Veteran actor Paresh Rawal has revealed that Kartik Aaryan was originally signed for Hera Pheri 3, but later dropped due to a change in the storyline.
In an interview with Siddharth Kanan, Rawal clarified that Kartik was never meant to replace Akshay Kumar’s iconic role of Raju, contrary to popular belief.
“At that time, the story was different. Isko Raju samajh ke pakad ke leke aaye thay, par ye alag hi kirdar tha. This is what I know because even I didn’t hear the whole story,” he stated.
Paresh Rawal’s Criticism of Phir Hera Pheri
While Hera Pheri (2000) became a cult classic, its sequel Phir Hera Pheri (2006) received mixed reactions. Rawal expressed his disappointment, stating that the film lost the simplicity that made the original special.
🔹 “Not me, but everyone else became overconfident. The film lost its innocence.”
🔹 “I told Neeraj (Vora), tu bhar raha hai iss mein, woh zaroori nahi hai yaar. Keep the simplicity of the first part.”
🔹 “You have a character like Baburao, which has a goodwill of ₹500 crore. If you just change the jokes without changing the backdrop, what’s the meaning of that?”
Priyadarshan Open to Directing Hera Pheri 3
Back in January 2025, veteran filmmaker Priyadarshan expressed his interest in directing Hera Pheri 3, but only if the original trio—Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, and Paresh Rawal—returned.
Paresh Rawal’s Upcoming Projects
The actor has an exciting lineup of films:
🎬 Bhooth Bangla – A horror-comedy with Akshay Kumar and Tabu, directed by Priyadarshan (April 2, 2026)
🎬 Welcome To The Jungle – The next installment in the Welcome franchise, featuring Akshay Kumar, Raveena Tandon, and Jacqueline Fernandez
With Hera Pheri 3 still in development, fans eagerly await Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, and Paresh Rawal’s return in their beloved roles!
