In a surprising turn of events for fans of the beloved Hera Pheri franchise, veteran actor Paresh Rawal has officially announced his departure from Hera Pheri 3. This news was initially hinted at by Suniel Shetty, who mentioned in a recent interview that Rawal had chosen to step back from the eagerly anticipated sequel due to creative differences with the production team. However, Rawal took to social media on Sunday morning to clarify the situation.

In his statement shared on his official account, Rawal expressed, “I wish to clarify that my decision to withdraw from Hera Pheri 3 was not due to creative differences. I want to emphasize that there are no disagreements with the filmmaker. I have great love, respect, and faith in Mr. Priyadarshan, the director of the film.”

This clarification comes at a time when there is increasing curiosity about the future of the franchise and its cherished characters. Rawal’s portrayal of Baburao Ganpatrao Apte is considered one of the most iconic performances in the comedy genre of Hindi cinema. His absence in the third installment is sure to create a significant void for fans who have supported the franchise since its inception in 2000.

Interestingly, Hera Pheri 3 has faced numerous challenges over the years, including changes in directors, scripts, and casting. Although the original trio of Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, and Paresh Rawal were expected to reunite under Priyadarshan’s direction, Rawal’s confirmed exit raises new questions about the film’s casting and direction. At various points, actors like Abhishek Bachchan and John Abraham were rumored to join the cast, and even Kartik Aaryan was mentioned.

With Rawal now out of the picture, it will be intriguing to see how the team plans to move forward with this beloved franchise without its heart and soul, Baburao.