A major update has emerged from the Hera Pheri franchise. Superstar Paresh Rawal will not be seen alongside Akshay Kumar and Suniel Shetty in the upcoming installment. The movie was officially announced earlier this year (2025) by director Priyadarshan, sparking excitement among fans eagerly awaiting the return of the iconic comedy series.
However, in a surprising twist, the beloved character Babu Rao, played by Paresh Rawal, is stepping away from the project.
According to a report by Bollywood Hungama, a muhurat shot (auspicious first shot) for Hera Pheri 3 was recently filmed, further fueling fan anticipation. But Paresh Rawal has reportedly backed out of the project. The portal, quoting a source, stated:
“There were creative differences between the makers and Paresh Rawal, which led to the actor's decision to leave the film.”
The report also notes that insiders in the industry remain hopeful that Paresh Rawal might return to the film if a miracle happens. One industry expert said,
“There was a time in 2022 when Akshay Kumar exited the project, which disappointed fans. But he eventually returned. Similarly, there's hope that Paresh Rawal might make a comeback.”
Paresh Rawal himself has confirmed that he is no longer part of the film. He said, “Yes, that’s a fact.”
In a recent interview with The Lallantop, the actor spoke candidly about his iconic role as Babu Rao, saying the role feels like a “noose around his neck.” He admitted that he agreed to the sequel only to prevent the project from getting stuck — not because he was particularly excited to reprise the role.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)