The burden of being Baburao
Paresh Rawal is one of Bollywood’s most celebrated actors, but for millions of fans, he will forever be Baburao Ganpatrao Apte — the hilarious, bewildered landlord from the Hera Pheri franchise. And honestly? The man is done. In a past conversation about his career, Rawal admitted that the constant association with that character has become exhausting, even though audiences still celebrate it through memes, clips, and Instagram reels.
“But I am tired of that. Sick and tired of that,” he said, expressing a frustration that many character actors might relate to. The role, with its thick glasses and perfect comic timing, became bigger than almost every other part in his filmography. “I would like to get rid of that image. Truly,” he added. It’s not that he doesn’t appreciate the love — but the shadow of Baburao has clearly started to feel like a cage.
Fans often forget that Rawal has played everything from a chilling villain in Drishyam to a dignified father in CityLights. But pop culture has a way of sticking to one image, and Baburao remains the most meme-friendly character of his career. The actor, however, seems ready to move on.
Why Hera Pheri 2 didn’t work
Rawal didn’t just vent his frustration — he also gave a brutally honest take on why the sequel, Phir Hera Pheri, failed to capture the magic of the original. According to the actor, the team got a little too overconfident. “What happened was, in Hera Pheri 2, we were very over smart. Zyada hi hoshiyari dikha rahe the apni. And it did not work,” he explained.
The innocence that made Baburao so endearing in the first film, he said, was completely missing in the follow-up. The sequel tried too hard to be funny, and in the process, lost the organic charm that turned the original into a cult classic. “Gandgi ho gai,” Rawal said bluntly, meaning it became messy. For an actor who prides himself on authenticity, that lack of subtlety was a dealbreaker.
The original Hera Pheri, starring Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, and Rawal, was a sleeper hit that grew into a phenomenon over the years. Its humor came from the chemistry between the three leads and the simple, confused honesty of Baburao. The sequel, despite a solid cast, couldn’t replicate that magic — and Rawal’s comments offer a rare insider look at why.
What Hera Pheri 3 really needs
With fans endlessly clamoring for a third film — especially after the announcement of Hera Pheri 3 with the original trio — Rawal gave his honest prescription for success. He stressed that the character must return to his roots. “Jab kabhi bhi hota hai, ek to innocence chahiye wo nahi tha….wo tha hi nahi,” he said, meaning that without that childlike simplicity, any new installment would feel hollow.
Rawal seems to want a reset — not just for the franchise, but for himself as an actor. While Baburao remains an unforgettable part of Bollywood history, the man behind the character is itching to break free. Whether Hera Pheri 3 ever actually comes together or remains a fan dream, one thing is clear: Paresh Rawal is ready to hang up those thick glasses and show the world what else he can do. And honestly? That’s a performance we’d all love to see.