EXCLUSIVE | Gulshan Grover aka Kabira reveals he lost Mahesh Bhatt’s award-winning film Zakhm for Hera Pheri climax: ‘They needed sun to be…’

Then, it was filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt who advised him to choose Hera Pheri. “There were discussions going on between producers, production managers, and Mahesh Bhatt sahab. I went to him and told my dilemma. He is like my godfather, I go to him with my personal problems as well. I told him that they would not let me come, what do we do? He said that go do that film, finish it, because there is a crew already waiting there. Unfortunately, I had to leave the film, but I didn’t want to. He tried to change the schedule or dates but he couldn’t. So, I had to leave Zakhm to shoot the climax scene of Hera Pheri for ten days,” he recalls.

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Reminiscing about director Priyadarshan’s dedication towards detailing of every scene, Gulshan shares an anecdote and says, “I remember my scene of making that famous call to Laxmi Prasad was going to be shot in Film City. They asked me to reach by 9 am. I was on my way and my makeup man called and said that director Priyadarshan ji is in my room and wants to speak to me. I got worried and said, ‘Why would he be in my room and want to speak to me?’ He said take your time, I am not starting anytime soon.”

He continues, “He wanted a neon light’s reflection in that set. They put it up but it’s not proper, it will take a few hours. It was so precise that he wanted one of the sources of light to be neon outside the apartment so that the reflection comes inside. It was a brilliant idea because our hideout was an apartment that was empty because someone had gone on a holiday. It was very detailed work by Priyadarshan.”

Talking about his camaraderie with the ensemble star cast, including Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal, and Suneil Shetty, Gulshan expresses, “They are all my close friends, it was fantastic. We were sharing rooms throughout. We had a great time together, we have done so many films together. Suneil is more of a prankster than Akshay. Their target were other people, they have never messed with me. A cult classic, a film that many enjoyed. It gave an opportunity to many actors who were able to shine in this film. It is the best example of an ensemble cast.”

Hera Pheri’s sequel Phir Hera Pheri didn’t do wonders at the box office. Unlike the first part, it was directed by Neeraj Vora instead of Priyadarshan. However, fans have high expectations from Hera Pheri 3, which will bring back the original team again. “The sequel sadly did not get remade by the original maker, but the happy news is that the third part is now being made by the original filmmakers and has the original cast, and not the cast that was being contemplated. I haven’t even seen Phir Hera Pheri, I wouldn’t know what happened there. Hera Pheri 3 is being made, and yes, Kabira is in the film. I didn’t ask Priyadarshan about the other cast members, happy that I am there,” he concludes, while giving an update about the third instalment.