In an unexpected and emotional revelation, Paresh Rawal has officially confirmed that he will not be returning as Baburao Ganpatrao Apte in Hera Pheri 3, leaving fans of the cult comedy franchise shocked and disappointed.
The veteran actor, who immortalized the role of the quirky and loveable Baburao, took to social media to announce his exit. Dismissing rumors of friction with the filmmakers, Rawal clarified that his decision had nothing to do with creative clashes.
“I wish to put it on record that my decision to step away from Hera Pheri 3 was not due to creative differences,” Rawal posted on X (formerly Twitter). “I REITERATE THAT THERE ARE NO CREATIVE DISAGREEMENT WITH THE FILM MAKER. I hold immense love, respect, and faith in Mr. Priyadarshan the film director.”
You can see Paresh Rawal’s tweet here:
The confirmation was also echoed in a brief statement to Bollywood Hungama, where the actor simply affirmed the news as true, without offering further explanation. Interestingly, a report from the same portal cited an anonymous source claiming that creative differences with the production team were in fact behind his decision to part ways—though Rawal has firmly denied this.
In a separate interview with Lallantop last month, Rawal referred to his role as Baburao as a “gale ka fanda” (noose around the neck), highlighting the limitations of being typecast. He recalled approaching directors like Vishal Bhardwaj and R. Balki in hopes of exploring more nuanced and varied characters, signaling his desire to break out of the Baburao mold.
For fans, Rawal’s portrayal of Baburao — complete with his thick glasses, offbeat humor, and iconic one-liners — has become an integral part of Indian pop culture. His chemistry with Akshay Kumar’s Raju and Suniel Shetty’s Shyam played a crucial role in turning Hera Pheri (2000) and Phir Hera Pheri (2006) into timeless comedy staples.
Now, with Hera Pheri 3 moving forward starring Akshay Kumar, questions loom large: Will the filmmakers recast the character of Baburao? Or will they write him out of the story altogether?
Whatever the outcome, Paresh Rawal’s exit marks the end of an era for the beloved franchise — and leaves fans wondering whether the magic of Hera Pheri can ever be the same without Baburao.
