Delhi: Just before its highly anticipated finale, “The Great Indian Kapil Show” has received a ₹25 crore legal notice from producer Firoz A. Nadiadwala. The letter, which was sent to Netflix and the people who made the show, says that they utilized the character of Baburao Ganpatrao Apte from the Hera Pheri series without getting the right permission.
Nadiadwala stated in a statement, “Baburao is not just a character; he is the heart of Hera Pheri.” We established this legacy with our hard work, ideas, and imagination. Paresh Rawal ji put his heart and soul into the role. No one has the right to use it for their own business. “Culture is not for exploitation; it is for preservation.”
The legal warning says that using the character without permission is a violation of Section 51 of the Copyright Act, 1957, and Section 29 of the Trademarks Act. The Nadiadwala family owns the character “Baburao” as a registered trademark, according to Nadiadwala’s team. The case also points out a breach of Section 14 of the Copyright Act, which gives the owner the only right to share their work with the public and utilize it in movies.
The promo for the next and last episode, which will include Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar, is what caused the trouble. In the ad, comedian Kiku Sharda is dressed as Baburao, a character that Paresh Rawal made famous in the two Hera Pheri movies, which also starred Akshay Kumar and Suniel Shetty.
Nadiadwala’s lawyers have asked that all parts of Netflix, social media, and other third-party outlets that show the persona be taken down right away. They also want a written promise that the character won’t be utilized again without authorization and an official apology within 24 hours. The letter says that if you don’t follow the rules, you could face civil and criminal charges.
Sana Raees Khan, who is Nadiadwala’s lawyer, stressed how serious the problem is. “Using my client’s famous character without permission is more than just infringement.” She said, “It is clear theft for business gain.” “These rights have been legally obtained and vigorously safeguarded, and will now be defended with full legal force. Nobody has the right to treat a creative heritage like a free-for-all.
The legal problems have ruined what was supposed to be a happy ending for the show, with Akshay Kumar set to be the last guest on September 20.