Priyadarshan has had quite a mixed bag professionally this year, with Bhooth Bangla emerging a success while Haiwaan performing underwhelmingly. Many of his films have been turned into sequels, and this year, another one of his films was announced to get a sequel, the 2006 comedy Bhagam Bhag, starring Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal and Govinda. However, he isn’t directing that.

Ask him why and Priyadarshan reveals that he doesn’t like to touch an iconic project without having anything new or better to tell.

“That is why I never do sequels because the reason that you are doing part 2, it should be better than the part one, like with the Terminator franchise where part 2 was a better film than part 1. Unless you have a much better story, you shouldn’t do it. People always make a sequel when the first one really works, so if you don’t better it, there is no value for the franchise.”

The filmmaker adds, “What happens with sequels is that they are selling the value of the first film. They are not making a film, they are making a project, and I am not interested in projects. Even with Bhagam Bhag, Akshay asked me ‘are you interested in directing?’ I said no. The question is that when you make a film and people appreciate it, why do you want to go and spoil that appreciation by doing a part 2. That's why I refuse directing sequels. Let other people make sequels of my films, I am fine with that.”

But is it also the reason why he stepped back from Hera Pheri 3 as well? “That has a lot of other complications, too many complications. I’d need chapters and chapters to talk about it,” he responds. Ask him if he thinks the third instalment of the comedy franchise will ever fructify, and he says, “I don't think it will ever get made”.

Having worked for the first time with the trio of actors Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty and Paresh Rawal, along with producer Firoz Nadiadwala, on the recent hit Welcome To The Jungle, director Ahmed Khan has built a strong rapport with the team. With the same team behind the Hera Pheri franchise, Khan opens up about the possibility of directing its third instalment after Priyadarshan stepped down from the director’s chair.

“That’s a spot which everybody would want to be in. Akshay, Suniel, Paresh, Firoz and Hera Pheri are like a family, and for me, I am a part of that cinema. So, whenever it is made, I am going to be a part of it, irrespective of whether I direct it or not. We will make it together,” he says.

Speaking on how the trio remains inseparable from their Hera Pheri characters, the 52-year-old says, “When I had all three of them in my film, I didn’t read them as Babu Rao, Shyam and Raju... But the audiences’ eyes are well tuned to see them as that. Their timing is still the same. Many times, I had to break it. That was my only battle with them,” he shares.

While confirming his association with the franchise, Khan also shares that his immediate priority is launching his son, Azaan Khan. “I am just concentrating on my son, who keeps looking at me with the question of when his chance is coming. I am focusing on his launch this year. I am also planning another big film which will be announced soon,” he ends.

Filmmaker Priyadarshan, known for some of Hindi cinema’s most loved comedies, is clear about what he concerns himself with – making films and moving on. In a chat with us, he addressed rumours around his films, the culture of sequels and what excites him about his current slate of work.

The release of his next film, Bhooth Bangla, headlined by Akshay Kumar, has been brought ahead, and it will now arrive in cinemas in April. Talking about it, Priyadarshan says, “I have no idea why that was done. It was entirely the decision of the makers (Akshay Kumar, Ektaa Kapoor and Shobha Kapoor). As far as I’m concerned, the film is ready. We were originally planning to release it in May, but the makers said that some big films were releasing at that time. Then suddenly, I got a call from Ektaa asking if we could release it earlier. I said okay because once I am done with the film, I don’t get involved in those matters.”

Recently, speculation suggested that Bhooth Bangla may have once been conceived as a sequel to Bhool Bhulaiyaa (directed by him and starring Akshay Kumar and Vidya Balan), but the filmmaker dismisses that outright. “This is not true because neither I nor the producer (Bhushan Kumar) discussed a second part,” he says.

Priyadarshan also spoke warmly about directing Akshay Kumar, Saif Ali Khan and Paresh Rawal in his upcoming film, Haiwaan. “Akshay, of course, is someone I’ve known for years. But this is the first time I’m working with Saif. He is so committed to what he does, and I enjoyed working with him. He comes to the set with so many questions, always wanting to understand every detail. So we’ve developed a great equation — I answer, and he keeps asking,” he laughs.

On the long-running string of controversies surrounding Hera Pheri 3, Priyadarshan says the project is entangled in disputes over franchise and music rights. The third instalment recently ran into fresh legal trouble after producer G P Vijayakumar approached the Madras High Court, claiming that he – and not Firoz Nadiadwala – holds the copyright to the franchise.

“There are a lot of complications around that. Even when part three was announced, certain people said they have the rights to the film, while others claimed rights to the music. Even Bhushan (Kumar) published a public notice stating that the music of part three belongs to his label. So there are many complications that need to be sorted out. Only then can we think about part three,” he says. So will the film go on floors this year? “Definitely not this year,” he says.

Many months ago, Priyadarshan had also spoken about his disappointment when Paresh Rawal decided to walk out of Hera Pheri 3 without informing him. After the friction surrounding Rawal’s initial departure was smoothed over, he returned to the project.

Addressing the current state of their relationship, the filmmaker said, “We have nothing against each other. I’ve been working with him for a long time. In the film industry, if you share a good relationship with someone, it endures. I’ve also seen people fall out and then work together again. I don’t think there are permanent enemies in politics or cinema.”

While he remains uncertain about Hera Pheri 3, one of his other films, Bhagam Bhag, is getting a sequel. Priyadarshan has consistently expressed his disinterest in sequels, viewing them as attempts to extend the goodwill of the original.

“I’m never interested in making sequels because I feel that once the first film ends, the next one often tries to capitalize on its goodwill. None of my films have been made into sequels by me. If others want to make sequels, I have no objection. But I always believe the first is the best,” he says.

Revealing that he was offered to direct the sequel to Bhagam Bhag, the filmmaker says “They asked me to direct it, but I said no because I wasn’t interested... When discussions about the sequel began, Akshay informed me that he was doing the film. I told him, ‘Go ahead and do it. I have no problem with that.’”

The film will reportedly see Manoj Bajpayee replacing Govinda. On this development, he says, “I have no idea what they are doing or what the subject is.”

What excites him, however, is his next project with Pankaj Tripathi. While he remains guarded about the details, he confirms that it is a full-fledged comedy. “I don’t want to reveal much about it. It’s a film starting in June and is an out-and-out comedy,” he says.

In a strange twist of events, the Madras High Court has questioned producer Firoz Nadiadwala on whether his film, Hera Pheri 3 is being made at all, because a production house - Seven Arts International - has claimed that they, and not Nadiadwala, own the copyright to the Hera Pheri franchise.

As reported by Bar and Bench on Thursday, Seven Arts International Limited has filed a petition stating that Nadiadwala was authorised to make only one Hindi remake of the Malayalam original Ramji Rao Speaking (1989), which was released as the Priyadarshan-directed Hera Pheri in 2000. However, Nadiadwala went on to produce a sequel, Phir Hera Pheri (2006), and has now sold the rights for the third part to actor Akshay Kumar’s production house.

G P Vijayakumar, MD of Seven Arts International tells HT City, “I bought the entire rights for the Hera Pheri franchise from the original producers of Ramji Rao Speaking, Adithya Films in 2022. They informed me that Firoz Nadiadwala had been given the right to make one Hindi version of the film. But he made a second version which released in 2006. He is not authorised to make a sequel or prequel, or use the characters.”

When asked why action was not taken after Phir Hera Pheri, Vijayakumar reasoned, “While the first film was directed by Priyadarshan who we are close to, the second film was directed by Neeraj Vora, and the copyright holders at the time didn’t realize what happened. The original producers and I realized much later that Nadiadwala has done a violation and cheating. At the time we thought jo ho gaya, ho gaya. We will produce the next version in Hindi. We approached actor Akshay Kumar for the same and that’s when we got to know that Nadiadwala has sold the rights to Akshay’s production house Cape of Good Films. We sent Nadiadwala a legal notice on how he could sell something he did not own. I had no option but to move the Court.”

We reached out to Akshay’s production house and the spokesperson said that they bought the rights from Nadiadwala under the impression that he owns them.

Efforts to reach Nadiadwala met with no response while Priyadarshan who is supposed to direct Hera Pheri 3 said, “No idea”.

--------------------------------------------------

”We have legitimately bought the rights of Hera Pheri 3 from Firoz Nadiadwala, and we are rightful owner and producer of the film Hera Pheri 3. We shall wait for legal clarity in the case,” says Rana Rakesh Bali from Akshay Kumar’s production house, Cape of Good Films

After being embroiled in controversy, Paresh Rawal’s upcoming biopic on Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will finally see the light of day. The Bombay High Court recently gave the green light to Ajey: The Untold Story of A Yogi, despite the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) initially denying it a certificate.

Considering the knee-jerk reactions films with sensitive subjects attract, is it difficult to make a ‘political’ film in India now? “It’s tough to make any film, aisa lag raha hai mujhe toh abhi,” the actor replies, adding, “Social media kisi ke bhi upar haawi ho jaata hai. But if your neeyat and neeti are good, and the film has been made with honesty, then you should not think about people’s opinions. I’d never be able to understand what each person [in the audience] wants, I can only make something that I like.”

Speaking about the CBFC’s objections, Paresh says, “Yogi ji jaisa character hai toh maamla critical ho jata hai, CBFC saavdhan rehti hai. During the proceedings the court asked their lawyer, ‘Have you watched the film or read the book it’s based on?’ He had not.”

There’s a common perception that biopic makers tend to whitewash their subject; bring it up with Paresh, whose film Sanju (2018) faced similar criticism and he shares, “[Sanjay Dutt] is still alive and working. And this film’s story goes up to when Yogi ji reached politics. Jo public mein hai usko aap untold nahin bol sakte. There’s nothing to whitewash here.”

Paresh’s next outing will see him reprise his role as Baburao Ganpatrao Apte in the third Hera Pheri instalment. The film has long dominated headlines, especially since the actor initially exited the project before coming back on board. Probe if there have been any developments in the film’s production and he tells us, “It’s a work in progress; the shoot was always scheduled to begin in February or March of 2026.”

Disruptions have settled, and the chatter and rumours have ended with the good news that all is well with the cast of Hera Pheri 3 — Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal, and Suniel Shetty. Of course, the happiest are the fans, who’ve been over the moon knowing that Rawal is back in the mix and director Priyadarshan has returned to the writer’s room to pen the script for the third instalment. While Shetty doesn’t want to jinx it by talking too much about the project that is closest to his heart, it’s clear he played a major role in sorting out the miscommunication between everyone.

However, Shetty doesn’t wish to take any credit for bringing the two close friends back together. “The patch-up happened because of the respect Paresh and Akshay have for each other,” he says. With Kumar — who also serves as the producer — suing Rawal for Rs 25 crore, and the latter returning the signing amount along with interest, many believed it was the end of the road for the trio and the third instalment of the franchise.

Shetty advised his two co-stars, “Baat karlo ek doosre se. Don’t let the world divide you.” That’s all it took. “Paresh never criticized Akshay. And when a journalist called Paresh ‘foolish’, Akshay rebuked the reporter saying he is a friend. That day we all realized that these two friends loved each other and would not let anybody get in between them,” added Shetty.

With Hera Pheri 3 back on track, Shetty has trained his focus on the second season of the action thriller Hunter. Directed by Prince Dhiman and Alok Batra, the new edition aims to raise both the emotional and action quotient of the series. The trailer suggests the actor will be racing against time to save his kidnapped daughter. Shetty tells mid-day that the audience is in for a surprise this season.

“The emotional quotient is much higher this time. A more coming-of-age for ACP Vikram Sinha [his character]. We have taken everything several notches higher. We have gone international and also upped the action. Vikram wants his family back, he realises nothing matters more than his people. This season is more sensible, emotional, [and about] what values mean to us/what matters more. Family ties and values are also what I am about. The old classics [songs] are back in this,” explains the actor.

All is well that ends well, and the two-month controversy surrounding Paresh Rawal’s exit from Hera Pheri 3 has certainly ended on a happy note. On June 28, the veteran actor revealed that he has returned to the franchise’s third instalment that also stars Akshay Kumar and Suniel Shetty. So, how did the change of heart happen? Especially when things had turned intense, with Kumar — who also serves as the producer — reportedly suing the senior actor for Rs 25 crore for his “unprofessional conduct”, and the latter returning the signing amount along with interest. Apparently, all it took was an honest chat over a phone call.

An insider reveals that Kumar called the veteran actor on his birthday, on May 30. “Paresh’s stance initially softened when Akshay firmly defended him at the Housefull 5 trailer launch, where a journalist called the senior actor ‘foolish’ for leaving Hera Pheri 3. Then on Paresh’s birthday, Akshay called to wish him. The superstar told him that while movies will come and go, their friendship should withstand the test of time as they go back a long way. After that, the two met along with Suniel,” says the insider.

Fans are naturally cheering Rawal aka Babu Bhaiyya’s return to Hera Pheri 3, as is director Priyadarshan. The filmmaker tells mid-day that he was given the good news by the veteran actor on June 30.

“Both Akshay and Paresh called to say that everything is sorted. I was in shock when Paresh said, ‘Sir, I’m doing the movie’. He added, ‘I have never had anything except a lot of respect for you. I’ve done 26 movies with you, and I’m sorry to have left the film. There were some personal issues.’ He said that Akshay, Suniel, and he met cordially and sorted it out.”

While rumours suggested that filmmaker Sajid Nadiadwala and director Ahmed Khan had a role to play in the patch-up, Priyadarshan denies it.

Now, the National Award- winning filmmaker will sit down to pen the script of the laugh riot. “Whatever I do, I cannot surpass Hera Pheri [2000]. The second part [Phir Hera Pheri, 2006] was bad; it was a copy of a Hollywood movie,” he states, adding that while writing, he is certain of one thing. 

“Hera Pheri cannot happen without any of the three lead characters. Recently, on a flight, a diamond merchant and his family came to me and requested me to bring Paresh back. They said they won’t watch the film otherwise.”

After legal wrangles, exit, and speculations, Paresh Rawal has hinted at making a comeback to Hera Pheri 3 – bringing Babu Bhaiya back into the frame.

In a podcast interview with Himanshu Mehta, when asked about the Hera Pheri 3 controversy, Rawal said, “There is no controversy. Jab cheez logon ko itni bhaati hai, toh we have to be extra careful. It is our responsibility towards the audience – don’t take things for granted. Mehnat karke unko do. Toh mera yahi hai ki sab aaye , sab saath mein mehnat karein . Aur kuch nahi. Kuch hua nahi hai, it is all resolved now. Pehle bhi (film) aane hi wali thi bas ek dusre ko fine-tune karna padta hai .” 

-------------------------------------------------------

Weeks after Paresh Rawal announced his sudden exit from Hera Pheri 3 and the legal dispute that ensued, the actor has now confirmed that he’s back in the film. Addressing the controversy around the movie, which started upon his exit and the threat of a lawsuit by actor Akshay Kumar, Paresh said: “Koi controversy nahin hai. I believe that when people have loved something so much, you have to be extra careful. It is our responsibility towards the audience. They have given you so much adulation, so you can’t take things for granted. Mehnat karke unko do. So I was of the opinion that sab saath mein aayein, mehnat karein. It is all resolved now.”

Speaking on a podcast with Himanshu Mehta, the 70-year-old praised his co-stars Akshay and Suniel Shetty, and director Priyadarshan. When asked if the fans would see the trio in the film, Paresh reiterated: “Pehle bhi aane hi waali thi, but it’s just that we had to fine-tune ourselves (laughs). After all, all of them are creative, be it Priyadarshan, Akshay or Suniel. They’ve been my friends for many years.”

What was supposed to be a laugh riot with Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal, and Suniel Shetty is quickly turning into a murky plot. Amid the ongoing legal battle between Kumar and Rawal, owing to the latter’s sudden exit from Hera Pheri 3, news has emerged that Firoz Nadiadwala — who produced the franchise’s first two instalments, Hera Pheri (2000) and Phir Hera Pheri (2006) — has sent a notice to the actors and director Priyadarshan, claiming that he holds the intellectual property rights (IPR) to the franchise and its characters. This comes as the latest twist, as it was widely reported that Kumar had bought the franchise’s rights from Nadiadwala and was producing Hera Pheri 3.

What was supposed to be a laugh riot with Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal, and Suniel Shetty is quickly turning into a murky plot. Amid the ongoing legal battle between Kumar and Rawal, owing to the latter’s sudden exit from Hera Pheri 3, news has emerged that Firoz Nadiadwala — who produced the franchise’s first two instalments, Hera Pheri (2000) and Phir Hera Pheri (2006) — has sent a notice to the actors and director Priyadarshan, claiming that he holds the intellectual property rights (IPR) to the franchise and its characters. This comes as the latest twist, as it was widely reported that Kumar had bought the franchise’s rights from Nadiadwala and was producing Hera Pheri 3. 

When mid-day reached out to Priyadarshan amid the recent turn of events, the filmmaker, who is currently in Hyderabad overseeing the post-production of Bhooth Bangla, was disturbed by the allegations made by Rawal’s legal team. He asserted that there is no truth to the rumours about Nadiadwala holding the IPR of the comedy franchise.

“Akshay bought the entire rights of the Hera Pheri franchise for Rs. 10 crore from Firoz Nadiadwala, who had produced the first two [parts]. This is not just for Hera Pheri 3, but the entire franchise. I know this as I have seen the paperwork for it,” he stated. 

The filmmaker further added that Kumar, who has worked with him on seven movies so far, showed him the agreement before they teamed up for Hera Pheri 3. “In fact, only after he showed me the agreement, including the intellectual property rights that Akshay bought from Firoz Nadiadwala, I agreed to come on board,” added Priyadarshan.

At the trailer launch of Housefull 5 on May 27, Akshay Kumar was asked about Paresh Rawal’s exit from Hera Pheri 3. With some deeming it a “foolish” move on Rawal’s part to walk out of the film, the superstar graciously took a stand for his former co-star, as he said, “Using a word like ‘foolish’ for my co-star, I’d not appreciate that. That’s not right. We have worked [together] for the last 32 years.”

He further added, “Whatever has happened is a serious matter, and it will be handled by the court. I don’t think I’ll speak about this.”

Following Paresh Rawal’s exit from Hera Pheri 3, he received a legal notice from Akshay Kumar’s production house Cape of Good Films. Akshay’s lawyer had claimed that “Cape of Good Films incurred substantial production and promotional expenditures, including those for the teaser and initial film shoot, in which Mr Rawal actively participated.” They added that Rawal signed a term sheet on March 27, accepted payment of Rs. 11 lakh, and shot for a teaser on April 3.

On Sunday morning, the veteran actor shared on his X handle that, “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.” Sources close to the development share with detailed reasons behind the exit and details of Rawal’s response to the legal notice.

Rawal’s lawyer Ameet Naik, whose law firm Anand & Naik sent the notice reply, says, “We have replied to the notice and Paresh Rawal’s termination is on strong legal footing.”

Abhishek Kale, Partner, Anand & Naik, shares, “They did not deliver the story, screenplay or a draft of a long form agreement, which was fundamental to the engagement of our client. In the absence of these and also since Mr Nadiadwala, the producer of the original films, issued notice to our client and raised issues on the making of the film, our client chose to exit and returned the money with interest by terminating the term sheet. First, they accepted the monies, but later, unfortunately, sent an untenable notice to our client when knowingly nothing was and is ready, so there can never be any loss.”

The legal team of Cape of Good Films did not respond to our queries till the time of going to press.

A source close to the actor tells us that Rawal signed the term sheet without reading it. It stated that he will receive 99% remunerations after the film’s release. “As per film industry contract standards, actors receive a fee structured across pre-production, production, and release. In this case, the term sheet granted Rawal less than 1% of his remuneration upon signing, with the remaining 99% due only after the film’s release,” the source says. Another source explains, “If Paresh Rawal had read the commercial terms closely, he would not have signed it because the commercial terms were twisted.”

Since last year, Akshay Kumar and Paresh Rawal have been working on a separate project – titled Bhooth Bangla – directed by Priyadarshan. A source tells us that in March, during the shoot of this film, Akshay approached Rawal with a term sheet for Hera Pheri 3, asking him to sign it, adding that they’ll enter into a long-term agreement later. According to sources familiar with the interaction, Rawal expressed concern at the time, since he had not seen any documents and had no idea about the script or story.

“Akshay told him, ‘Don’t worry, trust me. You’ll see it later in the longform agreement.’ Based on his personal rapport with Kumar and acting in good faith, Paresh Rawal signed the term sheet,” the source adds.

In April, Rawal was asked to shoot a promotional video for Hera Pheri 3. He once again questioned Akshay about the script, the production plan, and the long-term agreement, says the source. But he was told that the promo needed to be filmed in time for the IPL final, and that the details would be worked out later.

The source says, “The promo was eventually filmed on the Bhooth Bangla set, with some modifications. Shooting was initially scheduled to begin in 2026. Rawal suggested deferring the promo shoot to next year. To date, Paresh Rawal has not received a long-term agreement, script, or any official production details.”

As per sources, the intellectual property rights of the original Hera Pheri films Hera Pheri (2000) and Phir Hera Pheri (2006) are with producer Firoz Nadiadwala. A source says, “He has sent legal notices to Akshay Kumar, Priyadarshan, Suniel Shetty and Paresh Rawal. The legal notice issued asked all of them not to do any promos, endorsements, or any activities related to the Hera Pheri franchise. It also stated that if they go ahead and proceed with it, it will be considered a willful breach. The notice also stated that the IP of all the characters, including Babu Bhaiya are with Nadiadwala.”

“Paresh Rawal has a longstanding investment in the character of Baburao Ganpatrao Apte (Babu Bhaiya) and wanted to have clarity before proceeding,” says a source close to the actor, adding that he was uncomfortable with the disorganised process and there were no creative differences because the script is still not in place. Rawal subsequently returned the signing money and issued a termination notice, which the production house accepted.

- The term sheet was signed by Paresh Rawal in good faith without legal review. 

- The promotional video was shot in haste to meet the deadline for the IPL final. Paresh Rawal repeatedly questioned about the urgency. 

- Rs. 11 lakh (the signing amount), with 15% interest, was returned prior to the legal notice from Cape of Good Films. The production house accepted the termination and the money. 

- There remains uncertainty over the ownership of the Hera Pheri 3 title. There is an ongoing legal correspondence between Firoz Nadiadwala and Akshay Kumar regarding the franchise itself. 

- Creative differences were not the only reason for Paresh Rawal’s exit. The reasons are no script, no production schedule, no longform agreement, along with the dispute over the franchise and franchise title.

To Priyadarshan, the events of the past few days have been “a mystery”. The filmmaker was in his hometown Thiruvananthapuram when he heard that Paresh Rawal had announced his exit from Hera Pheri 3, the highly anticipated instalment in the cult comedy franchise starring him alongside Akshay Kumar and Suniel Shetty. Things quickly spiralled since with actor and producer Kumar reportedly suing Rawal for Rs. 25 crore for leaving the project midway. Even as a cloud of uncertainty looms over Hera Pheri 3, what has hurt the filmmaker is the nature of Rawal’s exit.

“I am very hurt and shocked as Paresh didn’t inform any of us. He could have picked up the phone and told me before telling the media because we’ve been friends for years. Until last week, we shot Bhooth Bangla together with Akshay,” says the director, before adding, “[After his announcement], Paresh sent me a message saying, ‘Priyan sir, I have nothing against you. I have a lot of respect for you, but I have my reasons for not doing the film.’”

In a recent interview to mid-day, Rawal stated that the director had tried to convince him against leaving the project (Priyadarshanji tried to change my mind, May 20). However, Priyadarshan insists nothing of the sort happened. “I didn’t try to stop him because he never told me that he was leaving the project. When I tried calling him, he texted, saying, ‘Please don’t call me. This is my decision and it has got nothing to do with you.’ He also wrote that we should work together again.”

For fans, it’s almost impossible to imagine Hera Pheri 3 without Rawal’s Babu Bhaiyya joining Kumar’s Raju and Shetty’s Ghanshyam in their misadventures. The buzz suggests that there were creative differences over the three lead characters’ arcs and prominence. Priyadarshan denies it, stating, “With me, Akshay has never cut down anybody’s roles. He does not interfere with a director’s vision at all.”

There was also speculation that Rawal may have been unhappy with his remuneration — something that was denied by the actor. Priyadarshan too asserts there is no truth to this rumour.

“All our contracts were signed. Ten days ago, Suniel, Akshay, and Paresh shot a scene and the IPL [Indian Premier League] teaser. It was only after we unanimously agreed to do Hera Pheri 3 that Akshay bought the [franchise’s] rights. Akshay had tears in his eyes when he asked me, ‘Priyan, why is Paresh doing this to us?’ Akshay shouldn’t suffer financial losses because Paresh walked out on a whim. I understand that he will have to take whatever action is required.”

With inputs by Mohar Basu

Paresh Rawal, on Saturday, had put a post on X stating that he is quitting Hera Pheri 3. The reasons behind Rawal’s exit remain undisclosed. When asked whether monetary reasons – as was being speculated – were behind his departure from the film, the actor told us earlier, “Money was not the issue. The love and respect of my audience are worth more than any amount of money.” Following this news, Akshay Kumar, his co-star and producer of the film, has sent a legal notice to Rawal, claiming Rs. 25 crore in damages for leaving the film after signing a contract.

Confirming the legal step that Akshay took, Pooja Tidke, Joint Managing Partner of Parinam Law Associates, tells us, “Mr Rawal had publicly acknowledged his participation in the film on January 30, 2025... Acting in complete reliance on his public endorsement and contractual commitment, Cape of Good Films incurred substantial production and promotional expenditures, including those for the teaser and initial film shoot, in which Mr Rawal actively participated. The teaser shoot commenced on April 3 and over 3 minutes of footage was shot with him. He also engaged in creative discussions and planning with fellow cast members, including Akshay Kumar and Suniel Shetty. At no point during this period were any concerns raised by Mr Rawal regarding creative issues.”

Tidke adds, “It is only after these significant investments and scheduling commitments were made that Mr Rawal abruptly attempted to exit the project, citing vague and belated creative differences. Cape of Good Films firmly believes that this justification is an afterthought, contrived to inflict maximum disruption on a beloved film franchise and undermine the goodwill it commands.”

Tidke shares that “Cape of Good Films has demanded damages to the tune of Rs. 25 crores from Mr Rawal. If the demand is not complied with within seven days, the company will be constrained to pursue appropriate legal remedies, including civil and criminal action.” – Niharika Lal

------------------------------------------

The buzz about Hera Pheri 3 going on floors had left fans of the cult comedy franchise quite excited. The anticipation was building to see the film’s trio – Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty and Paresh Rawal – reprise their roles in the third intallment of the franchise. However, Rawal’s recent announcement of quitting the film led to Akshay Kumar sending him a legal notice, claiming Rs. 25 crore in damages. Buzz is that Rawal demanded around Rs. 25 crore as his fee. In a conversation with us, director Priyadarshan, who had returned to the franchise after stepping back from its sequel, opened up about the episode for the first time. “I have no idea what happened. His exit is actually a shock for me. All I can tell you is, I am hurt,” confessed the director.

The filmmaker, who shared a long-standing professional bond with Rawal, is taken aback by the actor’s sudden exit. Priyadarshan said, “I started it (the third part), and all of a sudden, he backed out. He hasn’t given me any explanation. I’m hurt. Paresh was like family, so it is strange that he has not given any explanation. He says he has nothing against me, he respects me, and that there are no creative differences, but I am hurt.”

We reached out to Paresh Rawal, but the actor was unavailable for comment till the time of going to press.

— Vinay MR Mishra

Reacting to Akshay’s move to sue Rawal for Rs. 25 crore, the director responded, “Naturally.”

When asked whether there’s been a fallout between Akshay and Rawal, Priyadarshan said, “I don’t know about it. I live in Chennai, and I don’t know much about the politics of Bollywood. We just wrapped up Bhoot Bangla (the movie stars both the actors – Akshay and Rawal). I’ve never seen any tension on the set. Whatever Paresh asked for, money-wise, everything was agreed upon. He also signed the agreement and took a token as advance. We even shot for a day. After shooting, he never said anything about it. He told me, ‘Let us do it and make it a good film. I didn’t like the second part at all. But this time we have to make it better.’”

Asked if he reached out to Rawal, Priyadarshan replied, “I tried calling him once, but he didn’t answer, so I left it.” On whether he’s considering a replacement, he added, “No, not thinking of anything right now. I’m just shocked.”

------------------------------------------

In a shocking development, actor Akshay Kumar, through his production house, has sent a legal notice to actor Paresh Rawal, claiming Rs. 25 crore in damages for unprofessional conduct and leaving the film Hera Pheri 3 in a lurch after signing a legal contract. Reportedly, the lead cast of the film — Akshay aka Raju, Paresh aka Babu Bhaiya and Suniel Shetty aka Ghanshyam — had started shooting for the Priyadarshan directorial in April.

Paresh confirmed exiting the cult comedy recently. While the reason wasn’t clear, we have learnt that he did not “feel like” being a part of the film. Akshay, who is also the producer of Hera Pheri , bought the legal rights from producer Firoz Nadiadwala.

After reports cropped up speculating the reason for Paresh’s sudden departure, he had clarified that creative differences or money weren’t the reasons for the decision. Sources say that the actor was being paid more than thrice his usual fee for the film. “Paresh displayed a blatant disregard for professional integrity or commercial morality. If he didn’t want to do the film, he should have said so before signing the legal contract, accepting the signing amount and making the producer spend so much money on the shoot,” says a source close to the legal development.

“It is high time Indian actors realise that like Hollywood, producers here, too, will no longer give in to the whims of an actor walking in and out of a film as they please,” adds the source.

Notably, this is the first time in Akshay’s 35-year-long career that he has chosen to sue anyone for unprofessional conduct. When we reached out to Paresh, he says, “I am not aware of anything like this yet.” Paresh is not new to quitting films, sometimes on a whim. He refused to do OMG 2 (2023) claiming he did not like the script. Also, he walked out of the 2009 film Billu after committing to it, which, too, was a Priyadarshan directorial.

Inputs by Yashika Mathur

Director Priyadarshan tells us, “I don’t know why this happened, because Paresh didn’t inform us. Before starting the film, Akshay asked me to check with both Paresh and Suniel, and I did. I don’t have anything to lose, but Akshay has invested money and that could be the reason why he is taking this action. Paresh Rawal hasn’t spoken to me till date.”

What’s Hera Pheri without Paresh Rawal? A disappointment! Ever since news of the actor walking out of the Priyadarshan-directed film came out, fans of the cult franchise have been devastated. Without Rawal’s Baburao Ganpatrao Apte, aka Babu Bhaiyaa, to pepper the chemistry between Suniel Shetty’s Ghanshyam and Akshay Kumar’s Raju, the film is bound to feel incomplete.

While Rawal claims he is not in the right frame of mind to do Hera Pheri 3 right now, he says he will never say never to a film. “I know it came as a shock to many. We three make a great combination with Priyadarshan ji directing us, but the fact is that I opted out because today I don’t feel like a part of it,” confirms the actor.

Many hope that the actor changes his mind. While he remains firm in his decision for now, he has left the future undecided. “It is final for the time being. I always say never say never for anything. One cannot predict what happens in the future,” he smiles.

Speculation suggests that Rawal left the project owing to creative differences with the director, but he denies the rumours, saying, “I love Priyadarshan and have great respect and faith in him as a director. We have done wonderful movies together in the past and will continue to do so. There were no creative differences, nor is there a possibility of having any with him.”

There is also conjecture that Rawal was not content with his remuneration. But the actor says that was never the issue. “No amount of money compares to the love and respect of my audience. Right now, I just felt that it is a role I don’t want to do, that’s all,” he reiterates.

While Kumar and Shetty were informed of his decision, Priyadarshan tried his best to convince the Bhooth Bangla actor. He elaborates, “Priyadarshan ji tried to change my mind but he knows [me]. They all know that if I decide on something, I will follow it up. So they don’t pursue further.”

In the meantime, the veteran actor has wrapped up Bhooth Bangla, and is looking forward to shoot ing his next comedy, Sugar Free, which goes on floors in  October.

On Sunday, veteran actor Paresh Rawal who played the iconic Baburao in the Hera Pheri series clarified that his exit from the highly anticipated film Hera Pheri 3 wasn't due to creative differences. The initial reports behind Rawal's exit from the threequel suggested that there were creative differences between the makers and the actors.

In a statement, on X (formerly known as Twitter) Rawal said, “I wish to put it on record that my decision to step away from Hera Pheri 3 was not due to creative differences. I reiterate that there are no creative disagreements with the filmmaker. I hold immense love, respect, and faith in Mr. Priyadarshan, the film director.”

The reasons behind Rawal's exit remain undisclosed, when we reached out to Rawal asking about the reason behind his exit, he shared, "The news of my opting out of Hera Pheri 3 is a fact. As of now only this much (I can comment)." When asked if monetary reasons, as speculated on the internet, was the reason behind his exit, he added, "Money was not the issue. The love and respect of my audience is more than any amount of money."

Our multiple attempts to reach out to the filmmaker Priyadarshan remained futile. Even Rawal's Hera Pheri 3 co-star Suniel Shetty, didn't comment till the time we went to the press.

The original Hera Pheri (2000) and its sequel Phir Hera Pheri (2006) have become cult favorites, celebrated for their comedic genius and timeless dialogues. Directed by Priyadarshan, the first film introduced the misadventures of Raju (Akshay Kumar), Shyam (Suniel Shetty), and Baburao (Paresh Rawal). The sequel, directed by Neeraj Vora, further explored the characters' quirks and camaraderie.

The arrival of Athiya Shetty's baby girl, Evaarah, has brought immense joy to the Shetty household, with Suniel Shetty wholeheartedly embracing his new role as a grandfather. The actor's eyes light up as he talks about the little bundle of joy, for the first time with us. "That's all Mana (Shetty, wife) and I were looking for. It is the best feeling in the world." he says.

As he settles into his new role, Suniel shares his thoughts on grandfatherhood. "It is a feeling of bliss. There couldn’t be a better or a bigger feeling than this. They always say, ‘Mul se sut pyaara (interest is far, far more exciting when you receive it compared to the capital).”

With his schedule now revolving around his grandchild, Suniel, who was recently seen in Nadaaniyan, talks about managing his time with the baby. "Life is not hectic. That's the way my life was always. I work and I come back home, and I do that with a lot more excitement now. I look forward to coming back home and spending time with Mana and the baby. The biggest excitement in my life now is that child. And now I want to do everything with my granddaughter that I probably missed out on with Athiya and my son Ahan because I was constantly working. I was on call 24X7 with my work. Of course, I manage my time to the best of my ability. But today I need to do more. Evaarah is Athiya 2.0 for me."

On the work front, Suniel is currently shooting for the third instalment of Hera Pheri. Ask him how it feels to reunite with Akshay Kumar and Paresh Rawal, and he says, “The beauty of that is that we never felt that it’s been 25 years. Shooting for it didn’t feel that 25 years have gone by. It's just that we are looking different and now we have different get ups, but otherwise, we're the same. Everybody is the same, right from the producer to the director. We are just going to miss Om Puri dearly. He was one of the pillars of Hera Pheri 1.”

The actor who reprises his role of Shyaam in the movie, doesn’t reveal much about the plot, but he adds, “Even when we were shooting, it didn’t seem like we were playing a character. Nobody else can play those characters.”

There were rumours of Kartik Aaryan stepping into Akshay’s shoes for the sequel. Bring that up and Suniel says, “Whoever else was coming in was never supposed to replace anybody. He was coming as a new character, but now the makers have gone back to the old script and it is Hera Pheri 10 times more fun”.

Fans have been eagerly awaiting an update on the cult comedy franchise Hera Pheri and excitement has only grown since it was confirmed earlier this year that filmmaker Priyadarshan will return to direct the much-anticipated third instalment. The 68-year-old, in fact, shared in a recent interview that he plans to start writing Hera Pheri 3 sometime next year.

However, in a major development, we’ve exclusively learnt that the first scene of the film — starring the original trio Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty and Paresh Rawal — was shot yesterday. A source close to the production confirmed, “Yes, it’s true. The first scene was indeed shot yesterday with Akshay, Suniel and Paresh, who will be bringing back the memories of their iconic roles.”

The buzz around the film had intensified when Akshay Kumar, during the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit 2024, confirmed that Hera Pheri 3 will officially go on floors in 2025. Following the announcement, fans shared their excitement online. Acknowledging the immense challenge ahead, Priyadarshan had earlier stated, “It is going to be very challenging to make the third part because there will be too many expectations.”

This much-awaited third instalment comes 19 years after Phir Hera Pheri (2006) and 24 years after the original Hera Pheri (2000).

Fans of Hera Pheri (2000) will remember Gulshan Grover menacingly saying, “Kabira speaking,” a line that became iconic over the years thanks to the comedy’s runaway success. Now, as Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty and Paresh Rawal are gearing up to reunite with director Priyadarshan for Hera Pheri 3, Grover too will reprise his role.

“Yes, Kabira returns,” says the senior actor emphatically, when we get on a call with him. He adds, “I am super excited about doing Hera Pheri 3. I have met producer Firoz Nadiadwala multiple times and heard the role.”

In the cult comedy, Kabira was seen as a crime lord, who mistakenly calls up Rawal’s Baburao to demand ransom and sets off a chain of hilarious events. Grover was seen in a bit role in the sequel, Phir Hera Pheri (2006). As the veteran actor returns to the laugh riot’s universe after 19 years, we’ve heard that his character will sport a different look.

Quizzed on this, Grover says, “I cannot say much at this stage. All I can say is that Kabira will have negative as well as positive shades to him.”

Last seen in Indian 2 (2024), the actor is looking forward to the release of his three projects—Love In Vietnam, Nagraj Manjule’s Matka King, and the Karan Johar-backed action comedy fronted by Ayushmann Khurrana and Sara Ali Khan.

Grover reflects, “I believe an actor, who has created a brand, has to be careful about what he takes up in his later years. My dear friend Anil Kapoor has set a good example for this.”

It’s real, it’s happening! Filmmaker Priyadarshan has officially confirmed that he will be directing the highly-awaited Hera Pheri 3. The 68-year-old confirmed the news on social media on Thursday evening, while thanking actor Akshay Kumar for his birthday wish: “In return I would like to give you a gift. I’m willing to do Hera Pheri 3. Are you ready Akshay, @suniel.shetty & @pareshrawalofficial (sic).”

Akshay (57) had posted a pic of the duo from the sets of their upcoming film Bhooth Bangla, writing, “Thank you for being a mentor, and the only person who can make chaos look like a masterpiece.”

Speaking to HT City exclusively, the actor said, “Priyan sir has given all of us a fabulous surprise by offering to direct Hera Pheri 3. What a fabulous start to 2025.”