Paresh Rawal apologised to Priyadarshan for quitting Hera Pheri 3; cites personal issues

Paresh Rawal's return to Hera Pheri 3 marks a significant moment for Indian comedy fans. After a brief exit, the veteran actor is back on board, much to the delight of audiences. Director Priyadarshan, known for directing the original cult classic in 2000, has shared details about the emotional and surprising circumstances that led to Rawal's return.

In an interview with Mid-Day, Priyadarshan shared that Paresh Rawal personally called to apologize for his earlier decision to leave the film. “Both Akshay and Paresh called to say everything is sorted. I was in shock when Paresh said, ‘Sir, I’m doing the movie.’ He added, ‘I’ve never had anything but respect for you. I’ve done 26 films with you, and I’m sorry for leaving. There were some personal issues.’ He told me that he, Akshay, and Suniel met and cleared the air."

Director Priyadarshan, currently working on the script, emphasized the importance of all three characters—Raju, Shyam, and Baburao—to the Hera Pheri franchise. "Whatever I do, I cannot surpass Hera Pheri. The second part was bad—it was a copy of a Hollywood film. But Hera Pheri can’t happen without all three. In fact, a diamond merchant once approached me on a flight and said, ‘Please bring back Paresh Rawal. We won’t watch it otherwise,’" he shared.

Speaking to NDTV earlier, Paresh Rawal had said, “Happy to be back with the family. Humbled by the overwhelming love and respect of the fans and well-wishers." He had returned Rs 11 lakh with 15% interest to Akshay Kumar’s production house to settle the earlier disagreement.

The controversy surrounding Akshay Kumar and Paresh Rawal has been prominent since Rawal's decision to exit the highly anticipated "Hera Pheri 3." In an interview with Lallantop, Paresh Rawal characterized his cherished "Hera Pheri" role as a "gale ka fanda," indicating his wish to develop beyond it rather than be typecast.

Following Paresh Rawal's public withdrawal, tensions escalated when Akshay Kumar filed a lawsuit. In response, Rawal returned the signing amount with interest, intensifying their discord. Despite their strained relationship, Akshay and Paresh recently completed filming Priyadarshan’s horror-comedy, Bhoot Bangla. Reports suggest a relationship far removed from their previous camaraderie.

Hera Pheri 3, the anticipated sequel to the 2000 hit Hera Pheri, with its second installment in 2006, was initially announced in 2023. Earlier this year, Priyadarshan was confirmed to direct the film.