Suniel Shetty has finally addressed the controversy surrounding Hera Pheri 3 and Paresh Rawal’s abrupt departure from the beloved franchise. Resonating with the feelings of fans, the actor emphasized that the film simply “cannot happen” without Rawal’s iconic character, Baburao Ganpatrao Apte.

In a conversation with ANI, Shetty stated, “It cannot happen. 100 per cent cannot happen without Paresh Rawal. It can have 1 per cent chance without me and Akshay, but 100% can’t happen without Paresh ji. No, it doesn’t. Raju and Shyam, if they’re not hammered by Babu here, it doesn’t work.”

#WATCH | Delhi | "Hera Pheri cannot happen without Paresh Rawal...", actor Suniel Shetty says on actor Paresh Rawal's reported exit from 'Hera Pheri 3' film.

He says, "... It's an absolute shock to me and I am completely heartbroken... If there was one film I was looking… pic.twitter.com/JDm8lfelEM — ANI (@ANI) May 20, 2025

The actor also revealed how he first learned of the news through his children, Athiya and Ahan Shetty. During an interview with India Today, he recounted, “They both sent it to me within 15 minutes, asking ‘papa what is this?’ And I was here doing my interviews, and I felt like ‘holy s***.’” At the time, Suniel Shetty was busy promoting his upcoming film Kesari Veer: Legends of Somnath when the news surfaced. Shetty expressed optimism about making calls to uncover what went wrong, confessing that he, like the fans, was eagerly anticipating the return of the trio as Raju, Shyam, and Baburao.

The situation has grown complicated, with conflicting reports emerging. While Paresh Rawal told Mid-Day that he had informed Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, and director Priyadarshan about his decision to leave, the latter denied being notified. “I don’t know why this happened because Paresh didn’t inform us. Before starting the film, Akshay asked me to check with both Paresh and Suniel and I did and both were onboard,” Priyadarshan told Hindustan Times.

EXCLUSIVE: HERA PHERI 3 PRODUCERS SUE PARESH RAWAL FOR RS 25 CRORE!#HeraPheri3 producers sue #PareshRawal for Rs 25 crore for unprofessional attitude - All you need to know! #AkshayKumar #SuniellShetty #Priyadarshan https://t.co/782GGPrQWM — Himesh (@HimeshMankad) May 20, 2025

He further noted that Akshay Kumar might pursue legal action due to his financial stake in the project. “I don’t have anything to lose, but Akshay has invested money and that could be the reason why he is taking this action,” he added. Curiously, Priyadarshan is currently collaborating with both Akshay and Paresh on another project titled Bhoot Bangla, which has left many baffled by the ongoing drama surrounding Hera Pheri 3.

Akshay Kumar Suing Paresh Rawal For ₹25 Crore Over Hera Pheri 3 Exit? Here's What We Know So Far!