Johnny Lever Speaks Out on ‘Hera Pheri 3’ Drama: “Without Paresh Rawal, It Feels Incomplete”
Johnny Lever, the well-known comedian, has finally spoken out over the current issue surrounding Hera Pheri 3, particularly the unexpected departure of legendary actor Paresh Rawal. Speaking to Zoom in a heartfelt conversation, Johnny didn’t hold back. He made an emotional appeal to Rawal, urging him to return to the iconic franchise.
“There should be a talk from the heart,” Johnny said. “He should come back. The audience is waiting to see the magic of Akshay, Sunil, and Paresh together again. Without Paresh ji, it’ll be like a thali without salt—just won’t hit the same. They need to sort this out. Reconciliation is important.”
Legal Issues & Behind-The-Scenes Drama
But this isn’t just a matter of emotions. There’s also a legal angle. Akshay Kumar’s team allegedly sent Paresh Rawal a legal notification after he decided to leave. In response, Rawal’s legal team, Anand & Naik, clarified the situation to IANS, stating:
“The story, screenplay, and even a preliminary draft were not given to our client. Moreover, producer Sajid Nadiadwala—who backed the original Hera Pheri—has officially objected to this sequel. So, our client returned the advance payment with interest and canceled all prior commitments.”
₹11 Lakh Returned, With Interest
Yes, you read that right. Along with interest, Paresh Rawal gave back the ₹11 lakh advance he had taken out.Akshay’s team claims the shoot was delayed, causing financial losses after Rawal stepped away. But Rawal’s lawyers responded clearly:
“That’s not accurate. Payment was made even before any formal script or title was shared. Blaming our client for damages is baseless.”
A Matter of Trust, Not Just Contracts
According to a Times of India report, Rawal had signed a term sheet in March during the shoot of his film Bhoot Bangla. The deal was rushed, and no lawyer looked at the paperwork. It was based purely on trust. Akshay told him:
“Trust me, you’ll read everything in the full agreement later.”
Relying on this friendship, Rawal agreed. But when April came around and he was asked to shoot a promotional teaser for Hera Pheri 3—even before the IPL finale—he asked for clarity. Instead, he got vague promises: “We’ll send the documents soon.”
A Risky Payment Model
What really set off alarm bells for Paresh Rawal was the strange payment structure. The deal said he’d get 99% of his payment only after the film’s release—which is highly unusual. Normally, actors get paid in three parts: before shooting, during production, and post-release. But here, only a small token amount was offered upfront. For a veteran like Rawal, that didn’t feel right—especially when the project itself lacked transparency.
Final Thoughts
In the middle of all this confusion and mistrust, one thing is crystal clear—Paresh Rawal is the heart of Hera Pheri. Without him, the movie may lose the very soul that made it iconic.
Let’s hope for a patch-up. After all, Indian cinema deserves to see Babu Bhaiya back where he belongs—making us laugh till our stomachs hurt.
