Word on the street is that Paresh Rawal has bailed on Hera Pheri 3, and in a show of good faith, he’s put back his signing fee with 15 percent interest to boot. For those of us who were counting on a no-strings-attached get-together for the old guard, it’s a bit of a letdown and puts the film’s schedule in even more of a gray area.
Why this one stings
You could say the making of Hera Pheri 3 has been a bit of a free-for-all from the get-go, but this is where it rubs the audience the wrong way. It’s all about the chemistry with these characters; when there’s any kind of wobble with Baburao Ganpatrao Apte, you can see the fans’ expectations go out the window.
Of course, neither the studio nor the actor have put any of this in writing. The silence is doing its job of riling up social media, and the longer we’re kept in the dark, the more it means for a comedy we’ve come to know and like.
According to the report
The story goes that the old pro handed over the signing amount, 15 percent interest included. It seems to be a matter of how and when he was to be made whole for his time.
Here’s what the report has to say:
– He was in for Rs. 15 crores in all
– A balance of some 14.89 crores was to be paid a month after the movie hit screens
– He didn’t care for that part of the deal
– Any extra compensation was also put back on the table
A matter of timing and money
On paper, the term sheet said the 14.89 crore would come only once the film was out. Fine in theory, but then you look at the calendar.
We’re told principal photography won’t even start until next year. Do the math: don’t hold your breath for a release before the end of 2026 or 2027. For Rawal, that’s two years of waiting on the lion’s share of his pay.
So you can see why he might want to make a clean break of it with the 15 percent. It’s a firm way of saying he’s done with the haggling, without closing the door entirely.
Rumours from the set
Some are saying a teaser for the third instalment was put to camera while they were at work on Bhooth Bangla. But don’t take it as gospel – there’s no word from the top yet.
When you can’t get a straight answer on who’s in and what’s being sold, it saps the energy right out of a franchise. And for a property like this, that’s the last thing you want.
In the cast’s own words
Akshay Kumar has been open about the fog surrounding the project. ‘Hera Pheri 3 abhi filhaal toh nahi ban rahi… Mujhe khud jhatka laga tha. Koi baat nahi, Welcome bana li. Thoda kuch mantra padhna padega ki sab theek ho jaaye. Abhi ek saal toh nahi hain. Uske bohot saare issues hain…’
He made it clear the three of them are not at odds. The bottom line is there are too many loose ends to put anything together in a hurry.
Still, it’s a big name
The first one, which you could argue was a box office shocker, has had a life of its own since it came out. You still hear the one-liners in conversation.
Then in 2006, Neeraj Vora (rest in peace) put Raju, Shyam and Baburao back on screen with Akshay, Suniel and Paresh. They are the brand, so any hint of trouble makes headlines in a flash.
We want to see the original team back in action. But until we have hard numbers on the shoot and the fees, it’s best to be patient.
Looking ahead
You have to ask: will they rework the contract to keep things moving? Is there a realistic plan for the timeline? And can the three of them put on a show that lives up to the past?
At the moment, it’s all talk and a bit of a hold-up. If the plan is to see the film in 2026 or 2027, you need more than just hope to make it happen.
