May 23, 2025: Veteran actor Paresh Rawal’s reported departure from the much-anticipated Hera Pheri 3 has stirred up a storm in Bollywood, with legal threats, conflicting statements, and fan confusion dominating headlines.
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Rawal, known for his iconic portrayal of Baburao Ganpatrao Apte in the beloved comedy franchise, is said to have exited the project just months before filming was set to begin. While initial reports suggested a sudden walkout, sources close to the actor have strongly denied any such claims, calling the backlash “unfair” and “theatrical.”
“Calling someone like Paresh Rawal, a stalwart with four decades of iconic work, ‘unprofessional’ is not just unfair, it’s laughable,” said a source close to the actor. “He exited long before the tent was even pitched, before the lights, camera, and chaos of the circus rolled into town.”
The controversy deepened when Akshay Kumar’s legal representatives alleged breach of contract, stating that Rawal’s abrupt departure came after he had participated in a promo shoot and shot approximately three and a half minutes of footage. Pooja Tidke, Joint Managing Partner at Parinam Law Associates, which represents Akshay’s banner, expressed shock over Rawal’s decision.
“Suddenly, a few days ago, we received a notice from Paresh ji saying that he is no longer associated with the film and doesn’t want to be,” Tidke told PTI. “There were contracts in place for the trailer shoot.”
However, Paresh Rawal’s camp has rejected these claims outright, emphasizing that the actor had never fully committed to the final shooting schedule and left the project well in advance of official filming.
“Paresh Rawal is someone who’s built his career not on headlines, but on honesty, discipline, and sheer craft. He doesn’t need the noise. And certainly doesn’t thrive on it,” the source said.
Franchise in Flux
Hera Pheri 3 is the latest installment in one of Bollywood’s most beloved comedy franchises. The first two films, released in 2000 and 2006, featured the unforgettable trio of Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, and Paresh Rawal. Directed by Priyadarshan, the third film has been in development limbo for years, facing various casting and production challenges.
With Rawal’s exit, questions now loom over whether the beloved character of Baburao will be recast or written out, and how the legal standoff will impact the film’s production, which is slated to begin next year.
As of now, there has been no official statement from Rawal himself, and neither Kumar nor director Priyadarshan have commented publicly on the brewing dispute.