New Delhi: Actor Akshay Kumar, who recently appeared in the horror-comedy “Bhooth Bangla,” has provided an update on the long-anticipated film “Hera Pheri 3,” directed by Priyadarshan. Kumar indicated that the film is not set to proceed in the near future, citing several unresolved issues.
In a recent interview with Shubhankar Mishra, Kumar was asked about the release timeline for “Hera Pheri 3.” He confirmed that the movie isn’t currently in production, stating, “Hera Pheri 3 abhi filhaal toh nahi ban rahi” (The film is not happening as of now). His response surprised the host, to which Kumar remarked, “Mujhe khud jhatka laga tha. Koi baat nahi, Welcome bana li. Thoda kuch mantra padna padega ki sab theek ho jaaye” (I myself was shocked. It’s okay, we made “Welcome.” We might need to do a bit of chanting for everything to get sorted). He elaborated that there are numerous issues leading to the delay, clarifying, “It’s not happening in the next year. There are many issues; it’s not like the three of us (actors) are not together. We are all together in ‘Welcome to the Jungle.'”
Kumar explained further, “Abhi ek saal toh nahi hain. Uske bohot saare issues hain… Kuch kuch cheezin hoti hain jo main camera pe nahi bol sakta. Bohot saari cheezein, agreements hain, which takes the project backwards” (It’s not happening in the next year. There are many issues; it’s not that the three of us are not together. There are some things I cannot mention on camera. There are many agreements that are pushing the project backwards).
The “Hera Pheri” franchise announced the production of its third installment in January 2025. However, the film faced controversy after Paresh Rawal’s initial exit and subsequent legal disputes involving a South-based producer and Firoz Nadiadwala over copyright ownership of the franchise. In July 2025, Rawal confirmed his return to this beloved series.
“Hera Pheri 3” is set to feature the original cast, including Kumar, Paresh Rawal, and Suniel Shetty.
