Veteran actor Paresh Rawal has finally confirmed his return to Hera Pheri 3, commenting that earlier issues regarding his involvement in the film have been resolved.
In an open discussion on a podcast with Himanshu Mehta, Rawal put all rumors of an on-going feud to rest and stated, "There's no controversy. I think that when people have loved something so much, then you have to be extra careful. It is our responsibility towards the audience. The audience has given you so much adoration. You can't take things for granted. Mehnat karke unko (film) do."
He also clarified his previous position, highlighting the significance of loyalty and togetherness between the cast: "So, I was of the belief that sab saath mein aaye, mehnat karein. Aur kuch nahin. It is all solved now."
When Mehta sought again for confirmation on whether the cast from the first one is being reunited for Hera Pheri 3, Rawal had laughed and said, "Pehle bhi aane hi waali thi but it's just that we needed to work ourselves out. After all, all of them are creative, be it Priyadarshan, Akshay or Suniel. They are friends for many, many, many years."
Speaking to SCREEN, Rawal also confirmed in a short statement that he was indeed coming back to the highly-anticipated comedy franchise: "Yes."
Rawal's participation in Hera Pheri 3 had been the subject of intense media rumour over the last few weeks. Earlier, there were reports that he had chosen to exit the project over creative differences. But on May 18, the actor made a clarification on X, stating, "I want to put on record that my decision to exit Hera Pheri 3 was not because of creative differences. I again state that there are no creative differences with the director. I have huge love, respect, and trust towards Mr Priyadarshan."
After leaving the project, Akshay Kumar, who is also producing the film, is said to have lodged a legal complaint against Rawal for Rs 25 crore damages. The notice stated that Rawal had taken Rs 11 lakh as advance payment and had also done promotional video shoots for the film.
In reply, Rawal's lawyer confirmed that the actor had returned the payment plus 15% interest. Posting the update on X, Rawal said, "My lawyer, Ameet Naik, has delivered a suitable response to my rightful termination and departure. Once they read my response all issues will be laid to rest."
In spite of the conflict, Akshay Kumar made a public defense of Rawal at the trailer launch of Housefull 5. Replying to a fan naming Rawal "foolish" for his previous choice, Akshay stated, "Using this sort of word for one of my co-star like a foolish word or something. I would not like it, and that is not correct. I worked with him since the last 30–35 years, we are best friends.". He's an excellent actor and I personally respect him.
Akshay has also accepted the gravity of the legal issue, commenting, "It's a very serious thing. It is a thing which is going to be dealt by the court."
With Rawal now officially back on board, Hera Pheri 3 is set to reunite the iconic trio—Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, and Paresh Rawal—for what fans hope will be another unforgettable installment in the beloved comedy franchise.
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