Alright, let me try a magic trick. Yeah, you! Look behind you. Go on, I'm telling you, look behind you! Anything there? Did you see it? Come on, are you kidding me? Someone on the internet tells you something, and you just believe them?
And with that little bit of internet trickery, let's dive into today's real Hera Pheri (mix-up): will we ever get to see Hera Pheri 3? And more importantly, should we believe everything we read online about it?
The Hera Pheri franchise isn't just a movie series; it's a cultural phenomenon in India, one of the biggest, most culturally relevant comedy franchises ever. Fans, including yours truly, have been waiting for over 17 long years for the next installment. But the recent news? It's a bombshell. A truly shocking piece of information has hit us: Paresh Rawal, our beloved Babu Bhaiya, has reportedly QUIT the Hera Pheri franchise. Yes, quit a movie that was already in production!
He had signed the contract. Teaser footage for Hera Pheri 3 had reportedly even been shot. He was even creatively guiding the film, stepping in because the original creator, the late Neeraj Vora, had an incredible understanding of comedy, a vision these actors understood intimately.
At this point, things were looking smooth. Finally, Akshay Kumar was back on board for the Hera Pheri franchise. In fact, Akshay Kumar’s production house, Cape of Good Films, had even bought the rights to the franchise. They brought back Priyadarshan, the man who directed the iconic first Hera Pheri, to honor Neeraj Vora's legacy. Everything seemed perfect. What could possibly go wrong, right?
Wrong. Enter Paresh Rawal ji, apparently with his own significant problems, and just like that, all our dreams seem to be shattering. Why did Paresh Rawal suddenly leave the film mid-way? There's no detailed official information yet.
Initially, rumors swirled about creative differences. But then, Paresh Rawal himself took to X (formerly Twitter) with an official statement, which I'll paraphrase for you. He said, and I quote (conceptually): "I want to state on record that my decision to leave Hera Pheri 3 was NOT due to any creative differences. I repeat, there were no creative disagreements with the filmmakers. I have immense love, respect, and trust for Priyadarshan, the film's director."
Well, what can we even say to that? His statement clearly suggests that creative differences weren't the issue. It points towards some other internal problems, some "laphade" (disputes/troubles) that he doesn't feel the need to address publicly right now. You can bet there's some significant internal clash that was a deal-breaker for him, something we don't know yet, and probably won't find out until much later.
Now, many might think this is about money. But I don't think so. According to reports from the Times of India, Paresh Rawal was being offered THREE TIMES his normal fee. He had signed on for that amount! So, money doesn't seem to be the problem here.
The burning question is: what on earth happened internally? This is the same man who was initially ready to work with John Abraham and Abhishek Bachchan for a version of the film. And now, with all the original stars aligned – a feat in itself – he walks out. Because, let's be honest, at this point, everything was falling into place. The issues people had, they voiced them online, and changes were made. It's incredibly rare for a studio to listen to audience feedback and change the writer, director, and even the cast!
And just when the studio did listen, took feedback, and got the original trio back, one of the main actors, the film's biggest highlight, our Babu Bhaiya, ditches the project. And it's not like he hadn't committed. According to reports, he had even accepted some payments. The contract was in place. When the issue with Akshay Kumar's casting arose, Akshay Kumar himself bought the film's rights under his Cape of Good Films banner. It was after this iconic trinity finally came together that the real tension began, leading to Paresh Rawal's exit.
Now, the latest buzz is that Cape of Good Films is allegedly suing Mr. Rawal for 25 CRORES for breach of contract as compensation! It's a rare and drastic step to walk away from a project like this, especially when things have gone this far.
In a recent interview, when Suniel Shetty was asked about Paresh Rawal and Hera Pheri 3, he expressed his sadness, saying something along these lines (I'm rephrasing): "Hera Pheri 3 could potentially be made without me (Suniel Shetty), but it CANNOT be made without Babu Bhaiya."
So, the long and short of it is, the situation is pretty dire.
Now, I don't want to take shots at anyone. Everyone has their own problems and priorities in life. There were some bizarre statements Paresh Rawal made in the past (like the one about drinking urine) that some people are drawing parallels to, suggesting maybe these problems initiated from his end. But who knows? I'm leaving that room for doubt open; problems can start from anywhere, and I don't think it's right to blame anyone without facts.
For now, it looks like Hera Pheri 3 is once again stuck in development hell. And if they try to make this movie without Babu Bhaiya, it obviously won't be as good. They will face a massive, historic backlash. Because this trinity – Akshay, Suniel, and Paresh – is what brings this world to life. It's not just about Akshay Kumar being in or out; it's about seeing these three comedic legends in one frame, especially in a Hera Pheri movie.
What do you all think? Whose fault is it? Is the original cast's essence absolutely necessary for Hera Pheri 3? Or would you still watch it if Babu Bhaiya isn't there? Let me know your opinions in the comments below.