Just when fans thought Hera Pheri 3 was finally moving ahead, a courtroom twist has thrown the comedy franchise into uncertainty.
The Madras High Court has reportedly questioned producer Firoz Nadiadwala about whether the third instalment is legally being made at all. The reason? A fresh copyright claim that challenges his ownership of the iconic franchise.
⚖️ Who Really Owns Hera Pheri?
According to a petition filed by Seven Arts International Limited, Nadiadwala was allegedly granted rights to produce only one Hindi remake of the Malayalam cult classic Ramji Rao Speaking. That remake became the Priyadarshan-directed Hera Pheri in 2000.
However, the producer later backed the sequel Phir Hera Pheri in 2006 — and is now reportedly involved in developing Hera Pheri 3.
Seven Arts claims that Nadiadwala was never authorised to create sequels, prequels, or further use the characters beyond the first remake.
GP Vijayakumar, Managing Director of Seven Arts International, has stated that he acquired the complete franchise rights in 2022 from Adithya Films, the original producers of Ramji Rao Speaking. He alleges that Nadiadwala exceeded his original agreement and later sold rights to the third part to Cape of Good Films, owned by Akshay Kumar.
🎭 Akshay Kumar’s Production House Responds
Cape of Good Films has clarified that it purchased the rights from Nadiadwala under the assumption that he held legitimate ownership.
This revelation adds another layer to the dispute — suggesting that even the actor’s team may not have been aware of any underlying copyright complications.
Meanwhile, efforts to reach Nadiadwala reportedly received no response.
Interestingly, director Priyadarshan — who is said to be attached to Hera Pheri 3 — reacted with a simple, “No idea,” when asked about the legal development.
🎬 What This Means for Hera Pheri 3
The Hera Pheri franchise remains one of Bollywood’s most beloved comedy series, powered by the legendary trio of Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal, and Suniel Shetty. The 2000 original became a cult classic, and its sequel further cemented the trio’s comic legacy.
But now, with a legal battle over copyright ownership, the third film’s future appears uncertain.
If the court rules in favour of Seven Arts International, it could significantly impact the production timeline — or even the existence — of Hera Pheri 3 as currently planned.
💬 Final Words
For fans waiting to see Raju, Shyam, and Baburao reunite, this is not the update they were hoping for.
What was shaping up to be a nostalgic big-screen comeback has now entered a legal maze. Until the ownership issue is resolved, Hera Pheri 3 remains caught between courtroom arguments and audience anticipation.
And in true Hera Pheri style — the drama off-screen might just be as chaotic as the comedy on-screen.
