Here is the breakdown of the complex legal battle that threatens to shelve the film again.
The Accusation: "You Only Had Rights for ONE Film" 📄
The Claimant: GP Vijayakumar of Seven Arts International has filed the suit, claiming he bought the complete remake rights from the original Malayalam film's (Ramji Rao Speaking) producers, Adithya Films, in 2022.
The Argument: The lawsuit contends that Firoz Nadiadwala was originally given rights to make only one Hindi remake (which became the first Hera Pheri in 2000).
They allege he never had the rights to make a sequel (Phir Hera Pheri) or a third part.
The Twist: Vijayakumar claims that when he approached Akshay Kumar to discuss a Hindi remake, he discovered that Nadiadwala had already "sold" the rights to Akshay’s production house (Cape of Good Films).
The Quote: "He [Nadiadwala] is not authorised to make a sequel or prequel... He sold something he did not own."
Akshay Kumar’s Stance 🛑
Caught in the Middle: Reports suggest that Akshay Kumar and his team were unaware of this rights violation. They reportedly bought the rights from Nadiadwala under the impression that his ownership was clear.
Current Status: The Madras High Court has questioned Nadiadwala on whether the film is being made at all. As of now, the legal notice could force a stay order on the production until the ownership is resolved.
Paresh Rawal’s "Technical Issue" Hint 🗣️
This explains the cryptic comments made by Paresh Rawal just last week (late Jan 2026).
The actor had mentioned that the film was delayed due to a "technical issue" between the producer and Akshay Kumar, adding, "It has nothing to do with me... once they resolve it, I will sign."
It is now clear that this "technical issue" was likely the looming threat of this massive copyright lawsuit.
SantaBanta Verdict: This is a "Golmaal" level confusion in real life. If the court rules in favor of the South producer, Hera Pheri 3 could either be scrapped or force Akshay Kumar to pay a massive settlement to secure the rights again. The wait for Baburao just got indefinitely longer.
