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Baburao Returns: Paresh Rawal Confirms Comeback In Hera Pheri 3 After Controversy

The world of Indian comedy cinema has some unforgettable names, but few characters have left as enduring an impression as Baburao Ganpatrao Apte. Played by the inimitable Paresh Rawal, Baburao became a cult favorite since his debut in Hera Pheri (2000), with his quirky glasses, hilarious mispronunciations, and unmatched comic timing. Now, following a lot of speculation and a reasonable amount of controversy, Paresh Rawal has confirmed that he will be reprising the iconic role in Hera Pheri 3. And for the fans, that’s nothing less than cinematic gold. The Hera Pheri franchise has been the pillar of Indian comedy for more than two decades. The equation between Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, and Paresh Rawal became iconic, with Rawal’s character of bumbling but lovable landlord Baburao becoming a heartthrob across generations. So when news broke early this year that Rawal had walked out of the third installment over financial differences and court cases, disappointment was the order of the day. However, the air has finally been cleared. Speaking on a recent podcast, Paresh Rawal confirmed his return to Hera Pheri 3. “When something is so well loved by people, we have to be extra careful; it is our responsibility towards the audience,” he said. “You can’t take that for granted; you must work hard and give them your best.” With those words, Rawal reaffirmed not just his involvement but his emotional connection to the role that made him a household name. The road to Rawal’s return was not smooth. In May 2025, Rawal stunned everyone in an interview with Bollywood Hungama by announcing that he had quit the project. The news made waves in social media as much as it did in the entertainment scene, leading to a backlash from his fans and rumors about what the future of the film held. The situation escalated when Akshay Kumar’s production company, Cape of Good Films, reportedly issued a legal notice to Rawal demanding Rs. 25 crore in damages. The actor returned the Rs. 11 lakh signing amount he had earlier received, along with 15% annual interest and an additional goodwill sum, formally stepping away from the film. Lying at the core of the controversy was the payment term. Rawal’s remuneration, said to be Rs. 15 crore, was to be made only a month after the eventual release of the film, estimated for late 2026 or even 2027. Such extended delays in payment understandably induced reluctance, particularly for a veteran actor with decades of experience. Despite the complications, both sides seem to have recognized the cultural weight of Baburao’s character and the irreplaceable value Paresh Rawal brings to it. As Rawal explained in his recent statement, “It was meant to come together earlier too, but we had to fine-tune things with each other. Priyadarshan, Akshay, and Suniel are all talented people and friends for many, many years.” His statement is not only reconciliation but also a mutual pledge towards fulfilling the promise of Hera Pheri 3. Although official news regarding the revamped deal hasn’t been released, Rawal’s assurance hints that the economic and legal obstacles have now been overcome, clearing the way for the reunion of the trio long overdue. The first Hera Pheri by Priyadarshan in 2000 was not merely a movie; it became a pop culture phenomenon. The sequel, Phir Hera Pheri (2006), only established the trio’s comedic gold. With one-liners that continue to trend as memes and scenes that are seared into the memory of the audience, the franchise has gathered a devoted fan base of all ages. Over the past few years, fan pressure for a third installment has only gotten louder. But Hera Pheri 3 was delayed with script revisions, director changes, and cast doubts. The uncertainty over Paresh Rawal’s participation merely fueled rumors. But with the original trio now signed up and the production house getting its creative wheels in sync, things finally look to be back on track. While plot details remain tightly under wraps, production for Hera Pheri 3 is expected to begin later this year. Directed by Farhad Samji, the film promises to retain the heart and humor of the original while bringing a fresh twist to the story. Viewers can look forward to more of Baburao’s funny faux pas, Raju’s plotting, and Shyam’s deadpan responses. If executed well, Hera Pheri 3 might usher in a successful comeback not only for the trio but also for the old-school brand of comedy that Bollywood appears to have abandoned in recent years. The news of Paresh Rawal’s return isn’t just a casting update; it’s a celebration. In an age where nostalgia sells but rarely delivers, having the original trio return in Hera Pheri 3 is a rare chance to bring back authentic humor rooted in timeless performances. For audiences who grew up quoting Baburao’s lines and for a new generation discovering the franchise through memes and reruns, Hera Pheri 3 now holds the promise of laughter, chaos, and the return of one of India’s most iconic characters. The good news? Baburao is back. And this time, everything is resolved.

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Worldnews

Obama, Bush Decry Travesty Of Trumps Gutting Of USAID On Its Last Day

The former US presidents said the dismantling of USAID was a ‘mistake’ on the last day of the agency’s operations. Former United States Presidents Barack Obama and George W Bush have delivered a rare open rebuke of the Donald Trump administration in an emotional video farewell with staffers of the US Agency for International Development (USAID). Obama called the Trump administration’s dismantling of USAID “a colossal mistake”. Monday was the last day as an independent agency for the six-decade-old humanitarian and development organisation, created by President John F Kennedy as a soft power, peaceful way of promoting US national security by boosting goodwill and prosperity abroad. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has ordered USAID to be absorbed into the US State Department on Tuesday. The former presidents and U2 singer Bono  – who held back tears as he recited a poem – spoke with thousands in the USAID community in a videoconference, which was billed as a closed-press event. They expressed their appreciation for the thousands of USAID staffers who have lost their jobs and life’s work. Their agency was one of the first and most fiercely targeted for government cuts by Trump and his billionaire ally Elon Musk, with staffers abruptly locked out of systems and offices and terminated by mass emailing. Trump claimed the agency was run by “radical left lunatics” and rife with “tremendous fraud”. Musk called it “a criminal organisation”. Obama, speaking in a recorded statement, offered assurances to the aid and development workers, some listening from overseas. “Your work has mattered and will matter for generations to come,” he told them. Obama has largely kept a low public profile during Trump’s second term and refrained from criticising the seismic changes that Trump has made to US programmes and priorities at home and abroad. “Gutting USAID is a travesty, and it’s a tragedy. Because it’s some of the most important work happening anywhere in the world,” Obama said. He credited USAID with not only saving lives, but being a main factor in global economic growth that has turned some aid-receiving countries into US markets and trade partners. The former Democratic president predicted that “sooner or later, leaders on both sides of the aisle will realise how much you are needed”. Asked for comment, the State Department said it would be introducing the department’s foreign assistance successor to USAID, to be called America First, this week. “The new process will ensure there is proper oversight and that every tax dollar spent will help advance our national interests,” the department said. USAID oversaw programmes around the world, providing water and life-saving food to millions uprooted by conflict in Sudan, Syria, Gaza and elsewhere, sponsoring the “Green Revolution” that revolutionised modern agriculture and curbed starvation and famine. The agency worked at preventing disease outbreaks, promoting democracy, and providing financing and development that allowed countries and people to climb out of poverty. Bush, who also spoke in a recorded message, went straight to the cuts in a landmark AIDS and HIV programme started by his Republican administration and credited with saving 25 million lives around the world. Bipartisan blowback from Congress to cutting the popular President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, known as PEPFAR, helped save significant funding for the programme. But cuts and rule changes have reduced the number getting the life-saving care. “You’ve showed the great strength of America through your work – and that is your good heart,” Bush told USAID staffers. “Is it in our national interests that 25 million people who would have died now live? I think it is, and so do you,” he said. More than 14 million of the world’s most vulnerable, a third of them young children, could die because of the Trump administration’s move, a study in the Lancet journal projected Tuesday. “For many low- and middle-income countries, the resulting shock would be comparable in scale to a global pandemic or a major armed conflict,” study co-author Davide Rasella, a researcher at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health, said in a statement. Bono, a longtime humanitarian advocate in Africa and elsewhere, was announced as the “surprise guest”. he recited a poem he had written to the agency about its gutting. He spoke of children dying of malnutrition, a reference to millions of people who Boston University researchers and other analysts say will die because of the US cuts to funding for health and other programmes abroad. “They called you crooks,” Bono said, “when you were the best of us.” Follow Al Jazeera English:...

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Worldnews

Iran Hardens Stance Against IAEA And Its Chief In Wake Of US-Israel Attacks

Tehran has rejected request for Rafael Grossi to visit nuclear facilities bombed by Israel and US during conflict. Iran has taken an unequivocal stance against the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), with the country’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi summarily dismissing its chief Rafael Grossi’s request to visit nuclear facilities bombed by Israel and the United States during a 12-day conflict earlier this month. “Grossi’s insistence on visiting the bombed sites under the pretext of safeguards is meaningless and possibly even malign in intent,” said Araghchi on X on Monday. “Iran reserves the right to take any steps in defence of its interests, its people and its sovereignty.” In tandem, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron that Tehran had halted cooperation with the IAEA due to what he called Grossi’s “destructive” behaviour towards Iran, his office said. “The action taken by parliament members … is a natural response to the unjustified, unconstructive, and destructive conduct of the director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency,” Pezeshkian told Macron in a phone call, according to a presidency statement. Al Jazeera’s Resul Serdar, reporting from Tehran, said the Iranian leadership is making it clear that the IAEA is an “international body with defined responsibilities and these responsibilities are not political but technical”. But, he added, Tehran views the nuclear agency as an international body “under immense [political] pressure from Israel and the United States”. Iranian lawmakers on Wednesday voted in favour of a bill to suspend cooperation with the IAEA, citing Israel’s June 13 attack on Iran and later strikes by the US on nuclear facilities. A ceasefire between Iran and Israel took hold on June 24. Since the start of the conflict, Iranian officials have sharply criticised the IAEA not only for failing to condemn the Israeli and US strikes, but also for passing a resolution on June 12 accusing Tehran of non-compliance with its nuclear obligations, the day before Israel attacked. In the meantime, France, Germany and Britain have decried “threats” made against Grossi. “France, Germany and the United Kingdom condemn threats against the director general of the IAEA Rafael Grossi and reiterate our full support to the agency,” Foreign Ministers Jean-Noel Barrot, Johann Wadephul and David Lammy said in a joint statement. “We call on Iranian authorities to refrain from any steps to cease cooperation with the IAEA,” they added. “We urge Iran to immediately resume full cooperation in line with its legally binding obligations, and to take all necessary steps to ensure the safety and security of IAEA personnel.” While none specified which threats they were referring to, Iran’s ultra-conservative Kayhan newspaper recently claimed documents showed Grossi was an Israeli spy and should be executed. Iran has insisted no threats were posed against Grossi or the agency’s inspectors. On Monday during his weekly press conference, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said the Iranian parliament’s decision to halt cooperation with the IAEA reflected the “concern and anger of the Iranian public opinion”. He further criticised US and European powers for maintaining what he described as a “political approach” towards Iran’s nuclear programme. At least 935 people were killed during the recent conflict with Israel, Iran’s judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir said, citing the latest forensic data. The deceased included 132 women and 38 children, Jahangir added. Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven nations said later on Monday they supported the ceasefire between Israel and Iran, and urged that negotiations resume for a deal to address Iran’s nuclear program, according to a joint statement. “We reaffirm that Iran can never have nuclear weapons, and urge Iran to refrain from reconstituting its unjustified enrichment activities,” the statement said. Meanwhile, a Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman has said the country is involved in efforts to reach an agreement on the Iranian nuclear issue and a guarantee against a return to escalation by all parties. Pezeshkian issued an official apology to the Qatari people in a phone call to Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani after the targeting of Al Udeid Air Base, the biggest US military base in the Middle East, he added. Follow Al Jazeera English:...

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Worldnews

Trump Formally Orders Lifting Of Syria Sanctions

US Treasury says it removed 518 Syrian individuals and entities from its list of sanctions after president’s decree. Washington, DC – United States President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to dismantle a web of sanctions against Syria, a move that will likely unlock investments in the country more than six months after the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad. Trump’s decree on Monday offers sanction relief to “entities critical to Syria’s development, the operation of its government, and the rebuilding of the country’s social fabric”, the US Treasury said in a statement. The Syrian government has been under heavy US financial penalties that predate the outbreak of the civil war in the country in 2011. The sprawling sanction programme, which included provisions related to the former government’s human rights abuses, has derailed reconstruction efforts in the country. It has also contributed to driving the Syrian economy under al-Assad to the verge of collapse. Trump promised sanctions relief for Syria during his visit to the Middle East in May. “The United States is committed to supporting a Syria that is stable, unified, and at peace with itself and its neighbours,” the US president said in a statement on Monday. “A united Syria that does not offer a safe haven for terrorist organisations and ensures the security of its religious and ethnic minorities will support regional security and prosperity.” The US administration said Syria-related sanctions against al-Assad and his associates, ISIL (ISIS) and Iran and its allies will remain in place. While the US Treasury said it already removed 518 Syrian individuals and entities from its list of sanctions, some Syria penalties may not be revoked immediately. For example, Trump directs US agencies to determine whether the conditions are met to remove sanctions imposed under the Caesar Act, which enabled heavy penalties against the Syrian economy for alleged war crimes against civilians. Democratic US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar had partnered with Republican lawmaker Anna Paulina Luna to introduce earlier this week a bill that would legislatively lift sanctions on Syria to offer long-term relief. Real relief for the Syrian people requires repealing certain laws. My bill with @RepLuna permanently repeals the sanctions and gives the post-Assad Syria a fighting chance. https://t.co/gExbLiKS7z — Rep. Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan) June 30, 2025 As part of Trump’s order, the US president ordered Secretary of State Marco Rubio to review the designation of interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa as a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist”. Moreover, the US president ordered a review of the status of al-Sharaa’s group, al-Nusra Front – now Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) – as a designated “foreign terrorist” organisation. Al-Nusra was al-Qaeda’s branch in Syria, but al-Sharaa severed ties with the group in 2016. Al-Nusra later became known as Jabhat Fath al-Sham before merging with other rebel groups as HTS. Al-Sharaa was the de facto leader of a rebel enclave in Idlib in northwest Syria for years before leading the offensive that overthrew al-Assad in December 2024. Trump met with al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia in May and praised the Syrian president as “attractive” and “tough”. The interim Syrian president – who was previously known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Julani – has promised inclusive governance to allay concerns about his past ties to al-Qaeda. But violence and kidnappings against members of al-Assad’s Alawite sect by former rebel fighters over the past months have raised concerns among some rights advocates. Al-Sharaa has also pledged that Syria would not pose a threat to its neighbours, including Israel, which has been advancing in Syrian territory beyond the occupied Golan Heights and regularly bombing the country. Follow Al Jazeera English:...