An online poll had opined (and I shared the view) in a 2:1 majority that Paresh Rawal’s exit from Hera Pheri 3 was a well-conceived publicity stunt, not reality. But sadly, it is not the case!
However, though Akshay Kumar’s production company, Cape of Good Films, has sent a legal notice to Rawal asking for Rs. 2.5 million damages, Kumar himself admonished a media representative who asked him a query about this unfortunate turn of events from (his quote) a “foolish” Rawal. This was at the trailer launch of Housefull 5.
The star sternly told the reporter that it was not justified at all to use such adjectives on such a senior actor (“Whom I have known for 32 years”), and that the matter would be soon cleared and sorted.
But there are wheels within wheels here. In a clarification published in Bombay Times, Rawal is said to have signed the “term sheet” purely in good faith. No script, schedule or long-term agreement was shared. Rawal had also questioned the urgency of shooting a promotional video in haste to make it for the IPL Final.
Rawal’s side informed that there were no creative differences. The reasons were not only the abovementioned aspects but also the fact that there is dispute over the franchise and franchise title. It seems that Rawal, Cape of Good Films and others have received notices from Firoz Nadiadwala, producer of the original films Hera Pheri (2000) and Hera Pheri 2 (2006), claiming IP rights.
On May 25, Rawal posted on X: “My lawyer, Ameet Naik, has sent an appropriate response regarding my rightful termination and exit. Once they read my response, all issues will be laid to rest.” Rawal had accepted Rs. 1.1 million as signing amount and has returned the same with 15 percent interest.
“Nothing was ready, so there cannot be any loss,” Rawal’s lawyers told Bombay Times. “First, Cape of Good Films accepted the moneys, and then sent an untenable notice to our client.” The notice stated that the actor’s exit “contrived to inflict maximum disruption”. They said that Rawal signed the film “purely on trust”. Rawal had a long-term investment in his character Baburao and was uncomfortable with the disorganization process and wanted clarity. Apparently, Akshay Kumar went to him with a term-sheet on the sets of Bhooth Bangla directed by Priyadarshan and asked him to sign on in March.
Here’s hoping that things are sorted.
(Used under special arrangement with NIT)
