Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar has filed a ₹25 crore lawsuit against co-star Paresh Rawal for exiting Hera Pheri 3, halting the production of the much-anticipated sequel. According to a national daily, the legal notice was issued through Kumar&rsquo;s production company, Cape of Good Films, citing a breach of contract and alleging unprofessional behaviour on Rawal&rsquo;s part.
The third instalment of the Hera Pheri franchise was set to begin filming under the direction of Priyadarshan and produced by Kumar, who had acquired the rights to the series from original producer Firoz Nadiadwala. However, Rawal&rsquo;s sudden departure has left the project in limbo, despite the actor having signed a binding agreement.
Contrary to earlier reports suggesting creative differences as the reason for his exit, a media outlet reported that Rawal had demanded a fee of nearly ₹25 crore to reprise his role.&nbsp;
A source close to the project stated, &ldquo;Rawal demanded close to ₹25 crore as his fee. He felt that the film would work because of the nostalgia of his character Babu Rao and that he needed to hike the fee.&rdquo; The source further added, &ldquo;This irked Kumar, who refused to give in to the actor's demand.&rdquo;
Kumar has since moved forward with legal proceedings, claiming damages equivalent to the fee Rawal allegedly sought, with filming now paused indefinitely.
On May 18, Rawal addressed the speculation in a post on X, stating, &ldquo;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.&rdquo;
Rawal&rsquo;s character, Babu Bhaiya, originally introduced in Hera Pheri (2000), became one of the most celebrated comic roles in Hindi cinema. The film, directed by Priyadarshan and featuring Akshay Kumar and Suniel Shetty alongside Rawal, was released on March 31, 2000 and received widespread acclaim.&nbsp;
The sequel, Phir Hera Pheri, released on June 9, 2006, and directed by Neeraj Vora, also achieved blockbuster status, with Rawal&rsquo;s performance once again highlighted by critics and fans alike.
Following the announcement of his withdrawal from the third film, social media reactions reflected fans&rsquo; disappointment. One user on X commented, &ldquo;Hera Pheri 3 without Babu Bhaiyya is lassi without milk.&rdquo;
While the future of Hera Pheri 3 remains uncertain, Rawal has completed work on another project alongside Kumar and Priyadarshan. The horror-comedy Bhooth Bangla, which concluded filming today, is slated for release in 2026. Rawal is also involved in the upcoming film Welcome to the Jungle.
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(With inputs from agencies)
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(Left) Akshay Kumar and Paresh Rawal (Right)

Akshay Kumar takes legal action against Paresh Rawal after actor quits Hera Pheri 3.

Akshay Kumar Sues Paresh Rawal Over ₹25 Cr Dispute

Akshay Kumar takes legal action against Paresh Rawal after actor quits Hera Pheri 3.

May 20, 2025 | 15:16 IST