'Hera Pheri 3' star says role in iconic movie feels like 'gale ka fanda'; no 'happiness' in doing the sequel

Paresh Rawal, renowned for his role as the hilarious Babu Rao in the iconic film Hera Pheri, recently opened up about his complex relationship with the character. In a candid conversation with The Lallantop, the veteran actor admitted that his portrayal of Babu Rao has led to a typecasting effect, one he has struggled to break free from for years. He likened the role to a “gale ka fanda” (a noose), explaining how he felt trapped by the image created through the character.

A Role That Became a Trap

Rawal explained that his desire to distance himself from the Hera Pheri character started as early as 2007, soon after the release of the sequel, Phir Hera Pheri. In his conversation with Vishal Bhardwaj, Rawal expressed the burden of being associated with the role for so long.

He said, "It is like a noose. I went to Vishal Bharadwaj in 2007, after the sequel released in 2006. I told him I wanted to break free from that image and play a different character, even with the same getup. Only Vishal could have helped me with this." He emphasized that no matter who approached him for work, they always saw him through the lens of his Hera Pheri character, something Rawal wanted to escape.

In 2022, Rawal again tried to find a way out of the image that had dominated his career for years. He turned to filmmaker R. Balki with a similar request. "I feel suffocated," Rawal shared. "It does make me happy, but there is a certain pull towards it. I want to be free of that." He went on to express that, while the role brought joy and recognition, he desired "liberation" from being forever associated with the same type of character.

The Struggle with Sequels

Rawal also took the opportunity to comment on the trend of sequels in the film industry. He criticized the approach of repeating the same formula without evolving characters. Comparing the Hera Pheri sequels to Lage Raho Munna Bhai, Rawal pointed out that the latter took its characters in new, meaningful directions. "Why make sequels that just rehash the same content?" Rawal questioned. "Why not do something different with a character that has built up goodwill worth Rs 500 crore?" He lamented that sequels often suffer from "mental bankruptcy" or "mental lethargy," where filmmakers lack the creativity to expand the character in new ways.

Looking Ahead to Hera Pheri 3

Despite his dissatisfaction with the sequels, Rawal is set to reprise his role as Babu Rao in the upcoming Hera Pheri 3, directed by Priyadarshan. He admitted that while he feels a sense of obligation to continue the franchise, he does so with mixed feelings. "I’m doing the sequel because I don’t want the film to get stuck, but there is no happiness in it," he shared.