Paresh Rawal Confirms Exit from Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty's Hera Pheri 3; Fans Say ‘It Shouldn’t Be Made Now'

One of Bollywood’s most awaited films, Hera Pheri 3, has hit a major roadblock. Fans were eagerly looking forward to the return of the iconic trio—Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, and Paresh Rawal—but that dream now seems uncertain. In a recent conversation with Bollywood Hungama, Paresh Rawal confirmed that he is no longer part of the upcoming sequel, confirming fan fears with a simple statement: “Yes, it’s a fact.”

According to a source quoted by the portal, Paresh Rawal exited the project due to creative differences with the film’s makers. “There were creative differences between the makers and Paresh Rawal. As a result, the actor decided to step down from the film,” the source said.

The news has left fans deeply disappointed. Social media quickly filled with reactions, with many suggesting that without Rawal’s beloved character Babu Rao, Hera Pheri 3 shouldn’t happen at all. One fan tweeted, “What? So all the fun has exited from Hera Pheri 3?” Another wrote, “No Paresh Rawal, no Hera Pheri 3.” Some even called for the film to be scrapped altogether, saying, “Let the cult remain a cult—don’t destroy the series just for money.”

Despite the disappointment, some fans are still hopeful. One tweet read, “If it’s true, Akshay sir will bring him back,” while another pleaded, “We can’t imagine Hera Pheri without him… Please bring him back.”

This isn’t the first time Paresh Rawal has spoken about the pressures of playing Babu Rao. In an earlier interview with Lallantop, the veteran actor shared how the role, though iconic, has also felt creatively limiting. “That character is like a noose around my neck,” he said. “After Hera Pheri 2 came out in 2006, I approached Vishal Bhardwaj in 2007 and told him I wanted to break free from this image. I asked for a different kind of role—maybe even in the same getup—but something that would show another side of me.”

He added that he had a similar conversation with filmmaker R. Balki in 2022. “I told him, give me something different. I feel suffocated. Yes, the character makes people happy, and that brings me joy too. But there’s also a kind of trap. I want to break free from it.”

With Rawal stepping away from Hera Pheri 3, the future of the film—and the legacy of one of Bollywood’s most loved comedy franchises—now hangs in the balance.