Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar has reportedly filed a ₹25 crore ($3 million) legal notice against his Hera Pheri 3 co-star Paresh Rawal for quitting the film midway through production. According to Indian media reports, Kumar’s production house, Cape of Good Films, initiated the legal action after Rawal allegedly breached a signed contract and abandoned the project without substantial explanation.
The production house claims Paresh Rawal’s sudden exit caused financial and reputational damage. A source close to the matter described Rawal’s actions as a “blatant disregard for professional integrity or commercial morality.” The team had already invested heavily in reviving the franchise, including clearing debts and producing promotional material with the original cast.
Paresh Rawal had earlier confirmed his departure on X (formerly Twitter), stating it was not due to creative issues. However, insiders say he simply expressed he “didn’t feel like” continuing with the film. The production team viewed this as highly unprofessional, especially since Rawal had been paid above market rate and actively participated in creative meetings.
The legal move comes despite initial hesitation from the producers, who hoped to resolve the issue privately. However, Rawal’s unexplained withdrawal forced them to take legal action to recover losses and send a message about professionalism in the industry.
This case has sparked wider debate in Bollywood about formal contracts and accountability, echoing Hollywood practices. Fans of the Hera Pheri franchise, which last saw its original trio nearly two decades ago, are left disappointed by the dispute. So far, neither Akshay Kumar nor Paresh Rawal has issued an official statement.