Paresh Rawal Seeks New Roles to Escape Hera Pheri Typecasting

Veteran actor Paresh Rawal, renowned for his iconic role as Babu Rao in the Hera Pheri franchise, recently shared his frustration with being typecast due to the character’s enduring popularity. In an interview , Rawal described the role as a “gale ka fanda” (noose around his neck) and revealed his efforts to seek diverse roles from acclaimed filmmakers Vishal Bhardwaj and R. Balki to break free from the comedic stereotype.

Rawal explained that his struggle began after the 2006 release of Phir Hera Pheri. In 2007, he approached Bhardwaj, requesting a role that retained Babu Rao’s appearance but offered a completely different character. “I told him, ‘I want a release from the image that has been set by this film,’” Rawal said, emphasizing his desire to avoid being trapped in a “daldal” (quagmire) of repetitive roles. However, Bhardwaj declined, stating he did not remake characters.

In 2022, Rawal made a similar plea to Balki, again seeking a fresh character to escape the Hera Pheri persona. “I’m an actor, mujhe fasna nahi hai aise daldal mein,” Rawal told , expressing his need for creative liberation despite the affection fans have for Babu Rao.

Rawal also critiqued the Hera Pheri sequels, noting a loss of the original film’s simplicity. In a prior conversation with Siddharth Kannan, he expressed disappointment with Phir Hera Pheri, saying, “Sorry to say, but woh film nahi bani thi bara bar (the film wasn’t that good).” He advised director Neeraj Vohra to maintain the first film’s innocence and avoid overstuffing the sequel with unnecessary sequences. “The sense of proportion should be on you,” Rawal recalled telling Vohra, warning that excessive additions could dilute the film’s charm.

As fans eagerly await Hera Pheri 3, Rawal’s candid remarks highlight his ongoing quest for versatility in an industry where iconic roles can both define and confine an actor’s career.