May 30, 2025: Versatile actor Paresh Rawal celebrated his 70th birthday on Friday, receiving heartfelt wishes from his Hera Pheri co-star Suniel Shetty, who praised him as a “powerhouse of both wit and wisdom” and a “wonderful human being.”
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Suniel Shetty took to X (formerly Twitter) to share his warm birthday message:
“To the man… Who is a powerhouse of both Wit & Wisdom and an even more wonderful human being. Happy happy birthday Pareshji. Much love and respect always.”
The birthday greetings come at a sensitive time amid ongoing disputes surrounding the third installment of the beloved comedy franchise, Hera Pheri 3. Reports surfaced recently that Paresh Rawal had walked out of the film, triggering a legal battle. Akshay Kumar’s production house, Cape of Good Films, has filed a Rs. 25 crore lawsuit against the veteran actor for allegedly quitting the project abruptly.
Adding complexity to the situation, a source close to Paresh Rawal questioned the silence of the film’s original producer, Firoz Nadiadwala, on the matter. The source also shed light on the actor’s past collaborations with Akshay Kumar, particularly concerning the OMG film series.
“Let’s not forget, ‘OMG’ was a film Paresh ji helped develop from the ground up, adapted from a play he had performed for years. When it came to producing the film, he didn’t blink. He placed his trust in Akshay Kumar out of deep love, respect, and, above all, faith. That bond has always been strong,” the source said.
The source further explained the murky details around OMG 2, which was initially intended as a standalone film developed by Paresh Rawal. “Somewhere along the way, the script he shaped was rebranded into a franchise sequel. The role was written for him. The story was his. And yet, he chose to walk away quietly, gracefully. He didn’t fight it. He didn’t stop it. He didn’t sue.”
As fans and the industry watch closely, the birthday celebrations for Paresh Rawal have also brought attention to the ongoing tensions behind the scenes of one of Bollywood’s most cherished comedy franchises.