Priyadarshan on Paresh Rawal's Hera Pheri 3 exit rumours: I am not aware

Buzz doing the rounds is that Paresh Rawal has once again exited Hera Pheri 3 and has reportedly returned his signing amount along with 15 per cent interest, indicating what is being described as an amicable professional exit from the much-awaited comedy sequel.When we reached out to Rawal, he did not respond to our query. However, filmmaker Priyadarshan, who is set to direct the third instalment, told us, “I am not aware.” The development, if true, comes months after reports suggesting that all issues Rawal had with the film’s team had been resolved and that the actor was back on board the project.Industry reports now claim that the veteran actor had reservations regarding the payment structure mentioned in the agreement, eventually leading to his decision to step away from the film. Rawal’s portrayal of Baburao in the Hera Pheri franchise remains one of the most iconic comic performances in Hindi cinema, making the rumours of his exit a major talking point among fans.Akshay Kumar and Suniel Shetty are part of the franchise’s third instalment.The Hera Pheri franchise began with the 2000 cult comedy directed by Priyadarshan, starring Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty and Paresh Rawal. Over the years, Rawal’s Baburao Ganpatrao Apte emerged as one of Hindi cinema’s most iconic comic characters, with dialogues and scenes from the film continuing to enjoy massive pop culture recall even today. The sequel, Phir Hera Pheri, released in 2006 and directed by Neeraj Vora, further strengthened the franchise’s cult status and box office popularity.However, Hera Pheri 3 has witnessed a turbulent journey over the years, with repeated delays, changes in creative direction and casting-related speculation. At one point, John Abraham and Abhishek Bachchan were being considered for the franchise, leading to backlash from fans who wanted the original trio to reunite. The project later regained momentum with Priyadarshan returning to direct and the original cast reportedly coming together again. Despite that, the film has continued to face uncertainty, with recurring reports around contractual disagreements and Paresh Rawal’s involvement becoming a major talking point among fans.