Did You Know Akshay Had A Romantic Angle  In Hera Pheri  But It Was Edited Out?

Hera Pheri released  on 31 March, 2000  was  a gamechanger   for Akshay Kumar.

Akshay thought so when  it was released.  “With  Suneel Darshan’s Jaanwar I  was recognized as an actor.I think Priyadarshan   really  helped me do subtle  comedy  in Hera Pheri .It was  a turning point in my career”.

In  Hera Pheri Akshay ostensibly had no romantic angle . But truth is,Akshay’s  character did have a romantic angle. But  it was later edited out of the script.The heroine Tabu preferred to romance with  Suniel Shetty.

After Hera Pheri Akshay got offered a slew of comedies  and he was not happy with it.

Akshay  had  said in an interview after the release of Hera  Pheri, “I always aspired to be a versatile  actor. But  comedy is not taken seriously in our country. Do you remember any Indian actor getting a best actor  for comedy except Dilip Kumar in Ram Aur Shyam?Who doesn’t want  to be taken seriously in what one does?  I want to explore new characters , to go to places I  haven’t been before. Yes, I want to stretch  myself as an actor, and not just to win an award. Of course I want to win an award.”

He decided  to do a full-on  action film with the Hera Pheri producer . This was Awara Paagal Deewana. Firoz Nadiadwala  brought  videotapes of action sequences from Hollywood to convince Akshay  he  could do the stunts.

Priyadarshan’s Hera Pheri is one of  Akshay’s  favourite films  from his own repertoire of  comedies.Another  comedy that  he  enjoyed doing was  David Dhawan’s Mr & Mrs Khiladi, though that wasn’t as successful as Hera Pheri.

He  once said to this writer, “Comedies are great fun. What better gift to one’s fans than the gift of laughter?  If I had my way I’d do at least one each year.  In fact producer Feroz Nadiadwala is planning a sequel to Hera Pheri.And I’m already chuckling.”

With Priyadarshan  Akshay did another comedy Garam Masala which was a remake of his Malayalam hit Boeing Boeing. Akshay  played a pilot caught among  several women. It  was  a fun role ,full of mischief. But not vulgar. Akshay  had promised  he  would  never do or say anything obscene  in his films.He has kept his word.

 After  Priyadarshan had a fall-out with producer Firoz Nadiadwala he  planned  another comedy with the Hera Pheri team entitled Aisi  Ki Taisi.Akshay was  to  team up with Asin.

The film was to feature 22 actors, including Johnny Lever with whom, believe it or not, Priyan never worked in any of my comedies.Although it was to bring together the principal actors from Hera Pheri, Aise Ko Taisa had nothing to do with Hera Pheri in terms of plot.This project never happened.

There  was  talk recently  of Priyadarshan  and Akshay reuniting. But  Priyan debunks  this report. “Right now , I only have Corona Papers which I’m very excited about. I’d love to work with Akshay  again. We’ve done some outstanding  collaboration in  the comedy space, especially Hera Pheri which  remains an iconic work. Of course  I am proud of it. The characters are loved to this day.”