In one of the most talked-about developments in Bollywood this year, veteran actor Paresh Rawal has finally broken his silence on the status of the long-awaited Hera Pheri 3, addressing the swirling controversy involving co-star and producer Akshay Kumar and reaffirming the sequel’s future. Rawal’s candid revelations in a recent interview make it clear that despite production setbacks and legal tensions, Hera Pheri 3 is very much alive and gearing up to move forward.
The Hera Pheri franchise, which began with the beloved 2000 cult comedy and its hit sequel Phir Hera Pheri, has been a staple of Indian pop culture for more than two decades. Fans have been eagerly waiting for the third instalment ever since its official announcement in early 2025. However, the road to Hera Pheri 3 has been anything but smooth. Last year, Paresh Rawal’s sudden exit from the project sent shockwaves across Bollywood, leading to legal action from Akshay Kumar’s production house, which filed a ₹25 crore lawsuit alleging breach of contract.
Paresh Rawal Clarifies Delay of Hera Pheri 3
Speaking at length on The Lavari Show, Paresh Rawal addressed the speculation head-on. He confirmed that the sequel will definitely be made and that his involvement remains intact, dismissing any notion that the project is cancelled. Rawal attributed the current delay not to creative differences or personal conflicts but to what he called a “technical issue” between Akshay Kumar and the film’s producers. He further suggested that reports about the lawsuit were exaggerated, likening the uproar to something trivial rather than a major dispute. “All this that had blown up in between that Akshay Kumar has sued me for Rs 25 crores, that is all okay yaa, it’s like kachva chaap agarbatti,” he said.
Paresh Rawal on Why Hera Pheri 3 Cannot Be Made Without Baburao
Paresh Rawal also made it clear that Hera Pheri 3 would lose its essence without his iconic character Baburao Ganpatrao Apte. While acknowledging that he was speaking “at the cost of modesty,” the actor stated that the franchise simply cannot function without Baburao’s presence.
“But even at the cost of modesty, I am saying that if they’re going with the idea of doing Hera Pheri without Babu Rao, then it will be a disaster,” Rawal said. He further added, “So, it’s simple, if this gets resolved between the two, I will sign the papers. Nothing to do with me, but it will happen 100%.”
The veteran actor reiterated that he has no personal role in the conflict and remains fully prepared to come on board once the technical matters between Akshay Kumar and the producers are settled, putting to rest speculation around his exit from the much-anticipated sequel.
Hera Pheri Franchise Future Remains Bright
Earlier reports confirmed that following the resolution of earlier differences, Rawal had rejoined the cast alongside Akshay Kumar and Suniel Shetty, with filming initially slated to begin in early 2026. Some industry insiders have indicated that production may finally move ahead as scheduled once the lingering issues are cleared.
While details around the script and release timeline are still under wraps, Rawal’s forthright statements have quelled much of the uncertainty surrounding the project. Fans of the original Hera Pheri trilogy can take heart that the iconic trio could soon be back together, bringing their signature laughs back to the big screen.
Stay tuned with us for the latest news, Hindi box office news, Hollywood news, OTT news, the latest Bollywood news, and the latest box office news.
