The much-awaited comedy Hera Pheri 3 has hit a major snag, with a very public and emotional fallout between two of its most iconic actors — Akshay Kumar and Paresh Rawal. What initially seemed like a quiet exit over creative disagreements, has now spiraled into a full-blown legal battle, leaving fans shocked and the future of the franchise hanging in a limbo.
Amid the legal case and industry chatter, Akshay Kumar finally broke his silence on the fallout with Paresh Rawal at the trailer launch event of his upcoming multi-starrer Housefull 5. While interacting with the media, when questioned about Rawal’s exit and the subsequent online trolling the veteran actor has been subjected to, Akshay maintained a tone of calm and dignity.
Akshay Kumar breaks silence on fallout with Paresh Rawal
Akshay told the media, “Firstly I do not appreciate any negative words against my co-star Paresh Rawal ji, it is not right. I have been working with him for last 32 years and he is a great actor. We are also very good friends. I really admire him. Whatever happened between us, I do not think that this is the occasion to talk about it. It is a very serious matter and whatever has to happen, will be handled by the court. So, I will not make any further comments on that.”
What’s the Hera Pheri 3 controversy about?
For those who’re caught unaware, Rawal was all set to reprise his much-loved character of Baburao Ganpatrao Apte in the much-awaited third installment of the Hera Pheri franchise. However, he exited the project citing the absence of a proper script, screenplay, and formal agreement. His legal team revealed that despite being initially signed, the producers failed to provide key documentation and clarity, leading Rawal to return his signing fee with interest.
The situation escalated when Akshay’s production banner, Cape of Good Films, sued Rawal for Rs 25 crore, accusing him of causing financial loss and reputational damage through his sudden withdrawal from the film. Director Priyadarshan, a longtime collaborator on the franchise, voiced his disappointment, even recalling that Akshay was visibly emotional “with tears in his eyes” when informed of Rawal’s decision. Meanwhile, producer Firoz Nadiadwala had already slapped a legal notice on the new team working on Hera Pheri 3, adding further complexity to the film’s already tangled path forward.
Akshay’s carefully worded response stood out as a moment of composure in an otherwise charged atmosphere. While Rawal has indicated a willingness to resolve the matter amicably, the legal battle appears far from over.
Akshay focussing on Housefull 5
As the storm around Hera Pheri 3 refuses to settle down in the near future, Akshay remains focused on Housefull 5, directed by Tarun Mansukhani and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala.
Watch the trailer of Housefull 5 here:
The film features an ensemble cast including Riteish Deshmukh, Abhishek Bachchan, Jacqueline Fernandez, Sonam Bajwa, Nargis Fakhri, Jackie Shroff, Nana Patekar, and Chunky Panday. Sanjay Dutt, also a part of the cast, was notably absent from the film’s trailer launch event. The comedy-mystery is set aboard a cruise ship and sails into cinemas on June 6.
