.
He further noted that while he doesn’t have anything to lose, Kumar was particularly invested in the movie, even more so financially as the producer of Hera Pheri 3. Standing by his decision to initiate the legal action, Priyadarshan added, “Paresh Rawal hasn’t spoken to me till date.”
A source in the know about the legal proceeding also raged about Rawal’s “blatant disregard for professional integrity or commercial morality.”
“If he wanted to not do the film, he should have said so before signing the legal contract, accepting the signing amount and making the producer spend so much money on the shoot,” the insider told HT.
Suniel Shetty reacts to Paresh Rawal exit
On the other side of the conversation, Akshay and Paresh’s co-star Suniel Shetty, who has partnered with them for several Bollywood outings, including Deewane Huye Paagal, Phir Hera Pheri, and De Dana Dan, was equally “clueless” about his fellow actor’s big move. In an interview with India Today, he said, “I have no clue about this. This is absolutely shocking. I first thought about texting him, and then I thought I’d meet him and would discuss it. I have had no word about it with anybody. Even Akshay is clueless as to what happened.’
Branding the development a “crisis,” he called Paresh Rawal’s Hera Pheri 3 exit “the biggest shock” as they are in the midst of filming. Shetty stumbled upon the news only when his children – Athiya and Ahaan – broke it to him.
Set to reprise his role as Shyam, Suniel explained that they had, in fact, already started preparing for the film in some capacity. And so, he continued, “This is so shocking. I can’t make sense of this. And you know who sent it? Athiya and Ahaan – they both sent it to me within 15 minutes, asking ‘papa what is this?’. And I was here doing my interviews, and I felt like ‘holy s***’.”
Given fans’ love for the comedy property, Shetty highlighted that a film like Hera Pheri 3 was equally important for the team involved in making it. “This film is important for our mental health. I don’t know what’s going to happen.” Additionally, he even signalled the impossibility of Hera Pheri 3 moving forward without Rawal. “It cannot happen. 100 percent cannot happen without Paresh Rawal. It can have a 1 percent chance without me and Akshay, but 100% can’t happen without Paresh ji,” he said in an interview with ANI.
How Paresh Rawal defended his decision
Prior to Priyadarshan and Suniel Shetty’s response to the unexpected plot twist, Rawal took to his X account to clarify that his departure from Hera Pheri 3 had not been fuelled by any kind of “creative differences” with the filmmaker. “I wish to put it on record that my decision to step away from Hera Pheri 3 was not due to creative differences. I REITERATE THAT THERE ARE NO CREATIVE DISAGREEMENT WITH THE FILM MAKER. I hold immense love, respect, and faith in Mr Priyadarshan the film director.”
Subsequent reports even suggested that Rawal demanded a fee hike for his contribution to the Hindi film, which switched the dynamics shared between those involved.