Hera Pheri is a symbol of happiness, nostalgia and memories from the 2000s. Everything from its situational humour, quirky characters and evergreen jokes to the iconic characters of ‘Shyam’, ‘Raju’ and ‘Babu bhaiya’ made it a cult franchise. Since the release of its sequel in 2006, fans have been waiting for the next instalment, and after a lot of delays, Hera Pheri 3 was announced in 2024. But before the shooting could begin, things have sadly taken a dramatic turn after Paresh Rawal suddenly made an exit and producer, Akshay Kumar’s legal team announced their decision to sue him. What was supposed to be a nostalgic comeback has become a cause for conflict between the trio of Akshay, Paresh, and Suniel leaving the film’s future in uncertainty. Recently, Akshay’s legal team and Suniel Shetty, a.k.a ‘Shyam’, reacted to it.
Akshay Kumar’s legal team revealed Paresh Rawal took a signing amount of Rs. 11 lakhs and had started shooting
Legal counsel Parinam Law Associates, who filed the lawsuit against Paresh Rawal on behalf of Akshay Kumar’s production house, confirmed to the Times Of India that they have sued the actor for Rs. 25 crore. They shared that Paresh had publicly announced his participation in the film through his X handle and had accepted a part payment of Rs. 11 lakh. Consequently, the actor’s production house invested in promotions and other things. The statement read:
“He (Paresh Rawal formalised his commitment by executing a Term Sheet dated March 27 2025, pursuant to which he accepted a part payment of Rs 11,00,000/- towards his remuneration. Acting in complete reliance on his public endorsement and contractual commitment, Cape of Good Films incurred substantial production and promotional expenditures, including those for the teaser and initial film shoot, in which Mr Rawal actively participated. The teaser shoot commenced on April 3 2025, and over 3 minutes of footage was shot with Mr Rawal.”
Moreover, the statement revealed that the teaser shoot for the film began on April 3, 2025, which included a 3-minute-long footage of Paresh Rawal. In addition, he was a part of the creative discussions related to the film with Akshay and Suniel. However, at that point the actor expressed no issues over anything. However, after investments were made in the project, Paresh Rawal suddenly left the film. This caused financial loss, disrupted schedules and affected the film’s work. They concluded by adding:
“Cape of Good Films has demanded damages to the tune of Rs 25 crores from Mr Rawal. If the demand is not complied with within seven days, the company will be constrained to pursue appropriate legal remedies, including civil and criminal action.”
Suniel Shetty reveals he is ‘hurt’ over Akshay Kumar suing Paresh Rawal
After Paresh Rawal’s sudden exit from Hera Pheri 3 and Akshay’s action, fans and industry insiders were stunned because they had a longstanding history of working together. Moreover, they have two more films, Bhoot Bangla and Welcome To The Jungle, under production. Amid this, Times Of India reached out to Suniel Shetty, who has been a part of the trio. Sharing how he is ‘hurt’ over the way things have unfolded, Suniel said:
“Hurt! Honestly, we have been friends for too long. We have had our ups and downs; it happens with family in life. Hera Pheri cannot happen without Paresh, Raju (Akshay Kumar) and Shyam (Suniel Shetty). Even if Hera Pheri doesn’t happen, I do not want those two friends to be bitter about each other. I don’t want them to fall out.”
Suniel Shetty, who is on a promotional spree for his upcoming film, Kesari Veer, mentioned that the Hindi film industry is already going through a tough phase, and everyone is working hard. So, the new conflict shouldn’t take place. At the same time, the actor highlighted that he doesn’t want two friends to fall apart. When Suniel was asked if he had reached out to other actors, he revealed that he hadn’t been able to talk to them. He called Paresh Rawal, but he stated that he would talk later. Yet, he stated that he would talk to Akshay Kumar and Paresh after the release of his film.
What do you think about think about the statement of Akshay Kumar’s legal team on suing Paresh Rawal for his sudden exit from Hera Pheri 3?
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