The beloved Hera Pheri franchise has hit an unexpected roadblock. Last week, veteran actor Paresh Rawal announced his exit from Hera Pheri 3, leaving fans of the iconic series in shock and disappointment. While Rawal offered no concrete explanation for stepping away from the project, industry insiders claim the actor simply “did not feel like” continuing with the film at this time.
This abrupt decision has now taken a serious legal turn. According to a report by Hindustan Times, Akshay Kumar’s production house, Cape of Good Films, has issued a legal notice to Rawal, seeking ₹25 crore in damages. The production company alleges that Rawal acted unprofessionally by walking out of the film after signing a contract and even beginning work on the shoot. Sources revealed that he was being paid “more than three times his usual fee” for his role in the film.
A source familiar with the legal proceedings explained the producer’s stance in strong terms: “Paresh showed a blatant disregard for professional ethics and business conduct. If he had no intention of completing the film, he should have said so before signing the contract, accepting the advance, and causing the producer to invest heavily in the shoot.”
The source further emphasized a changing tide in the Indian film industry: “It’s time Bollywood actors understand that, just like Hollywood, producers here won’t tolerate actors flouting contracts and walking out of projects at will.”
Fans of the Hera Pheri trilogy—one of the most cherished comedic franchises in Indian cinema—have expressed their anger and confusion across social media platforms. The sense of betrayal is amplified by Paresh Rawal’s active involvement in the film’s early stages. “Paresh himself announced his involvement on X in January, actively participated in pre-production, and shot for a day including the teaser promo. He never raised any concerns until now. To suddenly back out and hurt the franchise’s loyal fans, as well as cause financial losses to the producer, is clearly an act of bad faith,” the source said.
As the legal dispute unfolds, the future of Hera Pheri 3 hangs in the balance, with fans left hoping that the spirit of the franchise can still be salvaged despite the internal turmoil.
