Hey everyone! Welcome back to the blog. Today, we are going to talk about something that will definitely hit right in the nostalgia feels for every single Bollywood fan out there.

If I say phrases like 'Hello! Kabira speaking,' or 'Utha le re baba,' you already know exactly who we are talking about. Yes, it is the one and only Baburao Ganpatrao Apte from the legendary comedy movie Hera Pheri. Recently, this iconic and much-loved character was in the news because the man who played him, the brilliant actor Paresh Rawal, made a very surprising comment. He actually called the famous character a burden or a noose around his neck!

Naturally, this shocked a lot of fans. But don't worry, the director of the film, Priyadarshan, has completely stepped up to defend his lead star. Let's dive into all the details of what was said and why!

Why Did Paresh Rawal Call Baburao a Burden?

Let's start with the big comment. Despite the massive popularity of the character, Paresh Rawal recently opened up about how the role actually limited him as an actor. In an interview, he admitted that he desperately wanted to move away from the specific image that Baburao created for him.

He used the Hindi phrase 'mere gale ka fanda,' which translates to a noose around his neck. He explained that he felt trapped by the success of the comedy role. Sharing a very interesting story, Paresh revealed that back in 2007 just a year after Phir Hera Pheri (Part 2) released in 2006 he actually went to famous filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj. He told Vishal that he needed a film to help him break free from the Baburao image. He just wanted to get rid of that tag! He didn't want to get stuck doing similar comedy roles over and over again. As an actor, he felt he was getting boxed in, and he didn't want to be trapped in that one single identity.

Priyadarshan Steps In to Defend His Star

When fans heard this, many were a bit heartbroken. But filmmaker Priyadarshan completely understands where his actor is coming from. Reacting to the comment, the director totally defended Paresh Rawal.

Priyadarshan simply said, "He has earned it, he can decide where to take it." This shows the deep mutual respect between the two. Priyadarshan recalled the beautiful memory of when he first narrated the idea of Hera Pheri to Paresh. The director shared that the very first thing he did when making the film was call Paresh Rawal. He told him, "This is a role you would want to do."

To convince him even more, Priyadarshan told Paresh, "You are the hero of the film. The real hero is you the others are just supporting characters." Hearing this, Paresh immediately jumped at the opportunity and agreed to take up the role!

Breaking Away from Villain Roles

What many people forget today is that before Hera Pheri, Paresh Rawal was mostly known for playing dark, villainous characters in Hindi cinema. This movie was his big chance to try something completely new.

Priyadarshan revealed that Paresh was super excited about the role precisely because it allowed him to break away from playing the bad guy all the time. The director proudly stated, "He said he would put his heart and soul into it because, before that, he had mostly been playing villain roles. And then he did it."

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And wow, did he deliver! Paresh put his absolute heart and soul into creating the absent-minded landlord. With his thick, innocent Maharashtrian accent and super quirky humor, Baburao became an instant hit and won over audiences everywhere.

The Unforgettable Magic of the Hera Pheri Trio

You really can't talk about Baburao without mentioning the rest of the trio. The character gained a massive cult status alongside his co-stars. Akshay Kumar’s super smart character Raju and Suniel Shetty’s serious character Shyam perfectly balanced out Baburao's crazy antics.

These three characters created some of the most iconic moments in the history of Hindi cinema. The second installment, Phir Hera Pheri, came out in 2006 and was also a huge hit. Even today, all these years later, fans are still eagerly waiting for the third part of the franchise. That is the true power of this trio!

What is Next for Paresh Rawal and Priyadarshan?

If you are missing seeing this actor-director duo working together, I have some fantastic news for you. On the work front, Paresh Rawal will soon be seen in Priyadarshan’s highly anticipated upcoming film called Bhoot Bangla.

This movie is going to be extra special because it reunites them with Akshay Kumar! The shooting schedule for the film was fully wrapped up in May last year, and it is officially slated for a theatrical release on April 10, 2025. Aside from this, the busy actor also has another big comedy movie, Welcome to the Jungle, in the pipeline.

Meanwhile, there is also some bittersweet news floating around about the legendary director. Reports suggest that Priyadarshan is citing fatigue and is planning to retire from direction after he completes his 100th film. If true, it marks the end of a truly legendary career that gave us so many smiles.

What do you guys think? Do you agree with Paresh Rawal that playing such an iconic character can become a burden for an actor? Or do you just want to see him play Baburao one more time? Drop your thoughts in the comments below, I would love to chat with you all about it!