Paresh Rawal, who is going to reunite with Akshay Kumar and Suniel Shetty for Hera Pheri 3, revealed in a recent interview that Kartik Aaryan was indeed considered for the film initially but it was not for the character of Raju, which has been played by Akshay in the previous instalments.

In a conversation with Siddharth Kanan, Paresh dismissed the claims being made that Kartik was going to replace Akshay in the franchise. He said that Kartik was set to play a different role, while Akshay was also supposed to star in the film but later, the story changed and Priyadarshan—who directed the first Hera Pheri—came on board and eventually Kartik was dropped from the movie.

“Kartik was signed for the film. At that time, the story of the film was different. Isko Raju samajh ke pakad ke leke aaye thay, par ye alag hi kirdar tha (They cast him thinking he would play Raju, but his character was completely different). This is how much I know. Kartik wasn’t cast in Raju’s role. Akshay was supposed to star in the film. Akshay would have definitely been a part of that film,” he said.

Confirming that Kartik is no longer part of Hera Pheri 3, he added, “The film’s story has been changed.”

Paresh also confirmed that the movie will retain the original cast of Hera Pheri and its shooting will begin in August-September.