The much-anticipated Bollywood comedy ‘Hera Pheri 3’ has been facing one setback after another. First, veteran actor Paresh Rawal, known for his iconic role as Baburao Ganpatrao Apte, announced his departure from the project. This unexpected move led to legal action from co-star and producer Akshay Kumar, who has filed INR250 million lawsuit against Rawal for breach of contract.

After legally buying its rights from producer Feroz Nadiadwala, Kumar is also the producer of ‘Hera Pheri 3’.

Rawal confirmed his exit via social media, stating that his decision was not due to creative disagreements and expressing respect for director Priyadarshan.

Priyadarshan expressed his disappointment over Rawal’s unexpected exit, stating that he felt hurt as Rawal did not explain his departure, despite their long-standing friendship and professional relationship. He emphasised the emotional impact of Rawal’s decision, considering the film’s legacy and the bond shared among the original cast. Priyadarshan has also backed Kumar’s legal action against Rawal.

Suniel Shetty also recently said he cannot imagine this movie going forward without Paresh Rawal.

The future of ‘Hera Pheri 3’ is unclear as the production team faces these obstacles. Franchise fans are curious about the film’s fate without one of its main characters, though many claim this could be a publicity stunt to generate buzz.