Veteran actor Paresh Rawal has officially confirmed his return to the much-anticipated film Hera Pheri 3, after a brief exit that sparked legal tensions with Akshay Kumar’s production company. The actor had earlier walked away from the project, resulting in a ₹25 crore lawsuit filed against him. However, Rawal has now returned ₹11 lakh—reportedly the amount involved in the dispute—along with 15% interest, and has put the controversy to rest.
‘No controversy,’ says Rawal in new interview
Speaking in a podcast interview with Himanshu Mehta, Rawal downplayed the rift, stating there was no real controversy. “When people have loved something so much, you have to be extra careful. The audience has given us so much adulation. You can’t take things for granted,” he said.
He clarified that his earlier decision to step away was not due to any creative conflict with director Priyadarshan. “I was of the opinion that everyone should come together and work hard. It’s all resolved now,” Rawal explained.
Return of the original trio
When asked about the film’s progress, Rawal confirmed that Hera Pheri 3 is back on track and will feature the original cast, including Akshay Kumar and Suniel Shetty. “It was always going to happen. We just had to fine-tune ourselves,” he added, calling the trio’s bond with Priyadarshan and each other long-standing and creative.
Legal dust settles
The conflict had emerged in May when Rawal announced his exit via a social media post. Just two days later, Kumar’s production house, which holds the legal rights to the franchise, initiated legal proceedings alleging disruption of the film’s shoot. However, Rawal responded through his lawyer Ameet Naik, asserting his “rightful termination” and settling financial matters by returning the disputed sum with interest.
Akshay Kumar’s public support
Despite the legal face-off, Akshay Kumar stood by his long-time co-star. At a recent event, he stated, “Using words like ‘foolish’ for someone like Paresh Rawal is unacceptable. I have worked with him for over three decades. He is a great actor and a good friend.” Kumar also emphasized that the matter was now in the court’s domain and should be treated seriously.
The road ahead for Hera Pheri 3
With differences now ironed out, Hera Pheri 3 is officially in the works. Fans of the franchise can look forward to seeing the original trio of Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, and Paresh Rawal back on screen under the direction of Priyadarshan, promising another chapter of the beloved comedy saga.