Mumbai, April 1, 2025 – After years of anticipation, Hera Pheri 3, the third installment of the beloved Bollywood comedy franchise, has finally hit theaters. Directed by Farhad Samji and produced by Firoz Nadiadwala, the film reunites the iconic trio of Akshay Kumar (Raju), Suniel Shetty (Shyam), and Paresh Rawal (Baburao Ganpatrao Apte), with Sanjay Dutt joining as a formidable antagonist. Promising a blend of slapstick humor, mistaken identities, and a treasure-hunting caper, the movie aims to rekindle the charm of its predecessors, Hera Pheri (2000) and Phir Hera Pheri (2006). However, despite its star power and nostalgic appeal, Hera Pheri 3 stumbles, delivering a mixed bag that leans heavily on past glory but fails to innovate.
Plot: A Familiar Chaos
The story picks up years after the trio’s last misadventure, with Raju, Shyam, and Baburao now living separate lives but still tethered by their knack for trouble. When a mysterious tip about a hidden treasure linked to a gangster (Dutt) lands in their laps, the three reunite for what they hope will be their final, life-changing heist. Cue a whirlwind of mistaken identities, bumbling criminals, and absurd schemes as they dodge both the law and Dutt’s menacing henchmen. The plot, while packed with the franchise’s signature chaos, feels like a rehash of old beats—think Phir Hera Pheri’s get-rich-quick scams with a treasure twist—lacking the fresh ingenuity that made the original a classic.
Performances: A Trio Under Pressure
Akshay Kumar’s Raju remains the scheming heart of the group, his quick wit and comic timing intact, though his energy feels restrained compared to the freewheeling charisma of 2000. Suniel Shetty’s Shyam, ever the straight man, delivers a steady performance but is sidelined by a script that gives him little to do beyond reacting to the madness. Paresh Rawal, as the lovably dim-witted Baburao, is the film’s saving grace—his impeccable delivery of lines like “Yeh Baburao ka style hai” still elicits roars of laughter, even if the material doesn’t always match his brilliance.
Sanjay Dutt’s villainous turn as the treasure-obsessed gangster adds a layer of menace, but his role feels underwritten, oscillating between cartoonish and threatening without fully committing to either. Supporting players, including a cameo-laden ensemble rumored to feature Nana Patekar and Rajpal Yadav, bring fleeting chuckles but can’t elevate the uneven narrative.
Direction and Writing: A Missed Opportunity
Farhad Samji, known for broad comedies like Housefull 4, takes the helm from Priyadarshan and Neeraj Vora, and his influence is evident in the film’s reliance on loud gags and over-the-top set pieces. While the first Hera Pheri thrived on subtle timing and situational humor, Hera Pheri 3 opts for a more frenetic pace, often sacrificing coherence for cheap laughs. The promised “high VFX” elements—teased since Indra Kumar’s brief stint on the project—amount to a few lackluster CGI sequences that feel out of place in this low-stakes comedy.
The screenplay, credited to Samji and his team, struggles to balance nostalgia with novelty. Iconic dialogues are recycled with a wink to fans—“25 din mein paisa double”—but new lines lack the punch to become meme-worthy. The treasure-hunt premise, while ambitious, devolves into a series of contrived misunderstandings that stretch believability, even for a franchise built on absurdity.
Technical Aspects: Middling Execution
Visually, Hera Pheri 3 is a step up from its predecessors, with glossy cinematography capturing Mumbai’s bustle and a fictional treasure-laden hideout. However, the editing is choppy, with scenes dragging or cutting abruptly, disrupting the comedic rhythm. The soundtrack, featuring a remix of “Tun Tunak Tun” and a forgettable item number, pales against the catchy simplicity of “Jab Bhi Koi Haseena” from the original. Himesh Reshammiya’s score tries to inject energy but often overwhelms the quieter moments.
The Verdict: A Pale Shadow
Hera Pheri 3 banks on the goodwill of its predecessors, and for die-hard fans, seeing Raju, Shyam, and Baburao back together might be enough. Rawal’s Baburao remains a comedic gem, and there are sporadic bursts of hilarity—like a botched heist involving a goat—that recall the franchise’s golden days. Yet, the film feels like a shadow of what came before, weighed down by a bloated runtime (clocking in at 2 hours 40 minutes) and a script that prioritizes quantity over quality of laughs.
Posts on X reflect this sentiment, with users lamenting a “forced” feel and pining for Priyadarshan’s touch, though some praise the trio’s chemistry as a nostalgic treat. At a reported budget of Rs. 100 crore—far exceeding the modest means of the earlier films—it’s a gamble that may not pay off at the box office unless word-of-mouth salvages its “average” opening weekend.
Rating: 2.5/5
Hera Pheri 3 is a bittersweet reunion—fun in fits and starts but ultimately a reminder that lightning rarely strikes thrice. For a franchise that redefined Bollywood comedy, this installment feels more like a cash grab than a labor of love. Watch it for Baburao, but don’t expect the magic of yesteryear.
