Is Paresh Rawal back in Hera Pheri 3 after Akshay Kumar sent legal notice? Lawyer says, "We’re optimistic"

The beloved Hera Pheri franchise is once again in the spotlight, but this time for off-screen drama that has gripped fans and the film industry alike. Paresh Rawal, who immortalized the role of Baburao Ganpatrao Apte, recently found himself at the center of a legal controversy after exiting Hera Pheri 3 unexpectedly. Akshay Kumar’s production house, Cape of Good Films, reportedly sent a legal notice to Rawal, demanding Rs 25 crore in damages. Despite this, recent developments suggest there might still be room for reconciliation.

Pooja Tidke, Joint Managing Partner at Parinam Law Associates and legal representative for Cape of Good Films, shed light on the situation in an interview with PTI. “I think there will be severe legal consequences. It’s of course hurt the franchise,” Tidke stated. “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.”

Tidke further elaborated on the extent of the damage caused by Rawal’s departure, revealing that a significant portion of the film had already been shot. “Thereafter, there were contracts entered into the shooting for the trailer. In fact, there was some portion of about three-and-a-half minutes of the film itself that had been shot,” she noted. “Suddenly, a few days ago, we received a notice from Paresh ji saying that he is no longer associated with the film and doesn’t want to be associated with the film. So it’s taken everybody by shock and surprise, of course.”

The lawyer emphasized that this sudden move has affected not only the production but also the reputations of those committed to the project. “There’s reputational damage involved for the actors that are committed to the film, the franchise as a whole, and of course, there’s a great deal of disappointment among the audience,” Tidke added. However, she also struck a hopeful note: “We’re optimistic that things work out, but as of now, we’re facing legal issues.”