Paresh Rawal says Hera Pheri 3 delayed due to ‘technical issue’ between Akshay Kumar and makers: ‘Nothing to do with me’

Hera Pheri 3 is delayed? Here's what Paresh Rawal said on returning to the iconic franchise helmed by Priyadarshan.

Updated on: Jan 29, 2026, 17:19:58 IST

By Santanu Das

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Fans have been eagerly awaiting Hera Pheri 3, which will reunite Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal, and Suniel Shetty. The film has had its fair share of controversy, given Paresh’s sudden exit from the project, which shocked both fans and Akshay Kumar, who had acquired the rights to the franchise. Paresh confirmed his return and that the film is now back on track. He mentioned that the film will start shooting in February or March. (Also read: Hera Pheri 3 has to do justice to the first part, says director Priyadarshan: ‘I have to make sure that it is tolerable’)

Akshay Kumar and Paresh Rawal to share screen in Hera Pheri 3.

What Paresh said

Now, in a fun conversation with The Comedy Factory on their latest YouTube video, Paresh has shared details on the shoot of Hera Pheri 3, the controversies surrounding it and why the shoot is delayed. “All this that had blown up in between that Akshay Kumar has sued me for ₹25 crore, that is all okay yaa, it’s like kachva chaap agarbatti (too much smoke without any reason).”

Speaking in Gujarati, he went on to add, “This is a technical issue between the producer and an actor (Akshay). Nothing to do with me. When these two resolve the issue, I'll just have to sign (the papers).”

About Hera Pheri 3

Last year in May, Paresh had announced his departure from the third instalment. Shortly after, Akshay Kumar—who is also producing the film through his banner Cape of Good Films—filed a lawsuit related to the project. However, Paresh later confirmed his return to the film

Directed by Priyadarshan, Hera Pheri first released in 2000, introducing audiences to the iconic trio of Baburao Ganpatrao Apte (Paresh), Raju (Akshay), and Shyam (Suniel). The characters returned in the 2006 sequel Phir Hera Pheri, directed by Neeraj Vora.

Paresh was last seen in the 2025 film The Taj Story.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Santanu Das
Santanu Das is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over 5 years of experience, writing on films, pop culture and film festivals. He has a keen interest in writing about South Asian independent films and has covered several film festivals, including Sundance and CPH: Docx. He also brings a sharp perspective to the monthly column called The Fault in Our Stars, where he writes about a recent film/series and what stops the ‘good’ from becoming ‘great’. A gold medalist from Banaras Hindu University, Santanu completed his postgraduate studies in English from Jadavpur University. He is also a Rotten Tomatoes-certified film critic. When not watching films or speaking to celebrities, Santanu can be found reading a book. Some of his favourite films are Aparajito, Ponyo and The Double Life of Veronique. His favourite books include The Corrections, The God of Small Things and A Room of One's Own. Santanu continues to write passionately about films and celebrity culture. He brings a relatable, as well as critically informed, lens to entertainment and culture for a wide audience. Find him on LinkedIn: santanudasfilm Instagram: @santupechaRead More

Catch every big hit, every wicket with Crickit, a one stop destination for Live Scores, Match Stats, Infographics & much more. Explore now!.

Get more updates from Bollywood, Taylor Swift, Hollywood, Music and Web Series along with Latest Entertainment News at Hindustan Times.