Raju [Akshay Kumar] is a tenant of Baburao Ganpatrao Apte alias Babu Bhaiyya[Paresh Rawal] and has not paid his rent to Baburao since a long time. Raju does not believe in hardwork and wants to earn easy money. He cons everybody, even his mother [Sulabha Arya], who thinks that her son works in Calcutta. Baburao, a bespectacled near-sighted man, runs a garage called "Star Garage", and has hard time with his moneylenders. Shyam aka Ghanshyam[Sunil Shetty] has come to Mumbai seeking a job in his late fathers bank. Apparently his father died in a fire that broke out in the bank and he claims that the bank owes him the job.He badly needs the money for his friend Khadak Singhs [Om Puri] sisters marriage. A young woman, Anuradha Panniker[Tabu], is also in the running after the job. Shyam meets Raju and a misunderstanding causes Raju to think that Shyam is a pickpocket. A fight ensues between the two. Later that evening, Shyam reaches "Star Garage". Baburao agrees to take him in as a paying boarder, although he warns Shyam that he will have to share the place with another boarder. Unfortunately for Shyam the other guy is Raju, who has not paid a single penny of rent in the last 2 years to Baburao. The two men come to blows again the minute they see each other. Shyam is duped by Raju into signing some papers which give Shyams job to Anuradha, but when Shyam learns that Anuradhas family is in a real bad shape, he lets her keep the job. Later the trio start getting along with each other. Baburao is constantly getting a wrong number phone call addressed to one Mr. Devi Prasad [Kulbhushan Kharbanda]. One day, however, things become serious when a kidnapper named Kabira asks for Devi Prasad. Then the trio realise that Devi Prasad is founder of "Star Fisheries", and that Devi Prasads & Baburaos numbers are interchanged in the telephone directory. Kabira asks for ransom in lieu of Devi Prasads granddaughter. Now, Raju decides to benefit from this situation and makes Shyam call Devi Prasad posing as Kabira and demand double the amount asked by Kabira. However, when one employee realises that Devi Prasads granddaughter might have been kidnapped, he involves the police. Both Raju & Kabiras plans are thwarted and Kabira doubles up the ransom money. Finally, the trio decide to save the girl irrespective of the consequences. They call Devi Prasad to the location told by Kabira one hour before the time told by Kabira. They explain tell him that only they can save the girl now. In a hilarious melee that follows between Khadak Singh and his men, Kabira and his cronies, police and the trio, our heroes save the girl and return her to her grandfather. Raju waits to collect the money, while Shyam and Baburao head towards their home. When they find that Raju is not at home, they think that he may have fled with the money. Enraged, they call the police and concoct a story to implicate all 3 of them in the kidnapping. When they get off the phone, a jubilant Raju comes waving a suitcase on their faces. He explains the dumbfounded duo that he had to spend some money on repairing the car and solving their financial problems once and for all. When he learns what the duo did, he breaks down and tells them that in this world, all he really cares for is his mother, who will now know her sons state. As the trio surrenders to police, Devi Prasad comes and bails them out before Rajus mother can come to know whats happening. He thanks the trio for what they did and gives the money to them as gratitude. Suddenly, the phone rings again and the trio realise that it may be for Devi Prasad. But Devi Prasad tells them that this time the phone is for them. They pick up the phone and suddenly become tense. Then it is shown that the caller is Devi Prasads granddaughter saying "Kabira Speaking". The film ends with the trio breaking into uncontrollable laughter.

Awards

Akshay Kumar won best supporting actor Bollywood Movie Awards for his performance. Paresh Rawal won the Filmfare Best Comedian Award for his performance, as well as the Star Screen Award and IIFA Award in the same category.

Reception

Hera Pheri was a huge hit in India. It was quite popular with audiences and critics alike. Much of the acclaim went to Paresh Rawal for his incredible comic timing and acting, with critics calling it "one of his best performances ever". Rawal became a huge sensation overnight, from being a stereotypical villain to a hilarious comic relief in movies.

Trivia

* Hera Pheri was the first film that Priyadarshan had worked with Akshay Kumar and Sunil Shetty. He had worked with Rawal in Doli Saja Ke Rakhna This would mark the beginning of a long association between Priyadarshan and the three named actors. * In films following Hera Pheri, Priyadarshan has made sure that either Kumar, Shetty, Rawal or a combination of the three actors would star in his films. The only exceptions are Dhol and Billu.