Hera Pheri 3 Faces Fresh Legal Turmoil as Copyright Battle Reaches Court

Just when excitement around Hera Pheri 3 began to build, the much-awaited sequel has found itself entangled in yet another legal controversy—this time over the very ownership of the franchise.

The third instalment of the iconic comedy series, expected to reunite Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty and Paresh Rawal as Raju, Shyam and Baburao, is now under scrutiny after a Chennai-based production house challenged the legitimacy of its production rights in court.

The Core of the Dispute

Seven Arts International Limited, headed by producer GP Vijayakumar, has approached the Madras High Court, claiming that producer Firoz Nadiadwala does not legally own the rights to the Hera Pheri franchise. According to court filings reported by Bar and Bench, the High Court has even questioned whether Hera Pheri 3 is officially in production at all.

Vijayakumar contends that Nadiadwala was granted permission to make only one Hindi adaptation of the Malayalam cult classic Ramji Rao Speaking (1989). That authorised remake became Priyadarshan’s Hera Pheri in 2000. However, Seven Arts alleges that the sequel Phir Hera Pheri (2006), directed by the late Neeraj Vora, was produced without proper authorisation—and that no rights were ever granted for further sequels or use of the characters.

Seven Arts’ Claim to the Franchise

Speaking to Hindustan Times, Vijayakumar said he acquired the complete rights to the franchise in 2022 from Adithya Films, the original producers of *Ramji Rao Speaking*. “They informed me that Firoz Nadiadwala had been given the right to make one Hindi version of the film. But he made a second version. He is not authorised to make a sequel or prequel, or use the characters,” he stated.

He also explained why the matter went uncontested for years. At the time of the first film, the stakeholders shared a close relationship with director Priyadarshan, and the copyright holders did not immediately realise the implications of the sequel being made. “At the time we thought jo ho gaya, ho gaya,” Vijayakumar admitted.

How the Issue Resurfaced

The dormant dispute resurfaced when Seven Arts planned to produce a new Hindi version of the story and approached Akshay Kumar for the project. It was then discovered that Nadiadwala had already sold the rights to Kumar’s production banner, Cape of Good Films.

Questioning how rights he allegedly did not own could be sold, Seven Arts issued a legal notice to Nadiadwala. With no satisfactory response, the company ultimately moved the court, seeking to restrain any further use of the franchise, its characters, or any sequels and prequels.

Responses and Silence

Akshay Kumar’s production house has clarified that it purchased the rights in good faith, believing Nadiadwala to be the rightful owner. Nadiadwala, however, has not responded publicly to queries regarding the lawsuit.

Director Priyadarshan, who is expected to helm Hera Pheri 3, distanced himself from the controversy, offering a brief response: “No idea.”

A Franchise Plagued by Delays

This latest legal setback adds to Hera Pheri 3’s already troubled journey. The film has faced years of delays due to script rewrites, scheduling conflicts and reported tensions between the makers and cast members. At one point, Paresh Rawal—beloved for his portrayal of Baburao Ganpatrao Apte—was said to have exited the project, prompting legal notices from Akshay Kumar’s production house over alleged breach of contract.

Beyond the current lawsuit, the franchise has repeatedly encountered copyright-related issues, particularly concerning the unauthorised use of its iconic characters across platforms.

What Lies Ahead?

With the Madras High Court now examining who truly controls the Hera Pheri franchise, the future of Hera Pheri 3 remains uncertain. Until the legal knots are untangled, the return of Bollywood’s most chaotic trio is stalled—not by punchlines, but by paperwork.

For fans eagerly awaiting Baburao’s comeback, the biggest question is no longer when the film will release, but whether it will make it to the big screen at all.