Paresh Rawal’s sudden announcement last week about his exit from the Hera Pheri franchise left fans disappointed and stirred up controversy. In the aftermath, Akshay Kumar’s production house, which holds the rights to Hera Pheri 3, reportedly filed a lawsuit against the veteran actor, escalating the dispute further.
Amid this turmoil, an AI-generated image of Pankaj Tripathi reimagined as Paresh Rawal’s iconic character Baburao Ganpatrao Apte has gone viral on social media, sparking a wide range of reactions from fans and netizens. The image shows Pankaj Tripathi donning the signature look of Baburao — white dhoti and vest, gold chain and bracelet, thick glasses, and the unmistakable hairstyle.
On Reddit and other platforms, fans debated the idea of Tripathi stepping into the beloved role. Some praised his acting skills but felt he should not be a direct replacement. One fan commented, “Pankaj Tripathi could bring something valuable to the role, but he wouldn’t be a replacement, he’d be a reinvention. He’d make a good ‘Babu Bhaiya’ type character in a spin-off or reboot, but stepping into Paresh Rawal’s shoes directly would feel off. Audiences would constantly compare them, and the charm of the original might get lost. So respectfully, no.”
Others drew parallels to Robert Pattinson’s controversial casting as Batman, while some suggested that if Tripathi takes on the role without Rawal’s agreement, the filmmakers should rebrand the project entirely with a new flavor. Yet a few expressed confidence that Tripathi could pull off the role successfully.
Why Paresh Rawal Walked Out
Paresh Rawal’s legal team, Anand & Naik, issued the actor’s first formal response regarding his departure from Hera Pheri 3. Following Rawal’s statement on X (formerly Twitter) announcing his “rightful termination and exit,” his lawyers clarified the reasons behind the decision.
They stated that the production team failed to deliver the story, screenplay, and a draft of the long-form agreement essential for Rawal’s involvement. Furthermore, conflicts arose after producer Sajid Nadiadwala — associated with the original films — issued a notice raising concerns about the film’s production. Due to these issues, Rawal chose to exit, returning the money with interest and formally terminating the agreement (Term Sheet).
The controversy continues to unfold as fans await clarity on the future of Hera Pheri 3 and whether a new actor like Pankaj Tripathi will officially step into Baburao’s shoes.
