Filmmaker Priyadarshan reacts after reports of Paresh Rawal exiting Hera Pheri 3 resurface: 'Not aware'

Priyadarshan and Paresh Rawal. Pics via X

The controversy around Hera Pheri 3 doesn't seem to slow down. Amid the film's ongoing legal issues regarding its rights, reports of one of the lead stars, Paresh Rawal, exiting the project recently surfaced.

Priyadarshan reacts to Paresh Rawal's exit rumours

The reports added that the actor has even returned his signing amount of Rs 11 lakh along with 15 per cent interest. The film's director, Priyadarshan, has now reacted to the matter.

According to ETimes, when approached to clarify about Paresh's future in the third instalment of the cult franchise, Priyadarshan said, "I am not aware."

Reports of Paresh Rawal exiting the Hera Pheri franchise

The latest reports on Sunday claimed that Paresh Rawal had once again stepped away from the film over disagreements over the payment structure mentioned in the agreement. Reports also added that the actor had returned the signing amount along with additional compensation.

However, the viral claims seem to have stemmed from older reports which reportedly resurfaced. The earlier reports claimed that Paresh Rawal had exited the film and returned the signing amount of Rs 11 lakhs with 15 per cent annual interest.

Soon after, Akshay Kumar, who plays the lead role in the film and is also producing the project, had reportedly filed a Rs 25 crore lawsuit against Paresh, following his abrupt departure from the film. However, the matter was reportedly later resolved with Paresh returning to the project. Additionally, he was recently seen reuniting with Priyadarshan and Akshay in Bhooth Bangla.

Meanwhile, Hera Pheri 3 has been caught in legal trouble since the very beginning. Production house Seven Arts International has filed a case against the film's makers, alleging that Sajid Nadiadwala only had the rights to remake one film, that is, the Hindi adaptation of the Malayalam original Ramji Rao Speaking (1989).

While the makers did create the adaptation titled Hera Pheri, which was released in 2000, Seven Arts claimed that Nadiadwala violated the agreement by making a sequel named Phir Hera Pheri in 2006. Not only that, the banner also alleged that Nadiadwala had even transferred the rights of the film to Akshay Kumar's production house, Cape of Good Films.