The road to Hera Pheri 3 seems far from smooth. The much-anticipated comedy franchise has been surrounded by delays, speculation and legal complications ever since its announcement. Just when fans believed everything had finally fallen into place — with veteran actor Paresh Rawal returning and filmmaker Priyadarshan taking charge — new reports have sparked fresh uncertainty around the project.

Must Read: Hera Pheri 3 update: Paresh Rawal dismisses delay rumours, says ‘Will start shooting for it soon’

According to recent buzz, Paresh Rawal has reportedly stepped away from the third installment once again after returning the amount he had received for signing the film.

Paresh Rawal Reportedly Returns Signing Amount!

As per a report by Bollywood Hungama, the actor is said to have refunded his signing fee along with 15 percent interest and additional compensation.

The report quoted a source saying, “His total fees were locked at ₹15 crores. The term sheet mentioned that Paresh Rawal would receive the balance amount, ₹14.89 crores, only one month after the release of the film. The senior actor had reservations about this clause. Also, the film’s principal shoot is to commence sometime next year. This means that Hera Pheri 3 was unlikely to be released before late 2026 or in 2027. In short, Paresh would have had to wait for nearly two years to get the rest of his acting fees.”

Despite the circulating reports, neither Paresh Rawal nor the makers have officially confirmed the development so far.

Teaser Shoot Reportedly Took Place on Bhooth Bangla Sets

The same report also claimed that the announcement teaser of Hera Pheri 3 was allegedly shot on the sets of Bhooth Bangla. This added to the excitement among fans who have been desperately waiting for updates about the cult comedy franchise. However, with the film reportedly facing multiple internal and legal hurdles, uncertainty continues to surround the future of the project.

What Akki Earlier Said About the Delays

Actor Akshay Kumar had previously opened up about the stalled status of the film during a conversation with Shubhankar Mishra.

Reflecting on the situation, he said, “Hera Pheri 3 abhi filhaal toh nahi ban rahi… Mujhe khud jhatka laga tha. Koi baat nahi, Welcome bana li. Thoda kuch mantra padhna padega ki sab theek ho jaaye. Abhi ek saal toh nahi hain. Uske bohot saare issues hain, aisa nahi hain ki hum teeno [actors] saath nahi hain.”

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His statement hinted that the delay was not because of differences among the lead actors, but due to several unresolved issues surrounding the production.

Although official details about Hera Pheri 3 remain limited, audiences are still hoping to see the legendary trio aka Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty and Paresh Rawal reunite on the big screen once again.