When Paresh Rawal refused to star in Akshay Kumar’s production venture Oh My God 2: ‘I didn’t like the story’

Paresh Rawal recently made headlines for walking out of Hera Pheri 3, a film produced by his co-star Akshay Kumar.

New Delhi | June 13, 2025 09:43 PM IST

2 min read

When Paresh Rawal dropped out of OMG2. (Photo: IMDB)

Paresh Rawal and Akshay Kumar made headlines after the former walked out of their film Hera Pheri 3, stating creative difference. The sudden decision of Paresh forced Akshay to file a law suit against the actor and demand Rs 25 crore in damages. But, this is not the first time the veteran actor has walked out of a project backed by Akshay. Previously, Paresh refused to be part of the sequel to their blockbuster hit Oh My God!

In an old interview with Bollywood Bubble, the actor shared his reason for not taking up the role in the sequel. He said, “I didn’t like the story so I didn’t want to be a part of it.” The actor further explained, “I didn’t like the character of the sequel so I refused to take it up. If you are making a sequel, keep it like Munna Bhai MBBS.”

Actress Ratna Pathak Shah, who accompanied Paresh Rawal in the interview, agreed with him and said, “Sequels are tricky things.”

ALSO READ | Archana Puran Singh avoids releasing her new vlog in light of Air India Flight 171 tragedy: ‘A small gesture of respect’

Oh My God 2, released in 2023, starred Pankaj Tripathi and Akshay Kumar in pivotal roles. The film explored taboo topics like masturbation and consent. OMG 2 faced several setbacks before its release with regards to its certificate from the censor board. Yet, it became one of the highest-earning Hindi films of the year.

Paresh Rawal, who had happily joined Hera Pheri 3 along with his co-stars Suniel Shetty and Akshay Kumar, decided to quit the film. His decision created a lot of curiosity and disappointment in fans. It was speculated that the actor had issues with its director Priyadarshan. However, in an X post later, the actor cleared the air and said, “I wish to put it on record that my decision to step away from Hera Pheri 3 was not due to creative differences. I REITERATE THAT THERE ARE NO CREATIVE DISAGREEMENT WITH THE FILM MAKER . I hold immense love, respect, and faith in Mr. Priyadarshan the film director.”

From the homepage