Akshay Kumar Says He’s ‘Keeping His Fingers Crossed’ Amid Paresh Rawal Exit, Stays Hopeful About Hera Pheri 3

Bollywood fans were left stunned when veteran actor Paresh Rawal announced his decision to step away from Hera Pheri 3, a move that surprised not only audiences but also his long-time co-stars Akshay Kumar and Suniel Shetty. Ever since the news broke, fans have been actively urging Paresh to reconsider, hoping to see the beloved trio—Paresh, Akshay, and Suniel—reunite on screen.

In a recent interview, Akshay addressed the situation, expressing cautious optimism. “Whatever is happening is happening in front of you. Keeping my fingers crossed. I hope everything goes well,” he said, before adding reassuringly, “Everything will go well only. I know, for sure.”

For those unaware, Paresh had earlier taken to X (formerly Twitter) to announce his exit from the film. He made it clear there were no creative differences with director Priyadarshan and that his decision was a personal one. Speaking to Mid-Day, he said, “I love Priyadarshan and have great respect and faith in him as a director. We’ve made wonderful films together and will continue to do so. This decision isn’t about money or creative clashes—I just didn’t feel like doing this role anymore.”

However, the matter took a legal turn when Akshay Kumar’s production team reportedly sent Paresh a legal notice, demanding ₹25 crore in damages. Pooja Tidke, Joint Managing Partner at Parinam Law Associates (which represents Akshay’s banner), stated, “We’ve informed him there are serious legal consequences. Significant expenses have already been incurred—on cast, crew, logistics, even the trailer shoot.”

Paresh responded publicly on May 25, tweeting: “My lawyer, Ameet Naik, has sent an appropriate response regarding my rightful termination and exit. Once they read my response, all issues will be laid to rest.”

Meanwhile, fans have been flooding social media with messages urging Paresh to return to the franchise. For many, Hera Pheri just wouldn’t be the same without Baburao Ganpatrao Apte—his iconic character that has become a part of pop culture. Some fans have even said the film should be shelved entirely if he’s not involved.

As things stand, it’s unclear whether Paresh will change his mind—but fans, and his co-stars, are clearly still hoping for a happy ending.