“Kartik Aaryan was dropped from Hera Pheri 3 as story changed,” says Paresh Rawal; shares an update on shooting 3 : Bollywood News

Veteran actor Paresh Rawal recently addressed the speculation surrounding Hera Pheri 3 and its casting. Speaking in an interview, he confirmed that Kartik Aaryan was initially cast in the film but was later dropped as the story changed. He clarified that Kartik was never meant to replace Akshay Kumar’s character, Raju, but was set to play a different role. Paresh also revealed that Hera Pheri 3 will now retain its original cast, with filming scheduled to begin between August and September.

“Kartik Aaryan was dropped from Hera Pheri 3 as story changed,” says Paresh Rawal; shares an update on shooting

How the Story Changes Affected Casting

In his conversation with Siddharth Kannan, Paresh Rawal explained how the film’s storyline influenced casting decisions. He stated, “Kartik was signed for the film. At that time, the story of the film was different. Isko Raju samaj ke pakad ke leke aaye thay, par ye alag hi kirdar tha (They cast him thinking he would play Raju, but his character was completely different).”

He further explained that Kartik’s role was not connected to Akshay Kumar’s character and that Akshay was always intended to be part of the project. However, with Priyadarshan coming on board as the director, the script changed, and Kartik’s character was removed from the film.

**Paresh Rawal on Phir Hera Pheri and the Challenges of Sequels**

Paresh Rawal also reflected on the sequel Phir Hera Pheri and why he felt it did not reach its full potential. He admitted, “Everybody was overconfident about the film. It lost its innocence. Sorry to say, but woh film nahin bani thi barabar (the film wasn’t that good).” He believed that unnecessary sequences weakened the story and he advised the late director Neeraj Vohra to maintain the simplicity that made the first Hera Pheri a success.

With the script finalized and the original cast returning, Hera Pheri 3 is set to move forward. Paresh Rawal confirmed that the film will retain its classic trio—Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, and himself. The long-awaited sequel aims to revive the charm of the franchise while staying true to its comedic roots.

Also Read: Paresh Rawal DEFENDS Akshay Kumar amid criticism over doing multiple films in a year: “He isn’t smuggling, boot-legging, selling drugs, or gambling”