Anees Bazmi is caught in a strange predicament. He is ready with the script for the third film in the Hera Pheri franchise for producer Firoz Nadiadwala.

Unfortunately the film's leading man Akshay Kumar has had an ugly fall-out with the producer and is unwilling to work with him. The director finds himself caught in a crippling crossfire.

Says a source, "For a very long time the third part of Hera Pheri was stuck because Anees couldn't lock in on a script. By the time he did, Firoz and Akshay had fallen out.

Anees is now stuck. He is bound by contract to make another Hera Pheri film. But the idea and the franchise just don't work without Akshay." Anees candidly admits that Hera Pheri has been written keeping the Khiladi in mind. "The series is synonymous with Akshay."

The director had hoped that by the time the new film goes on the floors, matters would be sorted out between Akki and Firoz. But that doesn't seem to be the case. Akshay is known to be a die-hard friend to his filmmaker friends. But once he feels betrayed he never turns back.

Confesses Anees, "Akshay is a dear friend and one of my favourite actors. We've done Welcome and Thank You together. He told me, "Any film, anytime with you. But not this (Hera Pheri)."

The director is also in a bit of a jam with his other forthcoming project, the sequel to No Entry with Salman Khan. While he is scripting the sequel to No Entry, Sallu's dates are completely booked right until the end of 2012.

However, the director is not worried about No Entry Mein Entry because of the fabulous equation his producer Boney Kapoor shares with Salman.

He says, "Salman has made a commitment to me and Boney for No Entry Mein Entry. I am not worried about Salman's dates."