Priyadarshan: Akshay Was in Tears After Paresh Rawal Quit Hera Pheri 3

Paresh Rawal's sudden reveal of him backing out of the third film in the iconic comedy series left fans of Hera Pheri heartbroken. His role as Baburao has become a cult favorite over the years, making the news even more surprising — especially since filming had already begun and the original trio, including Akshay Kumar and Suniel Shetty, had reunited. Although Paresh said there were no creative clashes, his unexpected exit has stirred a wave of emotion and confusion among both the film’s team and longtime fans.

The filmmaker admitted he was deeply hurt and shocked by Paresh’s public announcement, especially since the actor hadn’t informed him or the team beforehand. After the news broke, Paresh reportedly sent Priyadarshan a message, saying he still respected him and held no hard feelings, but had personal reasons for stepping away.

Priyadarshan refuted claims that he had tried to convince Paresh to stay, explaining, “He never told me he was quitting. When I tried to call, he messaged saying, ‘Please don’t call me. This is my decision and it has nothing to do with you.’ He added that he hoped we’d work together again.”

The director also shut down rumors of any tension on set, saying that Akshay Kumar has always respected a director’s vision and never meddled in creative decisions. He shared a particularly emotional moment, revealing that Akshay was devastated by Paresh’s sudden exit. “Akshay had tears in his eyes. He asked me, ‘Priyan, why is Paresh doing this to us?’” Priyadarshan said. “Everything was set. Just ten days before this, Akshay, Suniel, and Paresh had shot a scene and an IPL teaser together. Akshay even bought the rights to the franchise after we all agreed to move ahead with the film.”

Meanwhile, Paresh had previously said that he stepped away because he didn’t feel connected to the project and wasn’t interested in reprising his iconic role of Baburao Ganpatrao Apte. Suniel Shetty also expressed his surprise, saying he and Akshay had no idea about Paresh’s decision, especially after shooting the promo together.

Now, things have taken a legal turn. Akshay Kumar’s production house, Cape of Good Films, has reportedly filed a ₹25 crore lawsuit against Paresh for breaching his contract. A source close to the matter said, “If he didn’t want to be part of the film, he should have declined before signing the contract, accepting payment, and letting the production spend so much on the shoot.”

Fans had long awaited the reunion of the beloved trio — Akshay, Suniel, and Paresh — in Hera Pheri 3. But with Paresh stepping away, many now feel the magic of the franchise might be lost, and some are even calling for the film to be shelved altogether.

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