Priyadarshan says Hera Pheri made life miserable, hates comedies

Director Priyadarshan, the filmmaker behind the beloved comedy classic Hera Pheri, has revealed that the 2000 film made his life "miserable" and admitted he hates shooting comedies. In a recent interview, the acclaimed director explained his decision to pivot back to serious cinema with his upcoming psychological thriller, Haiwaan, which is scheduled for release on September 11, 2026. Priyadarshan stated that his career trajectory was fundamentally altered by the success of Hera Pheri, which starred Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, and Paresh Rawal. "I started with serious films. Gardish worked for me, Virasat worked for me. Then Hera Pheri made my life miserable. After that, it was just comedy, comedy, and comedy. To be honest, I hate shooting comedies," he said. Between 2001 and 2021, 16 of the 20 Hindi films he directed were comedies, cementing his reputation in the genre despite his personal preference. The director clarified that his dislike stems from being typecast and a desire for creative change. He explained that he prefers situational humor over forced gags and does not want to be defined by a single directorial "signature.