New Delhi, Jun 30 (PTI): Veteran actor Paresh Rawal has confirmed his return to the third installment of the comedy franchise "Hera Pheri", saying that everything is resolved now.
In May this year, Rawal had announced his exit from the third part, which would have reunited him with franchise co-stars Akshay Kumar and Suniel Shetty as well as filmmaker Priyadarshan. The news had come as a huge shock to the ardent fanbase of the hit comedy franchise.
What followed was a lawsuit filed by Akshay, who is also the producer on the project through his company Cape of Good Films.
Rawal has now joined back the movie, an announcement he made during his recent appearance on a podcast.
"Pehle bhi aane hi waali thi (it was supposed to come before also), but it’s just that we had to fine-tune ourselves. After all, all of them are creative, be it Priyadarshan, Akshay or Suniel. They are friends for many, many, many years," Rawal said on Himanshu Mehta's podcast.
The veteran actor also said there is no "controversy", referring to Akshay's lawsuit, which sought Rs 25 crore in damages.
"I believe that when people have loved something so much, then you have to be extra careful. It is our responsibility toward the audience. The audience has given you so much adulation.
"You can’t take things for granted. Mehnat karke unko (film) do. So, I was of the opinion that sab saath mein aaye, mehnat kare (everyone should come together and work hard). Aur kuch nahin (Nothing else). It is all resolved now," he added.
Directed by Priyadarshan, "Hera Pheri" released in 2000 and revolved around a quirky, kind-hearted garage owner Baburao Ganpatrao Apte (Rawal), a cunning loafer Raju (Kumar) and a struggling pauper Shyam (Shetty).
The trio returned with a sequel "Phir Hera Pheri" in 2006, which was directed by Neeraj Vora.
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Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to probe a second case of sexual assault against expelled Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, police officials said on Friday.
The SIT will be led by G Poonguzhali, Assistant Inspector General at the Police Headquarters.
The team also includes a DSP rank officer and sub-inspectors, officials added.
The second sexual assault complaint was received by the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee, which it forwarded to the state police chief.
ALSO READ: Cong expels rape-accused MLA Mamkootathil from party's primary membership
Following this, the Crime Branch registered a case and launched an investigation.
Crime Branch officials said the email complaint contained only the sender's email ID and no other contact details.
As part of the probe, they have sent a reply email requesting that the complainant contact them and provide her statement.
The complainant has alleged that she was sexually assaulted under the false promise of marriage, a Crime Branch official said.
However, details such as the location and date of the alleged incident are not currently available to the police.
The SIT will attempt to trace the sender of the email and record her statement, which is crucial for further investigation, the officer said.
Mamkootathil was expelled from the Congress party on Thursday after a court here rejected his anticipatory bail petition in another rape case.
Police said he is currently absconding, and a manhunt is underway in Kerala and neighbouring states.
