It has come as a huge dissapointment for the Hera Pheri fans when Akshay Kumar has stepped back from the next part of the classic film. Since then a trend ‘No Akshay, No Hera Pheri’ has followed on Twitter. Not just the fans but also people in the industry wants the trio back all over again for the new venture.
Kumar has stepped back due to some creative issues. Meanwhile Salman Khan too dropped his name from the No Entry sequel. Out of the cue, Sanjay Dutt have confirmed his spot for the Munna Bhai franchise, which is appreciated by his fans.
“When it comes to commercial viability, the makers always prefer to get the original cast back. And that should be the way because that is the essence of a franchise. But when things don’t fall to the desired places they have to look for an alternative way, which seems safe to them commercially. Sometimes the makers wait for a long time for the original cast, but if they find a safe alternate, they also want to go ahead and explore it. Safe is the key word here,” said director Anees Bazmee, who directed the sequel of Bhool Bhulaiyaa.
Actor Suniel Shetty about the status and said, “I am not happy about it. It hurts. 14 saal toh humne vanvas kaat liye, uske baad bhi problem ho toh it hurts. We need to sit and talk. We all are mature adults, and fins a way through”.
“I have committed and I have to stay committed. So let’s see what happens. I will talk to them after November 20. As far as I’m concerned, all three are committed to the film… And Kartik is not playing Raju’s character. That is a completely different character which is coming to the movie, which is also very exciting,” he added.
Actor Gulshan Grover reveals, “First, I have to say that Hera Pheri without Akshay is unthinkable. If we talk about the commercial variability, both points have proven to be right in the past. If you look at franchises such as Superman, actors change at a certain stage, and the franchise has done well. Many times senior actors stay in the film, and sometimes the franchise moves on to another person.”
“In the Hera Pheri case, the film is identified with its characters, so it will be fantastic to see them back, because these characters have remained in the minds of audiences. So, getting the original cast in such cases is the best scenario,” he further said.
Actor Tusshar Kapoor laid stress on having the original cast for a film especially pointed out the Golmaal franchise and said, “I don’t know about the commercial viability in such cases, what will happen or not. Rohit Shetty was the star of the franchise for us, and I can only hope he casts us all together if he is planning to go forward”.
Meanwhile Paresh Rawal says that most actors distance themselves from taking creative decisions. “Audience ko kuch naya milega Hera Pheri 3 mien… But the decisions of who to get back, and commercial sense is something which the producers, writers and director take. I don’t like to think about it, and focus on my craft,” he adds.
Producer Ramesh Taurani, said, “Yes, stakes are higher when revisiting projects without their faces, but script is the only way to evade it. The plan of action is very subjective and differs film to film. But in the end it depends on the script,” he says.
“For instance, the film had the haveli, some songs, ghungru, Rajasthan.. I retained the essence, so that people are reminded of the first part, which is why I guess even though the characters and story were different, audiences accepted it,” filmmaker Bazmee says.
While Grover feels that it is imperative to continue the same story or plot. “Having the same team is a great asset for the franchise, but if it is not there, something new can help,” Grover adds.
