From its iconic dialogues to its endlessly memed scenes, the ‘Hera Pheri’ franchise has never once gone down in terms of popularity in India, and has made a special place in the hearts of people leading to a varied yet massive fanbase. Both the sequels, ‘Hera Pheri’ released in 2000, and ‘Phir Hera Pheri’ released in 2006 offer slapstick comedy and have gained unending love and support from fans. However, despite all this love, one of the most cherished comedy franchise is still facing a lot of problems and challenges in its production, ever since one of the lead actors ‘Paresh Rawal’ who played the beloved character ‘Baburao’ in the movies has announced his exit from the third sequel of the franchise.
This news has left many angry and disappointed, as ‘Paresh Rawal’ is an essential part of the production and is such a legendary actor that he cannot be replaced by anyone, resulting in the hold of production for the time being. Meanwhile, reports have also shown that ‘Paresh Rawal’ was sued by ‘Akshay Kumar’ in this matter.
The Legal Battle: Akshay Kumar’s Lawsuit against Paresh Rawal
According to sources, right after Paresh Rawal announced exit from the film on May 18, Akshay Kumar’s production company filed a lawsuit against him for ‘Rs. 25 Crore’. Rawal had reportedly accepted a Rs.11 lakh fee for the film. The lawsuit stemmed from the production’s incurred costs and the disruption caused by Rawal’s sudden departure.
Replying to this issue Rawal tweeted “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”.
Co-stars and Director Reach: “Cannot Happen without him”
The ‘Hera Pheri’ family including the director, co-actors and all the crew was shocked and disappointed upon knowing this news. Suniel Shetty, who shares an undeniable bond with Rawal both on and off-screen, openly expressed his shock and heartbreak. He emphasized the undeniable chemistry of the trio, stating that ‘Hera Pheri 3’ might have some chances without him and Akshay, but it stands no chance without ‘Paresh Rawal’. On the other hand the Director Priyadarshan who helmed the original ‘Hera Pheri’, expressed his shock stating that he does not know the exact reason for Rawal’s abrupt exit, as the actor hadn’t directly informed him.
Fan Outcry: The voice of a disappointed fandom
The moment Paresh Rawal’s exit became public, the internet erupted. For millions of fans, ‘Baburao Ganpatrao Apte’ is the heart and soul of ‘Hera Pheri’, and the idea of the third installment without him was simply unthinkable. Social media platforms were flooded with emotional appeals, hashtags and memes urging the actor to reconsider. One fan wrote on X “ Sir please think once again to join Hera Feri movie. You are the hero of the movie” to which Paresh Rawal replied “NO… There are Three Heroes in Hera Pheri”. Even after endless requests to rethink his decisions and join the third sequel of the ‘Hera Pheri’ franchise, the actor still stands still on his decision and says he doesn’t feel like doing this character now.