In a no-holds-barred conversation with Himanshu Mehta on his podcast acclaimed actor Paresh Rawal offered both nostalgia and sharp critique confirming his return to the beloved Hera Pheri franchise while expressing deep concerns about the direction of Hindi cinema. Paresh highlighted how the pandemic changed audience expectations forever. OTT platforms offered variety realism and risk-taking storytelling he explained. The Hindi film industry in contrast “has not adapted. The audience evolved but filmmakers stayed stuck.”   Rawal takes a dig at ticket prices A major pain point? Skyrocketing ticket prices. Rawal contrasted the pricing model in the South where tickets rarely cross Rs 200 to that of Bollywood’s urban multiplexes. He said “If the aam janta shuns your film and only the rich class endorses your films then it’s wrong. If a middle-class family comprising 5-6 members go to watch a film unke Rs. 5000-6000 toh yuh nikal jaate hai... and there’s no guarantee the film will satisfy you!” He also pointed out the added cost of snacks: “The kids will of course ask for popcorn soda and ice cream.” Taking a sharp dig at the plush recliner culture Rawal didn’t mince words “You are supposed to watch a film while sitting. Let ke nahin dekhi jaati. You haven’t come to a spa! Waiters keep roaming around... Arre it’s a film not a wedding event!” He likened the experience to “mujra viewing” and called for a return to basic focused cinematic engagement. What’s next for Paresh Rawal? On the work front Rawal is set to appear in Nikita Roy directed by Kussh S Sinha and starring Sonakshi Sinha Arjun Rampal and Suhail Nayyar. The release has been shifted to July 18. He’s also part of the ensemble in Bhooth Bangla—a Priyadarshan horror-comedy alongside Akshay Kumar and Tabu—and the much-awaited Welcome To The Jungle.