Hera Pheri 3, one of Bollywood’s most eagerly awaited sequels, has faced a major setback as Paresh Rawal, who famously portrayed Baburao Ganpatrao Apte, announced he will not be part of the film. The actor made the revelation via a tweet on May 18, denying rumors that his exit was due to creative differences. Paresh Rawal expressed his continued respect and faith in the film’s director, Priyadarshan, emphasizing that his decision was personal.
Rawal opened up in an earlier interview about how the character of Baburao has become a double-edged sword for him. He explained that the role, while beloved, feels like a “noose” around his neck, limiting his opportunities to explore varied characters. He shared how, even after the success of Hera Pheri 2 in 2006, he sought help from directors like Vishal Bhardwaj and R. Balki to portray different roles—even within the same iconic getup—but found himself typecast and unable to break free from the Hera Pheri image.
“I’m an actor, and I don’t want to be stuck in that rut,” he stated, acknowledging the joy the character brings but expressing a strong desire for creative freedom.
Suniel Shetty, Rawal’s co-star in the franchise, recently emphasized in an interview that the magic of Hera Pheri lies in the chemistry between the legendary trio of Paresh Rawal, Akshay Kumar, and himself. He said, “If it was Hera Pheri, if it wasn’t Babu Bhai (Paresh Rawal) and Raju (Akshay Kumar), Shyam (Suniel Shetty) wouldn’t exist… you take any one of them out, and the film doesn’t work.”
Fans of the franchise are now left wondering how Hera Pheri 3 will shape up without one of its most beloved actors, as the film continues to navigate this unexpected challenge.
