When Paresh Rawal admitted feeling trapped as Baburao in ‘Hera Pheri’: ‘I need mukti from that role’

Who doesn’t love Babu Bhaiya? From his big glasses and white dhoti to his hilarious one-liners like ‘Ladki ka chakkar Babu Bhaiya’ and ‘Arey tu jaa re’, the character of Baburao Ganpatrao Apte from the hit film ‘Hera Pheri’ has become a cult favourite across generations. Actor Paresh Rawal brought the role to life with his perfect comic timing and unforgettable expressions, making Baburao one of the most loved comedy characters in Bollywood.

Paresh recently shocked fans when he revealed that he would not be returning as Baburao in the much-awaited ‘Hera Pheri 3’, directed by Priyadarshan. His decision left fans disappointed.

In an earlier interview with The Lallantop, Rawal had confessed that while people still adore Baburao, the role now feels like a trap to him. Speaking candidly, he said his ‘Hera Pheri’ character feels like a “gale ka phanda”- a noose around his neck


“I felt choked. I need mukti.”
Rawal didn’t hold back while explaining his feelings about being typecast. He shared how he once went to filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj in 2007, just a year after ‘Hera Pheri 2’ was released, asking for a different kind of role. He said, "I went to Vishal Bhardwaj [director] in 2007. In 2006, Hera Pheri 2 was released. I told him that I have a film. I want to get rid of this image. You are the person who can offer me a completely different role in the same getup."

Bhardwaj was curious why Rawal wanted to move on from such a popular role. To this, Rawal responded, "Whoever comes to me, he has an image of Hera Pheri in mind. I am an actor. I don't want to get stuck at one place."

This shows how deeply Rawal felt about his artistic journey. As he explained further, "I asked him to offer me a new character in the same getup. I felt happy but dum ghutta hai (I felt choked). I need mukti (liberation) from that role.”


Paresh Rawal’s exit from ‘Hera Pheri 3’
When news emerged that Paresh Rawal had quit ‘Hera Pheri 3’, many people assumed it was because of creative differences. However, the actor was quick to clear up the misunderstanding and put the rumours to rest. He stated, “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.”



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