‘When
I
heard
about
his
decision,
I
messaged
him
to
ask
what
happened.’
‘He
replied
saying
I
shouldn’t
try
to
call
him
as
he
doesn’t
want
to
talk
about
it,
and
that
he
does
not
want
to
disrespect
me.’
‘Is
this
the
way
to
show
respect?’
Akshay
Kumar
and
Paresh
Rawal
in
Hera
Pheri.
When
I
got
a
call
from
the
super-prolific
Priyadarshan
at
around
8
pm
on
Tuesday,
he
was
very
very
upset.
“What
the
f***
is
wrong
with
these
people?
Why
is
Paresh,
whom
I’ve
always
considered
an
integral
part
of
my
film
family,
behaving
in
such
a
manner?
I
don’t
need
this.
I
don’t
need
to
make
any
films
at
all.
“I
am
more
than
happy
with
what
I’ve
made
so
far.
And
I
am
financially
well-to-do.
I
don’t
need
to
make
Hera
Pheri
or
any
other
film.”
So
how
did
this
project
happen?
“You
know
very
well
that
I
never
wanted
to
return
to
Hera
Pheri,
not
25
years
ago
when
it
was
made,
not
now.
It
was
my
dear
friend
Akshay
Kumar
who
persuaded
me.”
“One
day
he
came
to
me
while
we
were
shooting
Bhoot
Bungla
and
said,
‘I
have
paid
a
huge
amount
of
money
for
the
Hera
Pheri
rights.
I’ve
asked
Suneil
(Shetty)
and
Paresh
(Rawal)
to
be
part
of
Hera
Pheri
3
and
they
have
happily
agreed.
Now
I
am
asking
you:
Will
you
direct
Hera
Pheri
for
me?’
Of
course,
I
said
yes
readily.”
“I
can’t
say
no
to
Akshay.
Otherwise
I
had
no
interest
in
Hera
Pheri.”
Pausing
for
breath,
Priyan
reveals
how
stressed
this
incident
—
Paresh
Rawal
walking
out
of
the
film
—
has
made
him.
“I
am
in
my
village
right
now,
peacefully
interacting
with
my
relatives,
watching
the
sky.
The
last
thing
I
need
is
this
kind
of
tension.
I
don’t
care
for
the
stress
of
film
making
anymore.
I
would
be
happy
to
retire
right
now.
I’ve
done
enough
work.
I
no
longer
feel
excited
about
filmmaking.”
So
what
exactly
is
the
explanation
Paresh
Rawal
has
given
Priyadarshan
for
his
sudden
decision
to
quit?
“That
is
the
thing.
He
has
given
neither
me
nor
Akshay
any
explanation.
After
Akshay
asked
me
to
come
onboard,
I
came
up
with
an
idea
for
Hera
Pheri
3
which
everyone
liked,
Yes,
Paresh
loved
it
too.”
“We
shot
a
bit
for
Hera
Pheri
3
and
everyone
was
very
happy.
There
was
no
clue
about
Paresh’s
unhappiness.
I
don’t
know
where
it
comes
from.
I
feel
this
whole
thing
is
one
big
conspiracy.”
Did
Paresh
indicate
his
withdrawal
to
Priyadarshan?
“Nothing!
He
indicated
nothing.
When
I
heard
about
his
decision,
I
messaged
him
to
ask
what
happened.
He
replied
saying
I
shouldn’t
try
to
call
him
as
he
doesn’t
want
to
talk
about
it,
and
that
he
does
not
want
to
disrespect
me.
Is
this
the
way
to
show
respect?
Subhash,
I
am
very,
very
hurt.”
“There
are
two
actors
whom
I’ve
worked
most
with:
Mohanlal
and
Paresh
Rawal.
In
Hindi,
I
don’t
think
there
is
any
actor
whom
I’ve
worked
with
as
extensively
as
Paresh.
Every
time
I
wrote
a
script
in
Hindi
I
would
try
to
find
a
proper
place
for
Paresh.”
About
Akshay’s
Rs
25
crore
lawsuit
against
Paresh,
Priyan
says,
“I
am
not
surprised.
It’s
his
money.
He
paid
a
huge
amount
for
the
Hera
Pheri
rights.
Now
suddenly
one
of
the
core
actors
decides
to
opt
out.
It
is
Akshay’s
problem,
not
mine.”
“He
has
all
my
support.
But
the
financial
losses
are
his.
By
the
way
everyone
including
Paresh
has
been
paid
an
advance.”
Would
Hera
Pheri
3
be
made
without
Paresh?
Priyan
loses
his
cool
at
the
question.
“I
don’t
give
a
f***.
I
don’t
care
whether
it’s
made
or
not.
I
was
doing
it
for
Akshay.
I
really
don’t
want
to
work
any
more.
I
have
some
commitments
to
fulfil.
I’ve
just
completed
Bhoot
Bungla
with
Akshay
and
I’ve
a
film
with
Akshay
and
Saif
that
I
am
committed
to
direct.”
“Beyond
that,
I
don’t
need
this
kind
of
tension.
I
would
play
with
my
grandchild
than
make
movies
with
unprofessional
actors.”
Feature
Presentation:
Rajesh
Alva/Rediff