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 said. 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.

Paresh Rawal didn’t shoot Hera Pheri 3

Since Paresh Rawal announced his exit from Hera Pheri 3, his co-star Akshay Kumar’s production house, Cape of Good Films, has reportedly sued him for Rs 25 crore for leaving the film midway. Recently, Kumar’s lawyer claimed that Rawal was paid Rs 11 lakh and never raised any concerns about creative differences during his association with the film. They have accused him of an ‘abrupt, unilateral, and mala fide’ withdrawal after he had already begun filming for Hera Pheri 3.

Now, a source close to Paresh stated that he did not shoot for Hera Pheri 3. Speaking to IANS, the source said, “Calling someone like Paresh Rawal, a stalwart with four decades of iconic work, ‘unprofessional’ is not just unfair, it’s laughable. Let’s be clear: the film hadn’t even started. There was a promo shoot, not a film schedule. The real shoot is planned for sometime next year. So, the idea that he ‘walked out’ is just the worst theatrical imagination at best.”