The FIR, registered on April 27, 2026, names Gopala Pillai Vijayakumar (MD of Seven Arts International) and M. Paul Michael (also known as Lal) as the primary accused.
The Core of the Dispute: A 25-Year-Old Claim
Nadiadwala’s complaint traces the ownership back to the very beginning of the franchise:
The Original Purchase: Nadiadwala asserts that he legally acquired the Hindi and multi-language remake rights of the story (originally based on the Malayalam film Ramji Rao Speaking) from Suresh Kumar Singhal of Compact Disc India Limited in the year 2000 for ₹4.5 lakh.
The "Resale" Allegation: He alleges that despite knowing the rights were already sold, the original owners (Siddique KL and M. Paul Michael) "resold" the rights to Vijayakumar in May 2022 for a nominal sum of ₹3 lakh.
The "Illegal" Notice: The dispute escalated in December 2024, when Nadiadwala received a legal notice claiming that the 2006 sequel, Phir Hera Pheri, was illegal and demanding ₹60 lakh plus 25% of the total profits.
Allegations of Extortion and Defamation
Nadiadwala has accused the opposing parties of using the legal dispute as a tool for extortion:
Market Obstruction: The producer claims these "false claims" are being used to obstruct his company's public listing process, causing significant professional damage.
Reputation Sabotage: He also alleged that misinformation is being spread using the names of the "OG" trio—Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, and Paresh Rawal—to create confusion among investors and fans.
The 2000 Pay-off: In a surprising reveal, Nadiadwala stated in his complaint that just seven days before the release of the original Hera Pheri in 2000, he was forced to pay money under pressure to avoid a stay order, despite having a court ruling in his favor.
'Hera Pheri 3' Status Report
Metric Current Status Legal Status FIR Registered (Sections 318(4), 356, and 3(5) of IPC/BNS) Primary Accused Gopala Pillai Vijayakumar, M. Paul Michael Impact on Film Production remains in limbo pending investigation of title chain. Nadiadwala's Claim Permanent, exclusive owner of all franchise copyrights.
What This Means for 'Hera Pheri 3'
The registration of the FIR gives the police the authority to examine the full "chain of title," including every agreement and financial transaction made over the last 25 years.
The Defense: Earlier this year, G.P. Vijayakumar had moved the Madras High Court seeking to stop Nadiadwala from producing Hera Pheri 3, claiming he was the rightful owner.
The Investigation: Legal insiders suggest that until the Mumbai police conclude their investigation into the "resale" of rights, the production of the third film is likely to face significant hurdles or delays.
SantaBanta Verdict:
For years, Hera Pheri 3 has been the most "demanded" sequel in Bollywood history, but the real-life drama is quickly becoming more complex than the movies themselves. With Firoz Nadiadwala now bringing a "documentary trail" to the police, the battle is no longer just about who directs the film—it's about who actually owns the soul of the franchise. For fans, the wait for the return of Raju, Shyam, and Baburao just got a lot longer.
