Hera Pheri 3: Will Pankaj Tripathi Take Over Baburao’s Role? Here's His Answer

As anticipation grows after Paresh Rawal’s exit from Hera Pheri 3, Pankaj Tripathi finally reacts to fans linking him to Baburao’s role.

Published: Thursday,May 22, 2025 15:02 PM GMT-06:00

Anam Kazi

Paresh Rawal’s decision to step away from Hera Pheri 3 has sparked waves of speculation and emotional reactions among fans of the beloved comedy franchise. With Rawal no longer returning as the iconic Baburao Ganpatrao Apte, many fans have begun suggesting names for a possible replacement — and one name that keeps coming up is Pankaj Tripathi.

The Criminal Justice actor recently reacted to the growing social media buzz linking him to the iconic role. During an interview with Bollywood Hungama, Tripathi was asked if he had seen the online demand for him to step into Baburao’s shoes. His response was measured, respectful, and in line with his grounded public persona.

Pankaj Tripathi said, "Vo padha hua maine bhi suna toh mujhe mera nai hai manna. Paresh sir ek kamaal ke adbhut abhineta hain... unke same to main zero hoon kuch bhi nahin hoon. Main bada samman karta hoon unka ...to mujhe nahin lagta main upyukt vyakti hounga." (“I’ve seen and heard that too, but I don’t believe in it. Paresh sir is an exceptional actor... I am nothing compared to him. I deeply respect him and don’t think I am the right person for the role.”)

His remarks come just days after Rawal issued a clarification on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, denying reports that he left the project due to “creative differences.” "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 DISAGREEMENT WITH THE FILM MAKER," he wrote, adding that he holds great respect for director Priyadarshan.

Meanwhile, many media platform reported that Paresh Rawal has been served with a legal notice by Akshay Kumar’s production house, Cape of Good Films, seeking damages of Rs 25 crore. The development reportedly shocked director Priyadarshan and actor Suniel Shetty.

Tripathi, while flattered by the audience’s faith in him, chose to stay away from the growing speculation, firmly placing his respect for Rawal above any potential opportunity.

On the work front, Pankaj Tripathi will soon appear in Criminal Justice Season 4, which is set to premiere on JioHotstar on May 29, 2025.