Earlier this month, actor Paresh Rawal announced that he was exiting from the planned third instalment of the Hera Pheri franchise. On Sunday, Rawal further clarified that there were no “creative differences” between himself and the filmmaker after rumours were rife that there was a clash between the actor and director Priyadarshan. Now, Akshay Kumar has sued his ex-co-star for Rs 25 crore in damages for abruptly exiting the production, according to a report by the Hindustan Times.
Kumar’s production banner, Cape of Good Films, bankrolling the film, sent a legal notice to Rawal, and a source close to the legal proceeding said in a statement to the publication that the actor’s move was unprofessional and cost the production a hefty sum. “Paresh displayed a blatant disregard for professional integrity or commercial morality. If he wanted to not do the film, he should have said so before signing the legal contract, accepting the signing amount and making the producer spend so much money on the shoot.” Shooting for the film had commenced this April.
“It is high time Bollywood actors realise that, like Hollywood, producers here too will no longer give in to the whims of an actor walking in and out of a film as he pleases,” the source added.
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Hera Pheri featured the trio Kumar and Suniel Shetty, two tenants, and Rawal, their landlord, desperate to get rich quick. This year marks the 25 year anniversary of the classic comedy and 19 years since its sequel, Phir Hera Pheri, which released in 2006.