The much-anticipated Hera Pheri 3 has been facing one controversy after the other ever since veteran actor Paresh Rawal walked away from the project, sparking a storm of speculation and legal drama. The sudden development left fans and industry insiders in shock, especially given Rawal’s iconic portrayal of Baburao Ganpatrao Apte. The question on everyone’s minds right now is, will Hera Pheri 3 happen without Paresh Rawal? Akshay Kumar recently answered this.
In a recent exclusive with Pinkvilla, Akshay Kumar addressed the ongoing situation for the first time, offering a note of cautious optimism. “Whatever is happening is happening in front of you,” he said. “Keeping my fingers crossed. I hope everything goes well. Everything will go well only. I know, for sure.”
The calm reassurance from Kumar comes amidst rising tensions between him and Paresh Rawal, following the latter’s decision to withdraw from the franchise. In an earlier interview with Lallantop, Rawal candidly referred to his popular role as a “gale ka fanda” (a noose around the neck), explaining that he wished to explore new creative directions and avoid being typecast.
However, Rawal’s exit did not go down smoothly. Soon after, Akshay Kumar’s production house, Cape of Good Cinema, reportedly filed a Rs 25 crore lawsuit against the actor. Rawal is said to have returned his signing amount along with interest.
Despite the public spat, the two actors recently came together for Priyadarshan’s upcoming horror-comedy Bhoot Bangla. Sources close to the project suggest that while filming was completed professionally, the former camaraderie between the co-stars appears to have cooled considerably.
Meanwhile, Akshay Kumar continues to keep his professional calendar packed. The actor is all set to make his Telugu film debut with the mythological fantasy epic Kannappa, where he will be seen portraying Lord Shiva. The film, led by Vishnu Manchu, also features special appearances from South Indian superstars Mohanlal and Prabhas. Kannappa is scheduled to release on June 27, 2025.