'It is not a spa': Paresh Rawal slams luxury culture in multiplexes. Calls out reclining seats, high ticket prices amid 'Hera Pheri 3' comeback
In a candid podcast interview, Paresh Rawal confirmed his return to Hera Pheri 3 while sharply criticizing Bollywood's current trajectory. He expressed concern over overpriced multiplex tickets, indulgent recliner seating, and filmmakers' failure to evolve with viewers' refined tastes. Urging sincerity in storytelling, Rawal called for cinema that serves the people—not just the privileged.
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
Too Pricey for the People?
'It's a Film, Not a Spa!'
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
The Content Disconnect
Hera Pheri 3: No Room for Complacency
Upcoming Line-Up
Just as fans of Hera Pheri breathed a sigh of relief after Paresh Rawal confirmed his return to the iconic franchise, the veteran actor took a break from comedy to get real. In a fiery and unapologetically candid conversation on The Himanshu Mehta Show , Rawal didn't mince words as he called out some of the most glaring issues in Hindi cinema today—from bloated ticket prices to the bizarre luxury experience of watching a film while nearly lying down.Taking on the rising costs of watching a film, Rawal lamented how cinema outings have become inaccessible for the middle class. Using an everyday example, he pointed out that a family of five could easily shell out ₹5,000 to ₹6,000 for one movie night—without even being guaranteed satisfaction from the film itself. Add popcorn, ice cream and soda to the mix, and the cinema seems less like entertainment and more like a luxury.'If the aam janta shuns your film and only the rich class endorses it, then it's wrong,' Rawal said, pointing to the disparity between the content offered and the price being paid. He applauded South Indian cinema for sticking to a more structured pricing system, where ticket prices rarely go beyond ₹200, making entertainment accessible and sustainable.But the actor saved his sharpest barbs for the 'Gold Class' experience—recliner seats, pillow-laden lounges, and waiters wandering around mid-scene with snack trays. 'You are supposed to watch a film while sitting, not lying down. You haven't come to a spa, you've come to see a film!' he quipped, clearly unimpressed by the 'platinum-plus' upgrades now being passed off as standard viewing.With the kind of wit only Paresh Rawal can deliver, he said, 'Waiters keep roaming around. We have to tell them 'hatt, hatt!' Arre it's a film, not a wedding event!' His critique was less about comfort and more about distraction and dilution of what going to the movies used to mean.Rawal also pulled focus to a much deeper issue—the disconnect between Hindi filmmakers and the audiences they're trying to reach. The post-pandemic OTT boom , according to him, has refined viewer tastes, exposing them to high-quality narratives from across the world. 'The audience has evolved, but filmmakers haven't,' he said, making a strong case for content that meets contemporary expectations rather than resting on the laurels of star power and formula.Amid this critique, Rawal's confirmation of Hera Pheri 3 was a silver lining for fans. However, he offered a thoughtful reminder to the team: when something is deeply loved, it must be handled with care. 'You can't take things for granted,' he said, adding that while he's excited to reunite with Akshay Kumar and Suniel Shetty , the team must work sincerely to give audiences what they truly deserve.Earlier rumours had hinted at Rawal's exit from the film, but he clarified that all differences had been resolved. 'It's all sorted—nothing happened,' he stated, bringing much-needed clarity to months of speculation.Apart from Hera Pheri 3, Rawal is also gearing up for his next release, Nikita Roy , the directorial debut of Kussh S Sinha. The film, which also stars Sonakshi Sinha and Arjun Rampal, has now been postponed to July 18. He also has projects like Bhooth Bangla, Welcome To The Jungle, and Ajey: The Untold Story of a Yogi in the pipeline.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
These 5 blockbusters of Akshay Kumar prove why he is the
These 5 blockbusters of Akshay Kumar prove why he is the "Comedy King", will make you laugh even on the 10th rewatch, the films are... In today's landscape of cinema, which is dominated by thrillers, action films, and romantic films, there is one actor who has managed to rule the world of entertainment with his comedy films. Known for his impeccable acting and great comic timing, this star has delivered many iconic laughter riots that will make you laugh and touch an emotional nerve altogether. The actor that we are talking about is none other than Akshay Kumar. Here are 5 unforgettable comedy films of Akshay Kumar that prove that he is the Comedy King. 1. Hera Pheri (2000) The first one on the list is Hera Pheri. This cult classic is all geared up for its third sequel. It wasn't just a film, it was a phenomenon. The film featured Sunil Shetty and Paresh Rawal in the lead. Akshay portrays the role of Raju, who is naïve and hilarious. From the dialogues of the film to the chemistry of the trio, this film is timeless, and its characters are still a part of meme culture. 2. Phir Hera Pheri (2006) After the major success of Hera Pheri, Phir Hera Pheri returned. Living up to the expectations, this film gave the audience another dose of madness and riot. The chemistry between Raju-Shyam-Baburao in this film was also widely appreciated. The hilarious moments in the film still flood meme pages and reels today. 3. Welcome (2007) From making people laugh, entertaining them with drama, to the heartfelt romance, this film had it all. Akshay Kumar portrays the role of a simple, suave guy who ends up falling in love with a girl (Katrina Kaif), who belongs to a gangster family. While the chemistry between Akshay and Katrina was widely appreciated, co-stars like Anil Kapoor, Nana Patekar, and Paresh Rawal also did an impeccable job in turning this film into one of the biggest blockbusters of its time. 4. Bhagam Bhag (2006) This Priyadarshan film featured the powerful combo of Akshay with Govinda. With a fast-paced plot, hilarious comedy, and chaos, this film had the audience in splits. 5. Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004) This rom-com still makes waves even after years of its release. The film features Akshay Kumar, Salman Khan, and Priyanka Chopra in the lead. Akshay is seen playing the role of a charming troublemaker who made life miserable for Salman Khan's character. His poking and leg pulling will make you crack up laughing. Akshay's hilarious and quirky expressions make this movie all the more funny and make it a commercial hit. Over the years, Akshay Kumar has delivered laughter-riots that have made him one of the most bankable and versatile actors in the comedy space
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Maa box office collection day 4: Kajol's horror drama witnesses a drop of 68%, earns Rs 2.25 crore
Kajol in Maa. | Credit: Jio Studios Maa box office collection day 4: Maa, starring Kajol, hit the screens on June 27 and opened to a decent response at the Indian box office. The horror drama then witnessed good growth over the weekend and emerged as the top choice of the Hindi audience. Maa continued its run on Monday, June 30, despite witnessing a drop. Maa witnesses a drop on Monday Kajol is in the limelight because of her latest film Maa, which has made a fair impact at the Indian box office. According to Sacnilk, a trade website, the film collected Rs 2.25 crore on Monday (June 30). This figure is nearly 68% lower than the Rs 7 crore it earned on June 30. Here is the day-wise breakdown for Maa: Day 1: Rs 4.65 crore Day 2: Rs 6 crore Day 3: Rs 6 crore Day 4: Rs 2.25 crore The film's total collection stands at Rs 19.9 crore. Maa received positive reviews, with critics lauding the performances and the visual effects. The positive word-of-mouth is expected to help the horror drama stay stable in the days to come. About Maa Maa is a horror drama that revolves around a mother and her daughter as they battle demons in a village where girls have been vanishing. The mother eventually transforms into the goddess Kali to defeat the forces of evil. The film, which features Kajol and Ronit Roy in the lead, is directed by Vishal Furia. For more news and updates from the world of OTT and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. First Published: Jul 01, 2025, 10:34 IST Roktim Rajpal is a Principal Digital Content Producer at Indiatimes. He has been an entertainment journalist for a decade. Roktim is a movie buff and specialises in covering South cinema and Bollywood. He also takes a keen interest in web series. Read More
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
‘Who'll accept if Hema Malini becomes Zeenat Aman': Yash Chopra rejected Poonam Dhillon's pitch for Yeh Vaada Raha story
Actor Poonam Dhillon recalled late filmmaker Yash Chopra's reaction when she once pitched him a film idea based on Daniel Steele's The Promise. It was later directed by Kapil Kapoor and was titled Yeh Vaada Raha (1982). Speaking with news agency ANI, Poonam revealed that he rejected the film saying that the Indian audience won't accept Hema Malini becoming Zeenat Aman. As per the plot of the story, the lead female actors changed after a cosmetic surgery. Yash Chopra didn't like Poonam Dhillon's pitch for Yeh Vaada Raha story. Poonam recalled reading the book during her trip to Japan. After returning to India she told Yash Chopra about the plot. "I told Yashji. I said, 'Yashji, ek bohot achchi kahani maini padhi hai (I have read a good story). I think it's a lovely story'. He said, 'I don't read books, you give it to Pam, she'll read it and tell me'. So I said, 'Okay'. Yeah, so Pam ji read it probably again in a day. It was a very fast read. And she gave him the narration of the subject. And I was very excited waiting for his reaction. So I said, Yash ji, you read it, Pam ji told you. He said, 'Yes, yes. But this film, our Hindi audience won't accept it'. I said, 'Why Yash ji, it's such a good story, you know, romantic story, everything'," said Poonam. As per Yash, there was a flaw in the story, which, according to him, renders it unsuitable for the Hindi audience. "He said, acha ek baat bta. Hema Malini Zeenat Aman ban jaae, kon accept karega (Tell me one thing. If Hema Malini becomes Zeenat Aman, who will accept)?' He finished my dream there and then, and the story was over. Yash Chopra toh nhi banane waale the (Chopra was not going to make it)," said Poonam. Poonam later realised Yash Chopra was right about audience's reaction Years later, Poonam was pitched a similar story by the makers of Yeh Vaada Raha, which she immediately accepted. However, after the film's struggling performance at the box office, Poonam recalled Yash's feedback on the story. "And sure, it proved right enough. At that time, plastic surgery wasn't something people would accept so easily. And that whole face has changed, and the same person is etc. So, it didn't work well at that time," she added. About Yeh Vaada Raha Yeh Vaada Raha also starred Rishi Kapoor, Tina, Rakhee and Shammi Kapoor. It was the first Hindi film where the lead female character is portrayed by two actors (Poonam and Tina) through the use of plastic surgery.
