Hera Pheri 3 delayed amid rights dispute, court sides with Vijay Kumar
The much-anticipated Hera Pheri 3 faces uncertainty as Vijay Kumar, rights holder of the iconic franchise, alleges that the second film and upcoming sequel were developed without his consent.
Speaking to Pinkvilla, Vijay clarified that the intellectual property rights have always remained with his side.
“We have the total rights for the Hera Pheri franchise clean and clear, everything. And guess what? This man did the second installment without permission,” he stated.
Vijay explained that the dispute dates back to the second film. While a one-time remake right for the Hindi version was granted, he claims subsequent developments occurred without approval.
“We had only given a one-time remake right for the Hindi version. He made that, but then proceeded with a second film without our consent or knowledge,” he said, adding that legal action was not pursued at that time.
The tension escalated with plans for Hera Pheri 3. Vijay revealed that repeated attempts to resolve the matter amicably failed, prompting legal proceedings. “When he attempted a third film, we issued a notice stating clearly that he has no rights, and even the second film was a violation,” he said, alleging that the opposing side attempted to transfer or sell the project, which led to an intellectual property rights case.
Updating on the legal battle, Vijay claimed that the court has already signaled its stance. “The court has made it very clear that the rights are with us, and we are confident of getting that order as well,” he said, accusing the other party of delaying the process through repeated adjournments and non-appearances.
Despite the ongoing dispute, Vijay acknowledged the franchise’s commercial value and did not rule out future collaborations once matters are resolved. “Selling can only be considered after we sort things out with Nadiadwala. Once that is resolved, all options are open… because it is a prime brand,” he explained.
On the creative front, Vijay emphasized that the original trio—Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal, and Suniel Shetty—remains integral to the franchise’s identity, noting that retaining them “makes the most business sense in every way.”
For now, the fate of Hera Pheri 3 hangs in the balance, with legal proceedings expected to play a decisive role in shaping the film’s future.