Mukesh
Khanna is one of the most outspoken actors in the industry, who never shies away from speaking his mind. The Shaktimaan star has finally addressed his absence from the Hera Pheri sequel, shedding light on why he was not part of the follow-up despite featuring in the original cult comedy. In a recent interview, Khanna revealed that he was never approached for Phir Hera Pheri and hinted that past differences with the makers may have played a role. While fans have long wondered about his absence, the actor made it clear that he holds no regrets, even as he revisited memories from the first film and spoke about his equation with Akshay Kumar.
Mukesh Khanna was not a part of Phir Hera Pheri because...
Speaking to The Filmy Charcha, Mukesh Khanna said he was not contacted for the sequel at all. He added that he did not feel the need to question the makers about the decision. According to him, there had been some friction with the producer during the making of Hera Pheri, particularly regarding attitude, which may have influenced how things unfolded later. He said, "During Hera Pheri, I had a bit of a problem with the producer... his attitude. So I didn’t go and ask why I wasn’t taken." Khanna stated that he chose not to follow up or seek clarification.
Talking about his role as Inspector Prakash in the original film, Khanna fondly recalled the audience’s reaction to his comic scenes. He mentioned that viewers often connected his role to his iconic television image of Shaktimaan, especially during chase sequences involving the late Om Puri. According to him, When he used to run and Om Puri chased him with a stick and he would say ‘main commissioner hoon', the viewers would shout, "Arre Shaktimaan bhaag raha hai!" The actor also acknowledged that perhaps his character was not considered essential for the sequel.During the conversation, Khanna also spoke about a professional interaction with Akshay Kumar from a few years ago. He revealed that he had pitched a political drama concept to the actor, which revolved around a paan seller influencing Parliament. While Akshay heard the idea, he eventually declined, stating that he would not be able to take it up. Interestingly, Khanna admitted that he has publicly criticised some of Akshay Kumar’s film choices in the past, including
Laxmii. He speculated that such remarks may have affected their equation, though he was not certain. Even so, he expressed a willingness to reconnect with the actor in the future for a possible collaboration.
Hera Pheri 3 update
Meanwhile, the future of
Hera Pheri 3 is still uncertain. Akshay Kumar recently confirmed on a podcast with Shubhankar that the film is currently not moving forward. He said, "Hera Pheri 3 abhi filhaal toh nahi ban rahi," adding that even he was taken aback by the developments. Clarifying that Suniel Shetty and Paresh Rawal were not the reason behind the delay, the actor added, "For the next one year, the film is not on track. There are many issues, but not with us three actors". Issues surrounding rights ownership and production have delayed the project, leaving fans waiting for clarity on whether the franchise will ever return to the big screen.
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