In a shocking turn of events for fans of the Hera Pheri franchise, actor Akshay Kumar is reportedly suing his long-time co-star Paresh Rawal for ₹25 crore in damages, following the latter’s unexpected exit from Hera Pheri 3. The move comes just days after Rawal officially confirmed his departure from the film via a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), leading to allegations of project sabotage.
According to a Hindustan Times report, Akshay Kumar, who is not only reprising his iconic role as Raju but also producing the film after acquiring the rights from Feroz Nadiadwala, is pursuing legal action citing financial and reputational losses caused by Rawal’s sudden withdrawal. The duo, along with Suniel Shetty, had begun shooting for the much-anticipated third installment of the franchise in April this year under the direction of veteran filmmaker Priyadarshan.
Paresh Rawal, who initially announced his involvement in the film earlier this year, clarified in a statement on X dated May 18 that his departure was not linked to creative differences or financial disputes. “I wish to put it on record that my decision to step away from Hera Pheri 3 was not due to creative differences. I REITERATE THAT THERE ARE NO CREATIVE DISAGREEMENT WITH THE FILM MAKER. I hold immense love, respect, and faith in Mr. Priyadarshan,” he wrote.
Despite this public clarification, industry insiders claim Rawal had been paid nearly three times his usual fee and was actively involved in the film’s pre-production, including a promotional teaser shoot. “Paresh himself announced doing the film on his X handle in January, participated in all pre-production planning, and shot for a day — including the teaser promo — willingly. When he never expressed dissatisfaction at any point, for him to now suddenly play with the emotions of fans and inflict losses on the producer is clearly in bad faith,” a source told Hindustan Times.
Another insider familiar with the legal matter added, “Paresh displayed a blatant disregard for professional integrity or commercial morality. If he wanted to not do the film, he should have said so before signing the legal contract, accepting the signing amount, and making the producer spend so much money on the shoot.”
The fallout has reignited discussions about professionalism in the industry, with sources suggesting that Bollywood may now start adopting stricter policies similar to Hollywood, where actors cannot walk in and out of projects at will without facing legal consequences.
Hera Pheri 3 is the third installment of the beloved franchise that began in 2000 with Hera Pheri and continued with the sequel Phir Hera Pheri in 2006. The sudden controversy surrounding the film’s production has left fans disheartened, but the makers remain committed to bringing the film to life, even as legal proceedings unfold.
Sources By Agencies
