Suniel Shetty Opens Up About Hera Pheri's 'Disaster' Start, Recalls Initial Disappointment: 'Shows Were Flat... Zero'

Suniel Shetty candidly reflects on the challenging start of Hera Pheri, describing the initial disappointment when the film's early shows were flat and garnered zero response. Priyadarshan's directorial venture has achieved cult-classic status in Hindi cinema. Starring Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal, and Shetty in pivotal roles, it stands out as one of the most beloved comedy films ever made. While the film remains a timeless gem cherished by cinephiles across generations, it had a disaster start at ticket windows.

Suniel Shetty recently talked about the early days of Hera Pheri on a Bharti TV podcast, revealing how the film faced a challenging start at the box office. He recalled how the first two shows were disappointing, with zero footfalls, labeling it as a 'disaster.' Despite the initial setback, Shetty reminisced about the joyous atmosphere on set during filming, where the cast found the comedy immensely amusing. "The first two shows of Hera Pheri were flat. Zero. It was a disaster. However, when we were shooting it, we were laughing like crazy," he said.

The actor, along with his co-stars Paresh Rawal and Akshay Kumar, said that they had high hopes for Hera Pheri. "Me, Paresh, and Akshay were confident it was a blockbuster during shooting because the film had such great actors – Paresh Ji, Om Puri Ji. Paresh and Akshay’s timing was unbelievable. The film later picked up after 6 pm," he added.

About Hera Pheri

The 2000s Hindi-language comedy film directed by Priyadarshan and written by Neeraj Vora, stars Akshay Kumar, Sunil Shetty, Paresh Rawal, Tabu, Om Puri, and Gulshan Grover. It is a remake of the 1989 Malayalam film 'Ramji Rao Speaking,' which itself drew inspiration from the 1971 American TV movie 'See The Man Run.'

The plot revolves around two tenants, Raju and Shyam, and their landlord, Baburao Ganpatrao Apte, who find themselves in desperate need of money. They stumble upon a ransom call through a crossed telephone line and devise a plan to claim the ransom for themselves.

The film achieved moderate success, grossing Rs 17.8 crore at the box office against a budget of Rs 7.5 crore. It later spawned a sequel, 'Phir Hera Pheri,' released in 2006.

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