- Priyadarshan confirmed he has exited the film Hera Pheri 3
- Producer Firoz Nadiadwala stated Priyadarshan is not part of the project
- Legal issues and rights disputes have delayed Hera Pheri 3 production
In a shocking development, Priyadarshan confirmed that he has exited Hera Pheri 3. His confirmation came after producer Firoz Nadiadwala said the original director is not part of the project.
"What Feroze has said is true. I am not associated with Hera Pheri 3 at present," Priyadarshan told Hindustan Times.
"To the best of my knowledge, Hera Pheri 3 will never hit the screen due to lots of legal issues and personal conflicts. Whether I am involved or not is unimportant," he added.
Firoz, in an interview with Variety India, had earlier said that Priyadarshan was not part of the third installment.
Hera Pheri 3 legal issues
The film, which was set to go on floors earlier this year, has faced significant delays due to ongoing legal complications surrounding its film and music rights. A couple of months ago, Priyadarshan confirmed that the much-talked-about film would "definitely not" go on floors this year.
In a conversation with ETimes, Priyadarshan admitted that the situation was complicated. He said, "Certain people said they have the rights to the film, while others claimed rights to the music."
Priyadarshan revealed that Bhushan Kumar has publicly claimed ownership of Hera Pheri 3's music rights, and that resolving these issues is crucial before proceeding with the film. When asked whether the movie would go into production this year, the filmmaker said, "Definitely not this year."
According to Bar & Bench, production house Seven Arts International claimed that producer Firoz Nadiadwala's rights were limited to making the Hindi adaptation of the Malayalam original Ramji Rao Speaking, which became the 2000 film Hera Pheri. The production house alleges that Nadiadwala breached the contract by making Phir Hera Pheri and transferring franchise rights to Akshay Kumar's Cape of Good Films.
Last year, Paresh Rawal exited the film, prompting an uproar. Akshay Kumar filed a case against him seeking Rs 25 crore in damages. The issue was eventually resolved, and Akshay dropped the case.
The Hera Pheri franchise began in 2000 and featured Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, and Paresh Rawal in the lead roles. It was followed by a sequel, Phir Hera Pheri, in 2006.
Also Read | Priyadarshan Breaks Silence On Hera Pheri 3 Delay: "Definitely Not Happening This Year"
