Was Hera Pheri 3 controversy after all a publicity stunt? Akshay Kumar breaks silence on what really happened

Economic Times

15 hours ago

Synopsis
Akshay Kumar has clarified that the dispute involving Hera Pheri 3 co-star Paresh Rawal was not a publicity stunt, but a genuine legal issue that has now been resolved. The conflict, which began with Rawal's reported exit from the film and legal action by Kumar, led to speculation among fans. However, the original cast — Kumar, Rawal, and Suniel Shetty — is now back together, and the film has resumed development.
Hera Pheri 3 Back on Track as Akshay Kumar Clears the Air on Paresh Rawal Fallout Actor Akshay Kumar has addressed the prolonged controversy surrounding Hera Pheri 3 and confirmed that the reported fallout with co-star Paresh Rawal was not staged for publicity. Kumar stated that the issue had gone through legal channels, ruling out any suggestion of a stunt. He also said that the matter is now resolved and that an official announcement regarding the film can happen at any time.Kumar made the statment while speaking in an interview with Hindustan Times. 'There were some ups and downs,' Kumar admitted, referring to the conflict, but stressed that the entire team — including Suniel Shetty and Paresh Rawal — is now back together.
The Hera Pheri 3 controversy dates back to 2022, when Akshay Kumar revealed that he wouldn't be part of the third film due to creative differences. Speculation followed that Kartik Aaryan might replace him in the beloved franchise. However, Kumar later returned, and a promotional video featuring the original trio — Kumar, Rawal, and Shetty — reignited fan excitement.Drama resurfaced earlier this year when news broke that Paresh Rawal had exited the project. Reports suggested his departure stemmed from creative disagreements, though Rawal clarified publicly that he had no issues with director Priyadarshan. The situation intensified when it was reported that Akshay Kumar, who owns the rights to the franchise, initiated legal action against Rawal, leading the veteran actor to return the advance payment he had received for the film.Despite the public and legal back-and-forth, the actors have since reconciled. Paresh Rawal is confirmed to be back on board, and the film is reportedly back in development. Kumar emphasized that the matter was serious and legally handled, further denying that the events were orchestrated to generate buzz around the film.The reunion of the original cast marks a major moment for fans of the comedy franchise, which began with the release of Hera Pheri in 2000, followed by Phir Hera Pheri in 2006. Over the years, the characters of Raju, Shyam, and Babu Bhaiya have become iconic, and the return of the core trio has generated considerable anticipation for the upcoming sequel.With the controversy behind them, the team is now focused on moving forward with the film. While no formal release date has been shared yet, fans can expect more concrete updates soon as Hera Pheri 3 progresses towards production with the original cast intact.