In a surprising turn of event, Akshay Kumar has reportedly filed a Rs 25 crore lawsuit against his long-time co-star Paresh Rawal, owing to his abrupt exit from Hera Pheri 3. Akshay believes this caused major setbacks to the production. According to a report in Hindustan Times, the lawsuit seeks damages for what is being seen as a case of professional sabotage.
The news dropped just days after Paresh Rawal publicly confirmed via X (formerly Twitter) that he was no longer part of the film. But he was quick to shut down rumours of conflict behind the scenes.
“I wish to put it on record that my decision to step away from Hera Pheri 3 was not due to creative differences. I REITERATE THAT THERE ARE NO CREATIVE DISAGREEMENT WITH THE FILM MAKER. I hold immense love, respect, and faith in Mr. Priyadarshan the film director,” Rawal wrote in his post on May 18.
That clarification, however, doesn’t seem to have helped the situation. According to sources close to the production, Rawal had not only agreed to do the film earlier this year but was also paid three times his usual fee. He had reportedly taken part in pre-production discussions, shot a day’s worth of material, and even featured in the teaser promo—all without raising any red flags.
“Paresh himself announced doing the film on his X handle in January, he participated in all pre-production planning, shot for a day (including the teaser promo) willingly. When he never expressed dissatisfaction at any point, for him to now suddenly play with the emotions of the fans of this franchise and inflict losses on the producer is clearly in bad faith,” a source told Hindustan Times.
The source added, “Paresh displayed a blatant disregard for professional integrity or commercial morality. If he wanted to not do the film, he should have said so before signing the legal contract, accepting the signing amount and making the producer spend so much money on the shoot.”
The film, directed by the legendary Priyadarshan, reunited the beloved trio of Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, and Paresh Rawal in one of Bollywood’s most iconic comedy franchises. Akshay, who also serves as producer for Hera Pheri 3 after acquiring the rights from Feroz Nadiadwala, had reportedly committed significant time and resources to get the project off the ground.
Insiders suggest that this lawsuit may mark a turning point in how the industry approaches professionalism and accountability. “It is high time Bollywood actors realise that like Hollywood, producers here too will no longer give in to the whims of an actor walking in and out of a film as he pleases,” said a source familiar with the legal proceedings.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Paresh Rawal has stepped away from a film mid-process. In 2023, he chose not to be a part of Oh My God 2, citing issues with the script. And back in 2009, he reportedly exited Shah Rukh Khan’s Billu Barber – another Priyadarshan directorial – after initially committing to the project.
But what makes this instance particularly notable is that this is the first time in Akshay Kumar’s 35-year career that he has taken legal action against a fellow actor. Known for his professionalism and long-standing industry relationships, this move signals that even the most amicable stars are now drawing firm boundaries when it comes to business.