Veteran actor Paresh Rawal shocked everyone by announcing that he has quit Hera Pheri 3. His decision left fans disappointed as his character Baburao Ganpatrao Apte is one of the most loved comic characters. Amid news of his exit, fans of Pankaj Tripathi chimed in and speculated the possibility of him replacing Paresh Rawal in Priyadarshan's much-awaited Hera Pheri 3.
However, during one of his latest interviews, Tripathi quashed the rumours and called Rawal and 'extraordinary' actor.
"I read and heard about fans wanting me to play that part. I don’t think I can do it. Paresh Sir is an extraordinary actor, and I am nothing in front of him. I respect him immensely, and I don’t think I am the right person for the job," Tripathi told Bollywood Hungama recently.
Baburao, lovingly known as Babu Bhaiya, is one of Bollywood’s most iconic comic characters. Played by Rawal in Hera Pheri (2000), his quirky personality, unforgettable dialogues like "Utha le re deva", and innocent charm have made him a fan favourite even decades later.
Announcing his exit from Hera Pheri 3, Rawal took to his official X account on May 18 and wrote, "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."
However, he landed in legal trouble after co-star Akshay Kumar's production house, Cape of Good Films, issued a legal notice demanding Rs 25 crore for his abrupt departure. The production house also claimed that Rawal was paid Rs 11 lakh and, during his association with the film, he never raised any concerns about creative differences.
They have accused him of an 'abrupt, unilateral, and mala fide' withdrawal from Hera Pheri 3.
Their statement stated that Hera Pheri 3 teaser shoot commenced on April 3, 2025, and over three minutes of footage was shot with Rawal. The actor had also also engaged in creative discussions and planning with Akshay and Suniel Shetty.
