You could have felt the internet’s composure waver at the news that Rawal had bailed on the project, but it was all hot air. Priyadarshan, for one, is ‘not aware’ of anything of the sort, and if you look at the facts, Baburao is where he is supposed to be.
What set everyone off?
An old story from last year made the rounds as if it were breaking, and that spooked a few. Before you knew it, there was talk of an exit, though those in the know say the matter was put to bed and Rawal is back in the fold.
It’s been quiet since. We can only assume the good old Shyam, Raju and Baburao will be back in business come filming time.
The word from the director and the cast
Priyadarshan, who made the original, has let the fuss blow over. When you put the question to him, his answer is to the point: ‘I am not aware.’
How Rawal sees it
Rawal has been open about the ruckus but makes it clear it hasn’t soured his relationship with Priyadarshan. If anything, he says they are on better terms now, more so than before the hard times.
Akshay on the when and where
In his own words, Akshay Kumar says the film is not being made at the moment. He doesn’t see it happening in the next twelve months or so, and no, the three leads aren’t the issue. He was even in good spirits about it, quipping he went and did Welcome in the meantime.
So, where are we?
All signs point to Priyadarshan coming back to helm the third one after a bit of a legal row, with the trio in place. But without a plan for the shoot, the rumour mill has free rein.
Some will have you believe Rawal put back his signing fee with 15 per cent on top, or that he was out the door in 2025. These are just stories, not anything you can put your money on.
If you want to cut through the clutter, here is what we have:
– Priyadarshan is in the dark about any exit
– All indications are that Rawal is still with us as Baburao
– No one has put a date on the shoot yet
– Not in a year, according to Akshay
Why it matters to the fans
Hera Pheri is more than a movie; it is a whole lot of punchlines for a generation. The first one, with its roots in Ramji Rao Speaking, was a hit and a cultural touchstone. Then came Phir Hera Pheri under Neeraj Vora, and the hijinks of Raju, Shyam and Baburao were on full display.
Baburao is the heart of it. So when you hear Rawal might be out, it is bound to put a few in a tizzy. He is the soul of the chaos.
Then there is Priyadarshan
With him back in the director’s chair, there is hope in the air. After the run of Bhooth Bangla, he is ready to give the franchise the kind of timing people are after, once the way is clear.
When it comes to it, you can count on the same kind of mayhem from the original cast, just for a different day and age.
What to keep in mind
We will have more of the same until a proper timeline is put out. You learn from this: an 'exit' in the headline doesn’t always mean much once you read past the title.
Watch for a firm schedule and some official word on the cast. Until Team Hera Pheri chimes in, the rest is just noise.
