The iconic Hera Pheri franchise found itself in the middle of an unexpected storm after veteran actor Paresh Rawal confirmed his exit from the upcoming Hera Pheri 3. Rawal, whose portrayal of the eccentric Baburao Ganpatrao Apte, popularly known as Babu Bhaiya, shocked fans last month when he officially announced he would no longer be a part of the much-awaited third installment.

The development sparked an immediate backlash from fans, many of whom have taken to social media to plead with the actor to reconsider. On Monday, a fan commented on one of Rawal’s posts on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “Sir please think once again to join HERA PHERI movie You are the hero of this movie.” Rawal replied with humility and affection: “NO … There are Three Heroes in Hera Pheri,” followed by a folded hand and heart emoji.

Comedian and content creator Ashish Chanchlani also voiced support for the actor’s return. “Paresh sir, I am sure you must be feeling burnt out by Babu Bhaiya… But we all genuinely request you to come back. You are truly the soul of this franchise. I hope you find a way,” he tweeted.

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The original Hera Pheri, directed by Priyadarshan and released in 2000, brought together Paresh Rawal, Akshay Kumar, and Suniel Shetty in a now-legendary trio of misfits. The film’s massive success was followed by a sequel, Phir Hera Pheri, in 2006, directed by Neeraj Vora. For nearly two decades, fans have awaited the return of Raju, Shyam, and Babu Bhaiya, until the recent controversy threw that reunion into question.

On May 18, Rawal publicly addressed the issue. “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 filmmaker. I hold immense love, respect, and faith in Mr Priyadarshan,” he stated on X.

Akshay Kumar, who stars in and is also producing Hera Pheri 3, reportedly filed a Rs 25 crore lawsuit against Rawal, claiming damages for breach of contract. According to the legal notice, Rawal had accepted a payment of Rs 11 lakh for his involvement in the film and had participated in promotional work, suggesting his departure was both sudden and deliberate.

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At the launch event of Housefull 5, Kumar addressed the situation delicately when asked about fans criticizing Rawal’s decision. “Using this kind of word for one of my co-star like a foolish word or something. I would not appreciate it, and that’s not right. I worked with him since the last 30-35 years, we are very good friends. He’s a great actor and I really admire him,” Kumar said, adding, “It’s a very serious matter. It is a matter which is going to be handled by the court.”

In response to the allegations, sources close to Rawal have challenged the legal claims. A source told IANS, “Calling someone like Paresh Rawal, a stalwart with four decades of iconic work, ‘unprofessional’ is not just unfair, it’s laughable. Let’s be clear, the film hadn’t even started. There was a promo shoot, not a film schedule. The real shoot is planned for next year.”

Whether or not Rawal returns to the role that helped define his comedic legacy remains uncertain.