Paresh Rawal's exit from Hera Pheri 3: Everything you need to know about the controversy

The much-anticipated third instalment of the ‘Hera Pheri’ franchise has hit a major roadblock with the one of the main and most beloved actors of the franchise, Paresh Rawal, exiting the production. His move to leave the project has sparked chaos online as well as within the film’s team with reports stating that co-star Akshay Kumar is also suing the actor for damages. With all the chatter around the film, here's all you need to know about the controversy so far.

Paresh Rawal broke the news of his exit from the highly anticipated Hera Pheri franchise. The actor, who played the role of the beloved and quirky character Baburao, shared with Mid-Day, “I know it came as a shock to many. We three make a great combination with Priyadarshanji directing us, but the fact is that I opted out because today I don’t feel like a part of it."

While announcing his exit, he also hinted that the door is still open for his return. "I always say never say never for anything. One cannot predict what happens in the future.”

He also insisted that there were ‘no creative differences’ and added that "No amount of money" would compare to the love and respect of his audience. He claimed that he just doesn't want to do the role.

Rawal's exit from the ‘Hera Pheri’ brought on legal challenges with fellow co-star and producer Akshay Kumar suing him and seeking Rs 25 crore in damages. According to PTI reports, a representative from Akshay’s team issued a statement, "I think there will be severe legal consequences. It's, of course, hurt the franchise. We have written to him letting him know that there are a lot of legal consequences involved. There have been expenses incurred towards the cast, towards the crew, towards leading senior actors, logistics equipment, and shooting of the trailer.”

According to director Priyadarshan, he alleged that his leading man Paresh Rawal did not provide any possible reason for his sudden exit from the film. In a statement regarding the matter, he shared that the announcement came as a surprise to him as well, saying that Akshay Kumar had asked him to check with Paresh and Suniel if they were onboard before starting the film. "I don't have anything to lose, but Akshay has invested money," he said while saying that it could be the reason why the actor is suing his co-star.

He also added during an interview with Bombay Times, “I have no idea what happened. His exit is actually a shock for me. All I will tell you is I am hurt. I started it (the third part), and all of a sudden, he backed out. He hasn't given me any explanation. I am hurt.”

Actor Suniel Shetty also came forth to share his statement on Paresh Rawal’s exit from the franchise. He shared with India Today that he had "no clue" about his co-star's sudden exit. "We are in the middle of this film, and this is the biggest shock. We were going to begin shooting next year. We had already started, in fact. We shot a promo. It's a big thing."

He went on to admit that he "can't make sense of this" and also revealed that he got the news from his daughter Athiya after it went viral online.

Following a ton of backlash after announcing his exit from ‘Hera Pheri 3’, Paresh reportedly returned his signing bonus back to the producers of the film, as per reports from Bollywood Hungama. The actor allegedly returned Rs 11 lakh back after announcing his exit, officially cutting off all ties from the film. With the initial amount, Rawal also added 15% annual interest to pay off for any and all damages that the film has incurred due to his exit. The actor was supposed to be paid Rs 15 crore for the film; however, as per his contract, Rs 14.89 crore was only going to be given to him a month after the film was set to be released.

According to reports on IANS, a close source of Paresh Rawal debunked all claims that had been made by Akshay Kumar’s legal team about how the actor was “unprofessional” and had “walked out” of the shoot for ‘Hera Pheri’. The source shared that“ calling someone like Paresh with four decades of iconic work, ‘unprofessional’ is not just unfair, it’s laughable. They clarified that the film hadn’t even started and all that was done was a promo shoot, and not a film schedule. "The idea that he ‘walked out’ is just the worst theatrical imagination at best."