Paresh Rawal Refunds ₹11 Lakhs with 15% Interest After Exiting Hera Pheri 3; Was Signed for ₹15 Crores

Ziya Khan May 24, 2025Last Updated: May 24, 2025

Last week, the biggest news in Bollywood was the exit of Paresh Rawal from Hera Pheri 3, a move confirmed by the actor himself. Following his departure, the controversy escalated when Akshay Kumar’s Cape of Good Films, the producer of the franchise, filed a lawsuit against Rawal for ₹25 crores. The legal team representing Akshay Kumar has released a statement outlining their grievances.

According to Bollywood Hungama, Paresh Rawal has since returned the signing amount to the production house. “Paresh Rawal has refunded the signing amount of ₹11 lakhs along with 15% annual interest, and an additional sum for stepping away from the series,” sources revealed. They added, “Rawal was initially paid ₹11 lakhs as a signing amount, with his total fees set at ₹15 crores. The term sheet stipulated that the remaining ₹14.89 crores would be disbursed one month after the film’s release.

However, Rawal had concerns about this clause, especially since the principal shoot was scheduled to begin next year, meaning Hera Pheri 3 was unlikely to release before late 2026 or even 2027. Essentially, Paresh would have to wait nearly two years to receive the remainder of his fees.”Trade sources indicate that only the announcement teaser for the film was filmed at the sets of Bhooth Bangla, with the crew also involved in the promo shoot.

The next steps in this unfolding saga remain uncertain. The original Hera Pheri, released in 2000, featured Akshay Kumar as Raju, Paresh Rawal as Baburao Ganpatrao Apte, and Suniel Shetty as Shyam. The sequel, Phir Hera Pheri (2006), saw the return of this iconic trio. Both films have achieved cult status, especially with Baburao garnering a dedicated fan base, which has fueled immense excitement for Hera Pheri 3. Stay tuned to know more about it and others only with us and if you have anything to share, do comment below and let your thoughts come out.