June 17, 2025: Bollywood fans were left stunned after veteran actor Paresh Rawal announced his decision to walk away from Hera Pheri 3, a move that also surprised his co-stars Akshay Kumar and Suniel Shetty. As fans continue to urge Rawal to reconsider, Akshay Kumar has addressed the ongoing situation, expressing optimism for a resolution.
In a recent interview with Pinkvilla, Akshay responded to questions about the controversy, saying, “Whatever is happening is happening in front of you. Keeping my fingers crossed. I hope everything goes well.” Reassuring fans, he added confidently, “Everything will go well only. I know, for sure.”
Background of the Controversy
The controversy began when Paresh Rawal took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to announce his departure from the third installment of the Hera Pheri franchise. He emphasized that his decision wasn’t due to any creative differences with director Priyadarshan.
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“I love Priyadarshan and have great respect and faith in him as a director. We’ve made wonderful movies together and will continue to do so. There were no creative differences. It’s just a role I felt I didn’t want to do, that’s all,” Rawal clarified in an interview with Mid-Day.
However, the situation escalated when reports surfaced that Akshay Kumar’s legal team issued a notice to Rawal, demanding ₹25 crore in damages for breach of commitment. According to Pooja Tidke, Joint Managing Partner at Parinam Law Associates, who represents Kumar’s production house, the exit has led to substantial losses. “There have been expenses incurred towards the cast, crew, senior actors, logistics, equipment, and the shooting of the trailer. There will be severe legal consequences,” she stated.
On May 25, Paresh Rawal responded to the legal notice via social media, writing:
“My lawyer, Ameet Naik, has sent an appropriate response regarding my rightful termination and exit. Once they read my response, all issues will be laid to rest.”
As tensions persist, fans and industry insiders are watching closely, hoping for an amicable resolution that might bring back one of the most iconic comedic trios in Bollywood history