Singer-composer Himesh Reshammiya made an unexpected reference to veteran actor Paresh Rawal and the Hera Pheri franchise during his concert in Mumbai on Saturday night, drawing cheers from the crowd and sparking conversation online.While performing on stage, Himesh briefly paused to acknowledge Rawal’s contribution to the first two films in the popular comedy series. Without directly addressing the actor’s recent exit from Hera Pheri 3, Himesh said, “Hera Pheri 1, he was fantastic. Hera Pheri 2, he was fantastic. He was also great in…”Before completing the sentence, he broke into the track Jumme Raat from Phir Hera Pheri, a song that featured Paresh Rawal alongside Suniel Shetty and Akshay Kumar.The emotional nod was interpreted by many as a subtle show of support for Rawal amid the current controversy surrounding his departure from the third installment of the franchise.The high-energy concert, held in Mumbai, was attended by several celebrities, including Farah Khan, Sajid Khan, Veer Pahariya, Saqib Saleem, and Zaheer Iqbal. The night featured a mix of Himesh’s greatest hits, but it was his mention of Hera Pheri that stood out for fans and industry insiders alike.Paresh Rawal’s legal dispute with Akshay KumarHimesh’s statement comes amid a legal dispute between Paresh Rawal and Akshay Kumar’s production banner, Cape of Good Films. According to reports, the production house has filed a Rs 25 crore lawsuit against Rawal following his exit from Hera Pheri 3.The actor is said to have returned the Rs 11 lakh signing amount, along with 15% annual interest and an additional goodwill payment.
Rawal later addressed the controversy on Twitter, writing, “My lawyer, Ameet Naik, has sent an appropriate response regarding my rightful termination and exit. Once they read my response, all issues will be laid to rest.”At the Housefull 5 trailer launch, Akshay Kumar was asked about the legal tussle. Without revealing much, he commented, “I’ve worked with him for 32 years. He’s a great actor and a good friend. This is a serious matter and will be handled legally. I won’t speak about it here.”Meanwhile, speculation continues over who will step into the role of Baburao Ganpatrao Apte in Hera Pheri 3. Actor Pankaj Tripathi is reportedly being considered, although no official confirmation has been made by him or the production team.
