Paresh Rawal Calls His Iconic Role As Babu Rao 'Gale Ka Fanda': 'This Is Very Bad'

While fans eagerly await Hera Pheri 3, Paresh Rawal seems less excited about returning to his iconic role as Babu Rao. In a recent interview with The Lallantop, the veteran actor revealed he’s feeling weighed down by constantly reprising the same character. Rawal candidly admitted that playing Babu Rao has become a “gale ka fanda” — something that feels like it’s choking him.

Paresh Rawal on his iconic role as Babu Rao

After Phir Hera Pheri released in 2006, Paresh shared that he immediately approached filmmakers like Vishal Bhardwaj and R. Balki in a bid to break free from the Babu Rao image. He even pitched the idea of playing a lookalike character with a different personality, but Vishal Bhardwaj declined, saying he wasn’t into character remakes.

He recalled, “My Hera Pheri role is a gale ka fanda. I went to Vishal Bhardwaj in 2007 after in 2006 Phir Hera Pheri released. I told him, ‘I want a release from the image that has been set by this film.’ I asked him to give me a role in the same get-up but a completely different role. I’m an actor, mujhe fasna nahi hai aise daldal mein. But Vishal told me I don’t do remake of characters."

"Then I went to R. Balki in 2022 with the same request. I asked him to give a different character in the same get-up. I told him, ‘I feel suffocated. I feel happy, but it ties me down. I want liberation from this. This is very bad,'" he added.

Paresh Rawal's take on movie sequels

Paresh Rawal also shared his honest take on movie sequels, expressing disappointment over their repetitive nature. “You cook up the same thing when you make sequels after sequels, not like Lage Raho Munna Bhai was to Munna Bhai MBBS where you take characters in a different direction. Everybody wants to encash on sequels but do something different with the character that has Rs 500 crore worth goodwill. Why not fly with it? But there’s mental bankruptcy or mental lethargy. I’m doing the sequel because I don’t want the film to get stuck but there is no happiness," he said.

First released in 2000, Hera Pheri remains one of Bollywood’s most beloved comedies. Directed by Priyadarshan, the cult classic became a phenomenon thanks to its hilarious plot, unforgettable dialogues, and especially Paresh Rawal’s endearing portrayal of Babu Rao.

ALSO READ: Paresh Rawal Shares He Drank His Own Urine For 15 Days On Veeru Devgan's Advice: 'Sip It Like A Beer...'

movies