The iconic Hera Pheri’s franchise controversy intensified following Paresh Rawal’s unexpected announcement of his departure from Hera Pheri 3 last week, leaving fans disheartened. Recent developments include reports that Akshay Kumar’s production house, which acquired the film’s rights, has initiated legal action against Rawal. Amidst this turmoil, a viral AI-generated image of Pankaj Tripathi reimagined as Rawal’s iconic character, Baburao Ganpatrao Apte, has sparked widespread debate online, eliciting varied reactions from fans.
The AI image, shared on Reddit, depicts Tripathi dressed in Baburao’s signature white dhoti and vest, complete with a gold chain, bracelet, thick glasses, and the character’s distinctive hairstyle. Captioned “Can Pankaj Tripathi play Baburao Ganpatrao Apte in Hera Pheri?”, the post by user BollyLOVER1 on the BollyBlindsNGossip subreddit triggered a flurry of responses.
Fans expressed mixed sentiments. One commented, “Pankaj Tripathi could add value, but he’d reinvent the role, not replace Paresh. He’d suit a ‘Babu Bhaiya’-style character in a spin-off, but stepping into Paresh’s shoes would invite comparisons, risking the original’s charm. Respectfully, no.”
Another drew a parallel, stating, “It’d be like Robert Pattinson’s Batman—a fresh take, but divisive.” A third suggested, “If Paresh doesn’t return, they should rebrand the film with a new name or role tweak. Pankaj’s a brilliant actor and could reinterpret the part, but mimicking Paresh’s Baburao exactly won’t work.” Conversely, some were optimistic, with one user asserting, “He can pull it off.”
Rawal’s exit prompted a formal response from his legal team, Anand & Naik, addressing the dispute. Rawal posted on X, “My lawyer, Ameet Naik, has issued a fitting response regarding my rightful termination. Once reviewed, all issues will be resolved.”
His lawyers told IANS, “The producers failed to provide the story, screenplay, or a draft agreement, which were essential for our client’s involvement. Following a notice from Mr. Nadiadwala, the original producer, raising concerns about the film’s production, our client terminated the Term Sheet, returned the payment with interest, and exited.”
Suniel Shetty, who portrayed Shyam in the 2000 classic Hera Pheri, expressed shock saying, “I’m clueless about this—it’s a crisis. I considered texting Paresh but decided to meet him instead. We’d shot a promo and were set to start filming next year. My kids, Athiya and Ahaan, sent me the news, and I was stunned.”
Akshay Kumar, addressing the feud at the Housefull 5 trailer launch, defended Rawal, stating, “Calling my colleague ‘foolish’ is unacceptable. We’ve worked together for 32 years; he’s a dear friend and a phenomenal actor. This is a serious matter for the courts, not for public discussion.”
The ongoing Hera Pheri 3 dispute, coupled with the viral AI image of Pankaj Tripathi as Baburao, has fuelled intense speculation about the franchise’s future, with fans divided over whether Tripathi could fill Rawal’s iconic role or if the series should chart a new course.