Paresh Rawal Talks About the Creative Limitations of His Iconic Baburao Role
Mumbai, April 30: Paresh Rawal, the veteran actor best known for his unforgettable portrayal of Baburao Ganpatrao Apte in Hera Pheri, has opened up about the emotional and creative toll the role has taken on him. While the character catapulted him to fame and earned him a cult following, Rawal has now described it as a “gale ka fanda” — a noose around his neck.
In an exclusive interview with Lallantop, Rawal expressed his mixed feelings about the fame that Baburao has brought him. “I’m an actor, mujhe fasna nahi hai aise daldal mein,” he said, emphasizing how the overwhelming popularity of the character has limited his ability to take on diverse roles. Although he is adored by fans, Rawal admits that the typecasting effect has made it difficult for him to break free and explore more complex, serious characters. In an attempt to move beyond this image, Rawal revealed that he reached out to directors like Vishal Bhardwaj and R. Balki with ideas for new roles that would still retain the essence of Baburao but allow him to step into different personalities. “I feel suffocated,” Rawal confessed. “There’s love, yes—but it’s limiting. I want freedom from this image.”
Paresh Rawal की कहानी बताती है:
— Saurav paswan (@saurav_paswan2) April 27, 2025
कभी-कभी आपकी सबसे बड़ी सफलता भी आपको एक दायरे में कैद कर देती है।
Paresh Rawal ने खुलकर कहा — Hera Pheri का Babu Rao बनना मेरे लिए जैसे गले का फंदा बन गया, Iconic बनकर खुशी तो मिली, लेकिन फिर कॉमिक रोल्स में टाइपकास्ट हो गया।#PareshRawal pic.twitter.com/smXvoPDF7r
As Hera Pheri 3 gears up for production, Rawal also expressed his concerns about the lack of creativity in Bollywood sequels. He pointed to films like Lage Raho Munna Bhai, which evolved its characters meaningfully, as a rare example of how sequels can bring something fresh. According to Rawal, most sequels simply rely on nostalgia, recycling old content for financial gain. He admitted that his involvement in Hera Pheri 3 was not motivated by excitement, but by a sense of duty to ensure the project didn’t fall apart. “Par khushi nahi hai,” he stated frankly.
The Hera Pheri franchise, which began in 2000 and was followed by a sequel in 2006, continues to be a cherished part of Indian pop culture. Fans regularly quote Baburao’s iconic lines and celebrate the trio of Raju, Shyam, and Baburao. However, Rawal’s candid comments highlight the struggles of an actor who, despite the success of a legendary role, longs to break free from being defined by it.
