Paresh Rawal admits Kartik Aaryan was DROPPED from Hera Pheri 3: ‘They cast him thinking he would play Raju…’ |

Phir Hera Pheri, the sequel to the iconic Hera Pheri, brought back Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, and Paresh Rawal in their beloved roles. While the film was a hit, Paresh Rawal recently admitted that it didn’t reach its full potential, blaming unnecessary sequences for derailing the narrative.
Speaking to Siddharth Kannan, Paresh Rawal revealed that overconfidence affected Phir Hera Pheri, making it lose the simplicity of the original. He felt the film was overstuffed with unnecessary sequences and advised director Neeraj Vohra to maintain balance. According to him, forced humor can entertain, but restraint is essential.

The veteran actor further expressed that Baburao’s character had immense untapped potential. He praised Lage Raho Munna Bhai as a well-made sequel but criticized sequels made solely for profit. He believed Baburao, with significant audience goodwill, deserved a fresh backdrop rather than just recycled jokes, emphasizing the importance of meaningful storytelling.

There was speculation that Kartik Aaryan might replace Akshay Kumar in the Hera Pheri series, similar to Bhool Bhulaiyaa. However, Paresh Rawal clarified that Kartik was cast in Hera Pheri 3 for a different role, not as Raju. Later, with Priyadarshan joining, Kartik was dropped, and the storyline changed.
Rawal also explained that Kartik Aaryan was signed for Hera Pheri 3 when the film had a different storyline. Although some assumed he was playing Raju, his role was entirely different. He confirmed that Akshay Kumar was always meant to be part of the film during that phase of development.

Confirming that Kartik is no longer part of Hera Pheri 3, he added, “Kartik isn’t part of the film now. The film’s story has been changed.” Paresh also confirmed that now the movie will retain the original cast of Hera Pheri and its shooting will begin in August-September.
He confirmed that Kartik Aaryan is no longer part of Hera Pheri 3, as the story has changed. He also assured that the film will now feature the original cast from Hera Pheri and is set to begin shooting between August and September.