Veteran actor Paresh Rawal, who immortalised the character of Babu Bhaiya in the cult classic Hera Pheri (2000), recently revealed that the film’s story was not entirely new to him. In fact, he had performed the same storyline decades earlier in a Gujarati play titled Khel.
Paresh Rawal reveals he performed Hera Pheri’s story 25 years before the film released
In an interview with The Lallantop, Paresh Rawal recalled how director Priyadarshan was surprised when he interrupted the film’s narration and completed the climax himself.
“I remember clearly—it was July 1996. Priyadarshan was narrating the story in his hotel room. I interrupted him midway and told him the entire climax. He asked, ‘Do you watch Malayalam films too?’ I said, ‘You’re talking about a Malayalam film (Ramji Rao Speaking), but this has already been staged as a Gujarati play in 1984. It was called Khel. Swaroop was the heroine in it,’” Rawal said, referring to his wife Swaroop Sampat.
Paresh Rawal went on to share that he had directed the play Khel and also acted in it along with Naseeruddin Shah. It revolved around a struggling actor who accidentally gets a call from a kidnapper demanding ransom. What follows is a series of comedic twists as the actor and his girlfriend attempt to turn the situation to their advantage.
Interestingly, Khel was staged in the US in 1984, exactly 25 years before Hera Pheri hit theatres in 2000. “Coincidentally, on 29 March 1984, we were performing Khel in the US. That’s exactly 25 years before Hera Pheri released,” Rawal added.
‘Priyadarshan thought the story was original’
Rawal shared that director Priyadarshan believed the storyline of Ramji Rao Speaking, the Malayalam film on which Hera Pheri was based, was original. “But I told him this story had already been done in Gujarati theatre decades ago. He was surprised,” Rawal recalled.
The play is now being revived under a new name Saanp Seedhi with actors Kumud Mishra and Sumeet Vyas stepping into the roles. Rawal reflected on how different times were when they first staged it in the US, even flying with prop guns and swords, which would be impossible post-9/11.
“It was a two-character play—Naseer bhai and I. The role Sumeet is playing now, I did back then. It was a tough role—not just for the costume changes but also for the voice and tone variations,” he added.

Hera Pheri 3 to go on floors soon
Fans of Hera Pheri have more reason to rejoice. Paresh Rawal is all set to return as Babu Bhaiya in Hera Pheri 3, alongside Akshay Kumar and Suniel Shetty. Directed by Farhad Samji, the film is expected to go on floors in December and wrap by mid-2026.

While Priyadarshan is currently working with Akshay Kumar on Bhoot Bangla, Hera Pheri 3 is slated for a late 2026 or early 2027 release.

Randeep Hooda and Lin Laishram’s wedding was rooted in love and tradition, but their road to forever wasn’t always smooth. In a recent interview, Lin shared how their bond began back in 2011 and deepened during the COVID-19 lockdown, eventually leading to their culturally rich Manipuri wedding in November 2023.
Lin Laishram recalls her first meeting with Randeep Hooda in 2011
Speaking to Hauterrfly, Lin Laishram opened up about the first time she met Randeep Hooda, a moment that set the stage for their enduring relationship. “We met in 2011,” she said. “I had just returned from New York, where I was still modelling. I wanted to get into acting, so I went to Naseeruddin Shah sir’s production house, and that’s where I met him.”
Randeep offered help without hesitation. “One day he helped me with casting directors and what I should be doing. That was our first conversation. I felt very genuine about him as a person,” Lin revealed. “He helped me immediately without even asking what I could do for him.”
‘There was something about him’

While many relationships take time to bloom, Lin confessed to feeling an instant connection. “A very weird thing I felt when I first saw him… I felt that I knew him. I felt very comfortable around him, something about him made me feel very comfortable,” she said.
Though they were still exploring what the relationship meant, she shared, “We were also kind of confused about this, so we were trying to figure out the relationship.”
Living together during COVID brought them closer

The turning point came during the pandemic. “During the COVID time, we started actually living together,” Lin said. “I was not used to living with somebody, he was also not used to living like that, so there was a lot of adjustment.”
Yet, in the midst of isolation and chaos, the couple found joy and stability. “But both of us felt so easy during the COVID-19 — we were saying, ‘arey, yeh toh acha hai’,” she recalled with a smile. “We found our home and peace in each other during that time.”
Family pressures and societal expectations posed challenges
Lin shared her initial doubts about marriage, not because of Randeep, but due to cultural pressures and expectations. “I wanted to get married, but I was not sure if this was the right person because when you get married late, there’s a lot going on in your head,” she explained.
She added, “My parents would keep saying ‘get married to a Manipuri boy’, or Randeep’s parents would say, ‘you should only get married into a Jaat family’.”
How Randeep supported Lin in her personal journey
Despite all the doubts, Lin eventually found clarity and a safe space with Randeep. “Ultimately I found my space, which Randeep really helped with — making me feel comfortable in whoever I was,” she said.

She also reflected on the lack of early support from her family. “I never felt supported by my parents or my family about what I chose in life. They didn’t support me when I was acting and modelling. They only understood when I became popular and started making some money.”