Veteran Bollywood actor Paresh Rawal has confirmed his return to Hera Pheri 3, putting an end to months of speculation surrounding his earlier exit from the much-awaited comedy sequel. Rawal had previously announced in May that he would not be part of the third installment, which would have reunited him with original co-stars Akshay Kumar and Suniel Shetty, along with director Priyadarshan.
Speaking on Himanshu Mehta’s podcast, Rawal explained, “It was always going to happen. We just needed to fine-tune a few things. Everyone involved, Priyadarshan, Akshay, Suniel are creative people and longtime friends.”
Dismissing any conflict surrounding the lawsuit, Rawal added, “There’s no controversy. When people have loved something so much, you have to take extra care. You can’t take the audience for granted. We all agreed to come together and work hard. That’s all there is to it.”
Directed by Priyadarshan, the original Hera Pheri (2000) became a cult classic, centering on the misadventures of three quirky characters, Baburao, Raju, and Shyam. The trio returned for Phir Hera Pheri in 2006, directed by Neeraj Vora. The third film, now back on track with the original cast, is expected to revive the franchise’s signature humor and nostalgia.
