New Delhi, May 24: The storm surrounding Hera Pheri 3 continues to gather momentum as veteran actor Paresh Rawal finds himself in the center of a legal dispute after unexpectedly stepping away from the film. According to reports, Akshay Kumar’s production house, Cape of Good Films, has filed a ₹25 crore lawsuit against Rawal following his public announcement of departure via social media on May 18.
In a recent interview with Mid-Day, Rawal stated that he had personally informed director Priyadarshan and co-stars of his decision to leave. However, Priyadarshan has denied any prior notice, expressing his disappointment over how the situation unfolded.
The director disclosed that the departure came as a shock not only to him but also to Akshay Kumar, who had acquired the rights to the Hera Pheri franchise with the intent of reuniting the beloved trio. “Ten days ago, the three—Akshay, Suniel, and Paresh—filmed a promotional teaser and even shot a scene together,” Priyadarshan shared. “Akshay was emotional and asked me with tears in his eyes, ‘Priyan, why would Paresh do this to us?’”
The director defended Akshay’s stance, stressing that the financial hit caused by Rawal’s sudden exit is significant. “Akshay is being unfairly impacted, and he’s well within his rights to take necessary legal steps,” he said.
Rawal, on the other hand, previously claimed that Priyadarshan had attempted to persuade him to stay on board. Priyadarshan firmly dismissed this version. “There was no attempt to stop him—because he never informed me directly. I only received a message saying he had made up his mind and didn’t want to be contacted,” Priyadarshan clarified.
As rumors suggested that dissatisfaction over payment might have prompted Rawal’s exit, the actor later confirmed that his decision was not due to creative issues but financial concerns.
Adding a personal note to the professional fallout, Priyadarshan remarked, “What hurt me most was the way it was done. He could have simply picked up the phone—we’ve worked together for years and just last week finished a project together with Akshay. Instead, I found out through the media.”
Paresh Rawal did send a text after the news broke, saying, “Priyan sir, I have immense respect for you, but I have my own reasons for not being a part of this project.”
Hera Pheri 3, the anticipated follow-up to the cult classics released in 2000 and 2006, was officially announced in 2023 with Priyadarshan returning to the director’s chair. The production has now hit a rough patch, and it remains unclear how the team will proceed in light of the latest developments.
