Veteran actor Paresh Rawal has confirmed his return to Hera Pheri 3, putting to rest months of speculation surrounding his association with the much-anticipated sequel to one of Bollywood’s most beloved comedy franchises.
The third instalment of Hera Pheri—which has witnessed several delays, creative shifts, and contractual tussles—is now back on track, with the original trio of Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, and Paresh Rawal reportedly reuniting for the film. According to industry sources, filming began earlier this year in April.
The controversy erupted last year when reports surfaced alleging that Rawal had exited the project abruptly after receiving a signing amount of Rs11 lakh.
His decision was met with legal action, with Cape of Good Films, a production house co-owned by Akshay Kumar, allegedly issuing a legal notice worth Rs25 crore over the delay and damages caused.
However, Rawal’s legal team later clarified that no binding contract had been signed and that the advance amount had been returned with interest. The actor, addressing the issue during a recent podcast with Himanshu Mehta, dismissed the narrative around the fallout as overblown.
“There’s no controversy,” he remarked. “When people love something so much, they naturally become extra careful. That’s our responsibility. The audience has given us so much—it's our duty to deliver in return.”
Responding to questions about the original cast’s return, Rawal playfully added, “Pehle bhi aane hi waali thi yeh film… bas humein thoda fine-tune karna tha (The film was always supposed to happen… we just needed to fine-tune a few things),” he said with a laugh.
Initially slated to be helmed by director Farhad Samji, the project has since shifted hands and is now being directed by Rajesh Krishnan. Despite the behind-the-scenes reshuffles, fans remain hopeful, especially with the classic trio making a comeback nearly two decades after the release of Phir Hera Pheri.
Released in 2000, the original Hera Pheri became a cult classic, with its sequel in 2006 solidifying the film's place in pop culture. The reassembly of the lead cast has rekindled interest, with audiences eager to see if the magic can be recaptured.
