Suniel Shetty Recalls The First Two Shows Of Hera Pheri Were Flat: 'It Was A Disaster But...'

Suniel Shetty has starred in some of Bollywood’s most famous films, like Priyadarshan’s Hera Pheri and JP Dutta’s Border. He recalled how Hera Pheri initially had no audience in its first two shows but gained popularity later in the evening. Similarly, Border faced a slow start but eventually became a huge hit. Despite the slow beginnings, Suniel always believed in the films’ potential.

Talking on Bharti TV, he said, “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. 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. The same case was with Border. Sometimes, the films you believe in the most, get a delayed reaction. They used to call Border a documentary, and now it’s one of the biggest hits of Indian cinema.”

He praised Priyadarshan’s directing skills, mentioning that he had talented writers like Neeraj Vora on his team. Priyadarshan’s precise timing and meticulous approach to scene creation were likened to attending advanced studies. He and his team sometimes spent ten days perfecting a single scene. He said, “Priyadarshan had writers like Neeraj Vora. His timing was so good, and working with him felt like going back to school for higher studies. He worked in sync with his art director, cameraman, and writers.”

Though Hera Pheri received mixed reviews upon its release and attained moderate box office success, it has evolved into a cult classic and is widely regarded as one of the best Indian comedy films ever made. Hera Pheri’s sequel, Phir Hera Pheri, was released in 2006. Hera Pheri 3 is also in works and will see the three lead actors – Paresh, Suniel and Akshay – reunite on the big screen.