After Paresh Rawal’s Exit From ‘Hera Pheri 3’, Will Pankaj Tripathi Be The New Babu Bhaiya? Actor Responds
After Paresh Rawal’s exit from ‘Hera Pheri 3’, fans suggested Pankaj Tripathi as the new Babu Bhaiya, but is he ready to take on the iconic role?
With buzz around ‘Hera Pheri 3’ reaching a fever pitch, the biggest shocker came when it was revealed that veteran actor Paresh Rawal had exited the film. Paresh Rawal’s portrayal of the iconic Baburao Ganpatrao Apte or Babu Bhaiya has become so deeply ingrained in pop culture that fans were left stunned. Soon after the news broke, social media lit up with casting suggestions, and one name kept popping up: Pankaj Tripathi. But will Pankaj Tripathi, known for his brilliant comic timing and memorable roles, step into those legendary shoes?
In an interview with Bollywood Hungama, Pankaj addressed the fan frenzy around casting him as Baburao in ‘Hera Pheri 3’. He humbly dismissed the idea, saying he doesn’t see himself as a replacement for Paresh Rawal.
He said, “I read and heard about fans wanting me to play that part. I don’t think I can do it. Paresh Sir is an extraordinary actor, and I am nothing in front of him. I respect him immensely, and I don’t think I am the right person for the job.”
Pankaj Tripathi, who’s currently prepping to return as Madhav Mishra in ‘Criminal Justice 4’, has proved his comedic chops in films like ‘Fukrey’, ‘Bareilly Ki Barfi’, and ‘Stree’. On paper, he seems like a solid choice but even he acknowledges that replacing a character as beloved and iconic as Babu Bhaiya is no easy feat.
Meanwhile, the drama around ‘Hera Pheri 3’ continues to escalate. In a fresh twist, HT City reported on Tuesday that Akshay Kumar’s production banner, Cape of Good Films, has sent a Rs 25 crore legal notice to Paresh Rawal for allegedly walking out of the film after signing a contract and beginning shoot. The notice accuses Paresh Rawal of “grossly unprofessional conduct”.
In response, Paresh Rawal took to X (formerly Twitter) to clarify his side of the story. He denied reports of creative conflicts with director Priyadarshan.
He wrote, “I wish to put it on record that my decision to step away from Hera Pheri 3 was not due to creative differences. I REITERATE THAT THERE ARE NO CREATIVE DISAGREEMENTS WITH THE FILMMAKER. I hold immense love, respect, and faith in Mr Priyadarshan, the film’s director.”
While fans continue debating who could possibly fill Babu Bhaiya’s shoes, Pankaj Tripathi is keeping his distance from the casting chatter.
He’s currently gearing up for the premiere of ‘Criminal Justice 4’, which drops on May 29 on JioHotstar. The new season features a stellar ensemble including Barkha Singh, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Surveen Chawla, Mita Vasisht, Asha Negi, Shweta Basu Prasad, and Khushboo Atre.
