Hera Pheri 3 delay has nothing to do with him, actor Paresh Rawal has clarified, putting an end to speculation around his role in the stalled comedy sequel. The veteran actor said the postponement is due to a “technical issue” between Akshay Kumar and the film’s makers, and not because of any disagreement on his part.
Fans have been eagerly awaiting Hera Pheri 3, which is set to reunite Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal, and Suniel Shetty in their iconic roles. The film, however, has been surrounded by controversy ever since Rawal briefly exited the project last year, a move that reportedly surprised both fans and Akshay Kumar, who holds the franchise rights.
Rawal has since confirmed that he is back on board and that the project is moving forward, with shooting expected to begin in February or March.
What Paresh Rawal said
In a light-hearted conversation on The Comedy Factory’s YouTube channel, Paresh Rawal addressed the rumours and legal reports surrounding the film. Referring to claims that Akshay Kumar had sued him for ₹25 crore, Rawal dismissed the chatter as exaggerated.
“All this that had blown up in between that Akshay Kumar has sued me for ₹25 crore, that is all okay yaar, it’s like kachva chaap agarbatti,” he said, suggesting there was too much noise without substance.
Speaking in Gujarati, Rawal added that the delay has nothing to do with him. “This is a technical issue between the producer and an actor (Akshay). Nothing to do with me. When these two resolve the issue, I’ll just have to sign the papers,” he said.
About Hera Pheri 3
In May last year, Paresh Rawal had announced his exit from Hera Pheri 3. Soon after, Akshay Kumar who is producing the film under his banner Cape of Good Films initiated legal action related to the project. Rawal later confirmed that the issues were resolved and that he had rejoined the film.
Directed by Priyadarshan, Hera Pheri released in 2000 and became a cult classic, introducing audiences to Baburao Ganpatrao Apte (Paresh Rawal), Raju (Akshay Kumar), and Shyam (Suniel Shetty). The trio returned in the 2006 sequel Phir Hera Pheri, directed by Neeraj Vora.