Days after Akshay Kumar confirmed that he had backed out of Hera Pheri 3 over creative differences, his co-star from the franchise Suniel Shetty has said he is ‘stunned’ by the development and will try to see if things can fall back into place.
In a recent interview, the actor said, “Hera Pheri 3 cannot be the same without Akshay. Raju, Babu bhaiyya and Shyam are iconic characters whose journeys have been together. There’s palpable excitement when you mention the film. I want to see if things can still fall in place.”
Last week, reports claimed that Akshay had backed out of the third film in the successful Hera Pheri franchise. The actor himself confirmed and said, “The film was offered to me but I was not satisfied with the script. I have to do what people want to see. That is why, I backed out. I took a step behind.”
Read more: Hera Pheri 3: Is Kartik Aaryan replacing Akshay Kumar again?
“It is a part of my life and journey for me. I am also very sad that I can’t do it. But I am not happy with how the creative things have shaped out,” he said.
Hera Pheri was released in 2000, starring Akshay, Suniel, Paresh Rawal, and Tabu. Directed by Priyadarshan, it was a success making ₹18 crore at the box office.
The sequel Phir Hera Pheri was directed by the late Neeraj Vora. The 2006 film earned ₹69 crore at the box office. The planned third part has been in limbo for years now. Kartik Aryan is now set to replace Akshay in it.