'It is not a spa': Paresh Rawal slams luxury culture in multiplexes. Calls out reclining seats, high ticket prices amid 'Hera Pheri 3' comeback

Economic Times

a day ago

In a candid podcast interview, Paresh Rawal confirmed his return to Hera Pheri 3 while sharply criticizing Bollywood's current trajectory. He expressed concern over overpriced multiplex tickets, indulgent recliner seating, and filmmakers' failure to evolve with viewers' refined tastes. Urging sincerity in storytelling, Rawal called for cinema that serves the people—not just the privileged.
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Just as fans of Hera Pheri breathed a sigh of relief after Paresh Rawal confirmed his return to the iconic franchise, the veteran actor took a break from comedy to get real. In a fiery and unapologetically candid conversation on The Himanshu Mehta Show , Rawal didn't mince words as he called out some of the most glaring issues in Hindi cinema today—from bloated ticket prices to the bizarre luxury experience of watching a film while nearly lying down.Taking on the rising costs of watching a film, Rawal lamented how cinema outings have become inaccessible for the middle class. Using an everyday example, he pointed out that a family of five could easily shell out ₹5,000 to ₹6,000 for one movie night—without even being guaranteed satisfaction from the film itself. Add popcorn, ice cream and soda to the mix, and the cinema seems less like entertainment and more like a luxury.'If the aam janta shuns your film and only the rich class endorses it, then it's wrong,' Rawal said, pointing to the disparity between the content offered and the price being paid. He applauded South Indian cinema for sticking to a more structured pricing system, where ticket prices rarely go beyond ₹200, making entertainment accessible and sustainable.But the actor saved his sharpest barbs for the 'Gold Class' experience—recliner seats, pillow-laden lounges, and waiters wandering around mid-scene with snack trays. 'You are supposed to watch a film while sitting, not lying down. You haven't come to a spa, you've come to see a film!' he quipped, clearly unimpressed by the 'platinum-plus' upgrades now being passed off as standard viewing.With the kind of wit only Paresh Rawal can deliver, he said, 'Waiters keep roaming around. We have to tell them 'hatt, hatt!' Arre it's a film, not a wedding event!' His critique was less about comfort and more about distraction and dilution of what going to the movies used to mean.Rawal also pulled focus to a much deeper issue—the disconnect between Hindi filmmakers and the audiences they're trying to reach. The post-pandemic OTT boom , according to him, has refined viewer tastes, exposing them to high-quality narratives from across the world. 'The audience has evolved, but filmmakers haven't,' he said, making a strong case for content that meets contemporary expectations rather than resting on the laurels of star power and formula.Amid this critique, Rawal's confirmation of Hera Pheri 3 was a silver lining for fans. However, he offered a thoughtful reminder to the team: when something is deeply loved, it must be handled with care. 'You can't take things for granted,' he said, adding that while he's excited to reunite with Akshay Kumar and Suniel Shetty , the team must work sincerely to give audiences what they truly deserve.Earlier rumours had hinted at Rawal's exit from the film, but he clarified that all differences had been resolved. 'It's all sorted—nothing happened,' he stated, bringing much-needed clarity to months of speculation.Apart from Hera Pheri 3, Rawal is also gearing up for his next release, Nikita Roy , the directorial debut of Kussh S Sinha. The film, which also stars Sonakshi Sinha and Arjun Rampal, has now been postponed to July 18. He also has projects like Bhooth Bangla, Welcome To The Jungle, and Ajey: The Untold Story of a Yogi in the pipeline.