‘How could he say no to me?’: Paresh Rawal says ₹25 crore Hera Pheri 3 lawsuit by Akshay Kumar was ‘emotional reaction’
Here's the latest box office buzz making the rounds:
Last year, Bollywood star Paresh Rawal grabbed headlines when he revealed his exit from Hera Pheri 3 , and now filmmaker Priyadarshan has opened up that he won't be directing the movie anymore. In a recent interview with Vickey Lalwani, Paresh revealed the reason behind his exit and reacted to Akshay Kumar sending him a legal notice.
Adding to this, A file photo of Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal, Suniel Shetty Paresh Rawal on Akshay Kumar ₹ 25 crore rupees legal notice to him Paresh clarified that his exit from the movie had nothing to do with being uncomfortable working with Akshay. He shared, “No, it wasn’t about, ‘I’m uncomfortable working with Akshay Kumar.’ It was a contractual obligation. If I were to do the movie, I needed the approval of Firoz (Nadiadwala, producer) because he is the sole owner of the Hera Pheri franchise. And also of other films like Awara Paagal Deewana, Welcome, and all of that. Until I had his approval, I simply couldn’t commit. When the legal notice came, I thought, ‘Why am I getting dragged into legal issues? Am I here to enjoy making a movie or to get caught up in this?’ I told myself I didn’t want to be a part of it anymore.”
Meanwhile, After Paresh's exit, Akshay, who is also producing the movie, had sought ₹ 25 crore rupees in damages, alleging breach of contract and sabotage. The dispute continued for months before being resolved after Paresh agreed to return to the project. Reacting to Akshay's legal notice, Paresh shared, "I genuinely believe the legal notice was an emotional reaction. It was probably a case of, ‘How could he say no to me?’ He must have been emotionally disturbed. We never really sat down and discussed it, but we worked together afterwards. Sometimes you don’t even need to say the words. That’s the gentlemanly way of resolving the backings."
Notably, It began in 2025 when Paresh Rawal opened up that he was stepping away from the movie. Soon after, Akshay Kumar's production house, Cape of Good Films, sent Paresh a ₹ 25 crore rupees legal notice, alleging breach of contract and financial losses caused by his exit. Paresh maintained that he had valid reasons for leaving and denied any creative differences.
As per the latest buzz, Although the actors later reconciled and Paresh returned to the project, Hera Pheri 3 continued to face hurdles. In 2026, the movie became embroiled in a copyright dispute over who legally owns the franchise rights. Akshay Kumar's production house publicly claimed exclusive ownership, while separate legal challenges added further uncertainty. Around the same time, director Priyadarshan also exited the project, citing disagreements with producer Firoz Nadiadwala. As a result, the much-awaited comedy remains delayed despite the return of its original cast.
Source: Hindustan Times