Mumbai, May 25: Veteran Bollywood actor Paresh Rawal has issued an official update regarding his sudden exit from the highly anticipated film Hera Pheri 3, following widespread speculation and reports of legal tension with co-star Akshay Kumar.
Rawal’s abrupt departure from the third installment of the popular Hera Pheri franchise caught fans and the film industry off guard last week, especially after director Priyadarshan had earlier confirmed his involvement in the project.
Amid rumors that Akshay Kumar was planning legal action over what was termed an “inappropriate” exit, Rawal took to social media to clarify his position. Posting on his X (formerly Twitter) account, he stated:
"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."
While initial reports cited creative differences as the cause of his withdrawal, Rawal firmly denied this in a public statement, also shared on X.
"I wish to put it on record that my decision to step away from Hera Pheri 3 was not due to creative differences," he wrote. "I REITERATE THAT THERE ARE NO CREATIVE DISAGREEMENTS WITH THE FILMMAKER. I hold immense love, respect, and faith in Mr. Priyadarshan, the film’s director."
Paresh Rawal has portrayed the iconic character of Baburao Ganpatrao Apte, affectionately known as Babu Bhaiya, for over two decades. His performance remains one of the most beloved comic roles in Indian cinema. The original Hera Pheri film, directed by Priyadarshan, debuted in 2000 and was followed by a successful sequel in 2006, directed by Neeraj Vora, featuring Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Bipasha Basu, Rajpal Yadav, and Rimi Sen alongside Rawal.
The makers of Hera Pheri 3 have yet to issue a formal response to Rawal’s legal communication or comment on the casting changes.
