📌 At a Glance (Yahi toh poora tamasha hai!)
Akshay Kumar has slapped a ₹25 crore lawsuit on his Hera Pheri co-star and long-time dost Paresh Rawal, after the latter quit Hera Pheri 3 midway. Why? Apparently, Rawal had already shot teaser scenes and taken a ₹11 lakh signing amount — but then exited the project without warning. And now the matter has reached the courts. From “babu bhaiyaaa” to “babu I’ll see you in court”, this comedy franchise is giving courtroom thrillers a run for their money.
🎭 Hera Pheri 3 – The Sequel That Became a Soap Opera
For those who came in late:
- The Hera Pheri franchise is one of India’s most loved comedy trilogies starring Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal, and Suniel Shetty.
- After years of delay, Hera Pheri 3 finally got the greenlight with Farhad Samji directing and Akshay producing under Cape of Good Films.
- Teasers were shot, payments were made, and then… Paresh Rawal backed out.
Why?
Rawal cited “creative differences”. Translation: “Mujhe yeh script comedy kam aur tragedy zyada lag rahi thi.”
💼 Akshay’s Legal Gambit: The Breakdown
Who sued whom?
Akshay Kumar’s production house, Cape of Good Films, has filed a ₹25 crore lawsuit against Paresh Rawal.
Why?
- Breach of contract
- Delay in production
- Advance taken, but shoot abandoned
The Receipts?
- ₹11 lakh already paid to Rawal
- Teaser scenes already shot
- Production disrupted, release postponed
Legal Firm: Parinam Law Associates — because even Babu Bhaiya can’t argue his way out of this one without lawyers.
🧠 Emotional Fallout: “Akshay was in tears”
Director Priyadarshan revealed in an interview that Akshay was heartbroken.
“He cried when he found out Paresh was leaving the project. He really wanted the original trio back.”
The emotional stakes are high. These actors aren’t just co-stars — they’re a 20+ year old comic cult. And for Akshay, this wasn’t just business. It was personal.
🗣️ Industry & Fans React: “Yeh toh full-on drama ho gaya!”
The industry is split:
- Some say it’s a misunderstanding that escalated too fast.
- Others side with Akshay — saying professionalism matters, even in comedy.
Fans, meanwhile, are divided between #JusticeForParesh and #TeamRaju.
One viral tweet put it best:
“Babu Bhaiya ne toh phone bhi uthana bandh kar diya… ye toh asli ‘Hera Pheri’ ho gayi!”
📉 Financial Fallout: Investors ko kya lena dena?
Actually… a lot.
- Delay in Hera Pheri 3 means lost revenue, stalled merchandising, and OTT deals going cold.
- Eros International, reportedly attached to the project, might take a hit in valuations depending on the delay.
- Brand endorsements and related campaigns have already paused due to the legal mess.
🧮 EduInvesting Verdict:
“When actors turn into plaintiffs, even comedy scripts need CA audits.”
- Akshay’s lawsuit may be legally valid, but the optics are messy.
- If settled quickly, the project may revive. But if the courtroom battle drags on, Hera Pheri 3 might join the long list of Bollywood’s incomplete sequels.
For now, Raju, Shyam, and Babu Bhaiya are stuck in a real-life confusion that even Baburao can’t fix.
⚠️ Risks & Red Flags
- Franchise fatigue: Delays may kill public interest.
- Legal precedent: More Bollywood contracts might get stricter now.
- Reputation damage: Both Akshay and Paresh risk public goodwill if this gets uglier.
📰 Author: Prashant Marathe
📅 Published: May 23, 2025
