Suniel Shetty slams modern comedy, recalls why Hera Pheri’s script still holds strong

Veteran actor Suniel Shetty has weighed in on the long-running discussions around Hera Pheri 3, defending the core of the comedy franchise while reflecting on what made the original so memorable. Currently promoting the second season of his action series Hunter, Shetty spoke to Pinkvilla about the evolving nature of humour in Indian cinema.

When shown a viral meme featuring his line “Main toh sirf pati banna chahta hoon” from Hera Pheri, Shetty smiled and credited the brilliance of director Priyadarshan and late writer Neeraj Vora. “Impromptu was action and reaction. Dialogues Priya sir ek word change karne bhi nahi dete,” he said, noting the tightness of the script and how the team didn’t allow improvisation for the sake of it.

He explained that memorising lines wasn’t about rote learning. “The minute you understand it, you don’t need to by heart it,” he said. “He (Priyadarshan) used to explain what I meant by this. What am I trying to say. He makes sense he makes unbelievable sense.”

Touching on the current state of comedy writing, Shetty drew a comparison with the earlier style. “Hera Pheri is not a joke. Hera Pheri situation hai,” he emphasised. “Meri fatti padi hai, toh fatti padi hai. Usme mai dialogue kya bolunga. Uske reaction se ye line funny ho jata hai.” He added pointedly, “Today’s films are like WhatsApp jokes there’s no real writing.”

The actor’s admiration for the original film’s team was clear, as he highlighted how the story and characters came alive not through slapstick, but through precise writing and performance rooted in context.

Meanwhile, the buzz around Hera Pheri 3 continues to grow. After some hiccups including Paresh Rawal briefly stepping away from the project over creative disagreements fans are hopeful the original trio will reunite once again. Official announcements are still awaited.

Shetty’s comments come as he returns in Hunter Season 2, which premiered July 24. The show features Jackie Shroff in a significant role and promises gritty action, but for Shetty, it’s the legacy of Hera Pheri that remains a career milestone he refuses to take lightly.