Actor Paresh Rawal has candidly admitted that his portrayal of Baburao in the beloved ‘Hera Pheri’ film series has become both a blessing and a curse. During a recent podcast appearance with Raj Shamani, the veteran actor revealed the emotional toll of being perpetually typecast, despite the character’s immense popularity and cultural significance. While Rawal acknowledges the affection audiences hold for Baburao, he expressed his frustration with the repetitive nature of the role and its dominance over his other noteworthy performances.
Feeling the Creative Chains
Rawal described feeling deeply restricted by Baburao’s overwhelming success. According to the actor, the constant demand to reprise the same character in identical ways has forced him into a creative corner. “What happens is that just to please people, you keep churning out the same thing,” Rawal explained, highlighting the internal conflict between satisfying audience expectations and pursuing artistic growth. He further emphasized that this repetition has become a significant source of boredom for him, despite the character’s remarkable reach and appeal.
The actor questioned why filmmakers hesitate to experiment with such beloved characters. “When you have huge characters with a goodwill of 500 crores, why don’t you take a risk and fly? Why are you stagnant?” Rawal asked pointedly. He argued that with such an established audience base, there was immense potential to explore Baburao in different contexts and storylines, rather than defaulting to the same formulaic portrayal.
Baburao’s Shadow Over Other Roles
One of Rawal’s primary concerns is how Baburao’s popularity has completely overshadowed his other critically acclaimed performances. The actor revealed that many of his other good characters have been eclipsed by the iconic comic figure. Remarkably, Rawal noted that Baburao has even surpassed other legendary figures in terms of recognition. “I am told Baburao is more popular than RK Laxman,” he shared, expressing his discomfort with this phenomenon.
Despite these reservations, Rawal acknowledged the character’s unique charisma and relatability. “The character has a tremendous scope; you will believe everything Baburao says,” he admitted, recognizing why audiences connect so deeply with the role. This paradox loving the character’s essence while feeling trapped by its repetition forms the core of Rawal’s dilemma.
A Stand Against Dilution
Interestingly, Rawal has deliberately turned down numerous offers to play similar comic characters or variations of Baburao. He explained that while such roles are frequently offered to him, he consciously avoids accepting them to prevent diluting the character’s impact. “I have always said no to playing caricatures of Baburao,” Rawal stated firmly. The actor pointed out that legal restrictions further prevent him from exploring Baburao elsewhere. Since the character is legally owned by producer Firoz Nadiadwala, Rawal cannot portray Baburao in any other production. While this limitation is frustrating, Rawal described it as “a virtue out of helplessness,” suggesting that these constraints have actually protected the character’s integrity.
The Future: Hera Pheri 3 and Beyond
Despite his reservations about typecasting, Rawal has agreed to reprise Baburao for the upcoming ‘Hera Pheri 3′. The actor had previously distanced himself from the project due to creative disagreements but has since rejoined the production, which is scheduled to commence filming in early 2026. The film will see Akshay Kumar and Suniel Shetty returning as Raju and Shyam, promising to reunite the iconic trio that captured audiences’ hearts.
Rawal’s journey reflects a broader challenge faced by actors who achieve success through iconic characters, the struggle to grow beyond that success without alienating the very audience that made them stars. His openness about this internal conflict offers a refreshing perspective on the complexities of sustained fame in Indian cinema.
By – Sonali