Raju (Akshay Kumar) and Shyam (Suniel Shetty) may have technically been the heroes of Hera Pheri (2000), but having equal weightage after stealing the show from under their noses, so to speak, was Paresh Rawal as the iconic old Marathi gentleman, Baburao.
The film was one of the seven remakes (Bengali, Odia, Punjabi, Telugu, Tamil and Kannada were the other six) of Ramji Rao Speaking (1989), the Malayalam movie co-written and co-directed by Siddique (of the Hindi Bodyguard fame) and Lal. Priyadarshan directed this remake and turned down an offer for a sequel when Phir Hera Pheri was planned. The latter 3006 true sequel was finally directed by one of the 2000 film’s writers, Neeraj Vora. Neeraj was also slated to direct the third film but passed away years ago. A third film was thus often planned or announced, not always with Akshay Kumar, even before Neeraj passed away.
But that’s exactly the point! Stretching it (the point!), the film can be thought of minus Akshay and Suniel, but not without the inimitable Paresh. And those who cherish the first film (Phir Hera Pheri was a true sequel, made more money thanks to the multiplexes dominating, but is not recalled at all!) will all share an endorse this view.
It is with that fact in mind that the current “exit” of Paresh from Hera Pheri 3 sounds like a well-orchestrated and sensationally humongous publicity stunt. Paresh has made it clear in an advertorial “promotional” (that says it all) in Bombay Times that money and creative differences are “not the cause”. The man adds that he cannot disclose the true reasons.
Step 2: Akshay Kumar, a close friend of Paresh, is co-producer of the film as well and has sent a legal notice to him, claiming Rs. 25 crore, as “confirmed” to Bombay Times by a counsel. Details are mentioned about Akshay’s company, Cape of Good Films, incurring “substantial production and promotional expenditures”, stating, “Paresh Rawal’s exit contrived to inflict maximum disruption”. (I would substitute the word “disruption” with “hype and publicity”!)
Step 3: Director Priyadarshan, in a box, expresses shock, saying “I thought he (Paresh)’d at least give me some explanation, but he hasn’t.”
The latest issue (May 22) quotes a Paresh interview to a portal, stating the disadvantages and creative suffocation (“dum ghut ta hai”) when a character is repeated in a sequel. The interview purportedly happened on April 26, and if this whole thing is a stunt (as I strongly assume for the above reasons), that clip was like the “trailer” of this “film” that was released this month!
While no one admits to Paresh speaking to them, we also have the prominent headline, “I don’t want these two friends to be bitter about each other” as quoted by Suniel Shetty on Akshay and Paresh.
Note thus how none of these four prominent personalities (director Priyadarshan included!) have since been able to “speak with each other”!
Now this is the real, the true Hera Pheri, and so I suggest that the film (when it is made—and it will be made) be titled Hera Pheri 4, just the way Rakesh Roshan had called his 2013 film Krrish 3 after it being a true sequel to Koi…Mil Gaya and Krrish!
Note: Hera Pheri (which means “monkey business”) can also be interpreted as “Foul Play” or “Wrongdoing”!
Disclaimer: Don’t think we need it!
