Suniel Shetty has finally addressed the swirling controversy surrounding Hera Pheri 3, particularly the unexpected news of Paresh Rawal’s exit. Emphasizing the integral role Rawal’s character plays in the beloved franchise, Shetty declared that the film simply “cannot happen” without Baburao Ganpatrao Apte.
In a recent interview, Shetty stated, “It cannot happen. 100 per cent cannot happen without Paresh Rawal. It can have 1 per cent chance without me and Akshay, but 100% can’t happen without Paresh ji. No, it doesn’t. Raju and Shyam, if they’re not hammered by Babu here, it doesn’t work.” His words echoed the sentiments of countless fans who regard the trio—Raju, Shyam, and Baburao—as inseparable.
Shetty recounted how he learned about the situation from his children, Athiya and Ahan Shetty. He was in the middle of media rounds promoting his upcoming film Kesari Veer: Legends of Somnath when the news reached him. Recalling the moment, he shared with India Today, “They both sent it to me within 15 minutes, asking ‘papa what is this?’ And I was here doing my interviews, and I felt like ‘holy s***’.”
The actor expressed his intent to personally investigate the matter, hoping to uncover what led to Rawal’s reported departure. Like the audience, Shetty was eagerly anticipating the reunion of the iconic trio, making the development all the more disappointing.
As speculation mounts, conflicting narratives have emerged. Paresh Rawal claimed he had informed Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, and director Priyadarshan about his decision to step away. However, Priyadarshan contradicted this in a separate interview, saying, “I don’t know why this happened because Paresh didn’t inform us. Before starting the film, Akshay asked me to check with both Paresh and Suniel and I did and both were onboard.”
Priyadarshan further suggested that legal proceedings might be underway, as Akshay Kumar has reportedly made a financial investment in the project. “I don’t have anything to lose but Akshay has invested money and that could be the reason why he is taking this action,” he explained.
What makes the situation even more perplexing is that Priyadarshan is currently collaborating with both Akshay and Paresh on another film titled Bhoot Bangla. This raises questions about the internal dynamics and what may have gone wrong behind the scenes of Hera Pheri 3.
As it stands, fans and the film’s core cast remain in suspense, holding onto hope that Baburao, Raju, and Shyam will once again share the screen.
