The gossip around Hera Pheri 3 is finally over, and the beloved trio of Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal, and Sunil Shetty is officially reuniting for the next installment of the cult comedy franchise.
Actor Paresh Rawal, who had earlier walked away from the project citing creative differences, has confirmed his return. But what led to the patch-up? Here’s how the behind-the-scenes drama was resolved.
Unity Restored with Support from Sajid & Ahmed
In an interview with Pinkvilla, producer Firoz Nadiadwala said that it was the timely intervention of Sajid Nadiadwala and Ahmed Khan that reunited the Hera Pheri family.
“The Hera Pheri family has been reunited thanks to my brother Sajid Nadiadwala’s love, respect, and leadership, as well as Ahmed Khan sahab’s assistance,” Firoz added.
He further credited Sajid for personally investing time and energy into resolving the matter:
“Sajid bhai gave his time and effort for days. Ahmed also worked very hard. With their love and guidance, everything is positive again.”
Akshay Kumar’s Full Support
Firoz also acknowledged Akshay Kumar’s role in the resolution, highlighting the strong bond they’ve shared since 1996.
“Akshay ji was helpful, sympathetic, and actively interested in fixing the situation. Priyadarshan ji, Paresh ji, and Sunil ji all contributed totally. Now we’re expecting a good, happy film.”
What Paresh Rawal Said
In a recent podcast with Himanshu Mehta, Paresh Rawal denied there was any major controversy.
“No, there is no controversy. When people love something so much, we have to be extra careful. “We owe it to the audience to work hard and do our best.”
When asked about returning to the franchise, he replied:
“Yes, I’m back. We just needed to make the film better. Everyone involved — be it Akshay, Sunil, or Priyadarshan — is a creative mind and an old friend.”
When Things Took a Legal Turn
At one point, tensions flared when Paresh Rawal abruptly exited the film, leading Akshay Kumar’s production team to issue a legal notice. According to Akshay’s lawyer, the production house had already invested heavily in the project.
In response, Paresh returned his ₹11 lakh signing amount, along with 5% interest, in a gesture of goodwill.
Akshay’s Emotional Reaction
Director Priyadarshan revealed in an interview with Mid Day that Akshay was emotionally affected by Paresh’s exit.
“Akshay has a strong emotional connection with Hera Pheri. He broke down and begged me, ‘Why is Paresh doing this?’ He didn’t want Paresh’s decision to impact the film financially.”
Priyadarshan added that things could’ve been resolved with a simple conversation, as they’ve all been close friends for years.
The Good News? Hera Pheri 3 Is Happening — With the OG Cast!
Thanks to Sajid Nadiadwala, Ahmed Khan, and Akshay Kumar’s persistent efforts, the much-loved trio is back. Fans can now look forward to another round of unforgettable comedy, confusion, and iconic one-liners.
