Hera Pheri 3: Akshay Kumar’s Film Lands In Legal Battle

The long-anticipated return of Raju, Shyam, and Baburao has hit a major legal roadblock. Seven Arts International Limited has moved the Madras High Court, claiming that producer Firoz Nadiadwala does not own the rights to the Hera Pheri franchise. The move has put the production of Hera Pheri 3 under immediate scrutiny, with the court questioning the legal viability of the sequel.

The dispute hinges on the original 1989 Malayalam cult classic, Ramji Rao Speaking. According to the petition, Nadiadwala was only authorized to make a single Hindi remake, which resulted in the 2000 hit Hera Pheri. Seven Arts argues that Nadiadwala exceeded his legal rights by producing the 2006 sequel Phir Hera Pheri and subsequently selling the rights for a third film to Akshay Kumar’s production house, Cape of Good Films.

The Claims and Rebuttals

GP Vijayakumar, Managing Director of Seven Arts International, stated that he acquired the complete rights to the franchise from the original producers, Adithya Films, in 2022.

• The Violation: Vijayakumar alleges that Nadiadwala had no authority to use the characters or create sequels/prequels.
• The Discovery: The issue surfaced when Seven Arts approached Akshay Kumar to produce their own version, only to find that Nadiadwala had already sold the rights to Kumar’s banner.
• Cape of Good Films’ Stance: A spokesperson for Akshay Kumar’s production house clarified they bought the rights from Nadiadwala in “good faith,” believing him to be the legitimate owner.

Production Status

Despite the legal turmoil, actor Paresh Rawal recently confirmed that the “wounds have healed” regarding previous internal rifts with Akshay Kumar. Before this lawsuit, filming was tentatively scheduled to begin between February and March 2026 under the direction of Priyadarshan. However, Priyadarshan has currently distanced himself from the legal drama, stating he has “no idea” about the court proceedings.

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