Legal Issues Stall Hera Pheri 3 Amid Fan Anticipation

Hera Pheri 3 is facing significant legal challenges that threaten its production, leaving fans anxious for the return of the beloved trio. The dispute centers around rights ownership between producer Vijay Kumar and Firoz Nadiadwala, complicating the film's future. With director Priyadarshan indicating that filming may not begin until 2026, the situation looks grim for eager fans. As the legal battle unfolds, Vijay Kumar remains firm on not selling rights until the court resolves the matter. The iconic cast of Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal, and Suniel Shetty is still seen as the ideal team for the project, but ongoing delays continue to hinder progress.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 23, 2026, 14:32 IST

Hera Pheri 3 Faces Legal Challenges

The much-anticipated Hera Pheri 3 is once again embroiled in legal disputes, leaving fans yearning for the return of the beloved trio. For countless fans, the characters Raju, Shyam, and Baburao are cherished figures, and the excitement to see Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, and Paresh Rawal reunite for the third installment has been building for years. Unfortunately, the film's progress is hindered not by scheduling conflicts or financial issues, but by a complex legal battle that continues to escalate.

Dispute Between Vijay Kumar and Firoz Nadiadwala

Vijay Kumar, the Managing Director of Seven Arts International, asserts that he holds the rights to the entire Hera Pheri franchise, contrary to Firoz Nadiadwala's claims. The saga began with the original Hera Pheri, which was a Hindi adaptation of the 1989 Malayalam hit Ramji Rao Speaking. Nadiadwala was initially granted rights to produce just one Hindi remake, which he fulfilled with the 2000 film featuring the iconic trio.

However, he went on to create Phir Hera Pheri in 2006 without the necessary permissions from the original rights holders. At that time, Vijay Kumar's team chose not to escalate the issue. The real conflict arose when Nadiadwala began making plans and public announcements regarding Hera Pheri 3. This prompted Seven Arts to intervene, issuing a legal notice, and subsequently filing an Intellectual Property Rights lawsuit when no satisfactory response was received. Vijay Kumar claims that the court has already indicated that the rights belong to him and his team.

Adding to the complexity, reports suggest that Nadiadwala is attempting to sell the franchise rights to a major production company for around Rs 80 crore. Additionally, there are claims that he transferred the rights for the third film to Akshay Kumar's production company, Cape of Good Films, with Akshay's team believing that Nadiadwala had the authority to do so.

Implications for Hera Pheri 3

For fans, the outlook appears bleak in the immediate future. Director Priyadarshan has already stated that filming is unlikely to commence in 2026 due to the ongoing legal uncertainties. Vijay Kumar has made it clear that he will not sell the rights to any party until the court case is resolved. Once the legal matters are settled, he remains open to various possibilities, including producing the film himself with the original cast.

Regarding casting, Vijay Kumar is adamant that Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal, and Suniel Shetty are the perfect fit for this project, emphasizing that it makes both business and creative sense to reunite the original trio. The case is currently being expedited in court, but delays persist, with Vijay Kumar noting that Nadiadwala has reportedly missed court dates, further prolonging the process.