Director Priyadarshan has made serious allegations against producer Firoz Nadiadwala following his exit from Hera Pheri 3. The filmmaker claims he was insulted multiple times and says he could have turned the comedy sequel into a massive hit, even bigger than the action blockbuster Dhurandhar. His statements have created a lot of buzz in Bollywood, especially among fans who have been waiting for the third part of the beloved comedy franchise.
Priyadarshan recently confirmed that he is no longer directing Hera Pheri 3. The news came after Nadiadwala publicly announced that the filmmaker was not part of the project anymore. Now, Priyadarshan has opened up about the real reasons behind his exit and what led to his decision to walk away.
Priyadarshan Claims Firoz Nadiadwala Told Akshay Kumar Not to Work With Him
In a conversation with Mid-Day, Priyadarshan shared details about his strained relationship with Firoz Nadiadwala. He said that the producer had directly told Akshay Kumar to not make Hera Pheri 3 with him.
“Firoz told Akshay, ‘You have the rights to make Hera Pheri 3, but never make it with Priyadarshan. That’s my only request.’ He has insulted me so many times — he told me that my cut of Hera Pheri [2000] looked like a poor man’s version, that he had to edit my five-hour movie.”
The director said these insults were not just one-time incidents. He faced repeated disrespect from the producer, which made it difficult for him to continue with the project.
Director Says He Could Have Made Hera Pheri 3 Bigger Than Dhurandhar
Priyadarshan firmly believes that Hera Pheri 3 had the potential to be one of the biggest films in the country. He said that if he had directed it, the film could have been even bigger than Dhurandhar.
“I initially agreed to do the third part with Akshay because I thought I could make one of this country’s biggest franchises. If I had directed it, I could’ve made it bigger than Dhurandhar. Akshay, Suniel, and Paresh requested me to make Hera Pheri 3. When I narrated the story to them, they were all excited.”
Dhurandhar is a major action franchise that has done well at the box office. Dhurandhar 2 collected over Rs 251 crore in India during April 2026 alone. The film’s worldwide gross crossed Rs 1,777 crore. Priyadarshan’s claim shows how confident he was about the comedy film’s success.
Legal Issues and Rights Dispute Behind Hera Pheri 3 Troubles
The Hera Pheri 3 project has been stuck for a while due to legal problems. Priyadarshan said that the film may never release because of these issues.
“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.”
The main problem is a dispute over who owns the rights to the franchise. A production company called Seven Arts International claims it owns the rights. They say that Firoz Nadiadwala broke the contract by making Phir Hera Pheri and giving the franchise rights to Akshay Kumar’s company Cape of Good Films.
There is also a fight over the music rights. Bhushan Kumar has publicly said he owns the music rights for Hera Pheri 3. These legal problems have stopped the film from moving forward.
The Hera Pheri Franchise and Its Legacy
The Hera Pheri franchise is one of Bollywood’s most loved comedy series. The first film came out in 2000 and was directed by Priyadarshan. It starred Akshay Kumar as Raju, Suniel Shetty as Shyam, and Paresh Rawal as Baburao Ganpatrao Apte.
The film became a cult classic and is still watched by millions on television. The sequel, Phir Hera Pheri, came out in 2006 and was directed by Neeraj Vora. Both films are known for their funny dialogues and chaotic situations.
Fans have been waiting for the third part for many years. The film was supposed to bring back the original trio with Priyadarshan as the director. But the project has faced many problems, including Paresh Rawal briefly leaving the film in May 2025.
Priyadarshan Moves on With New Project With Akshay Kumar
Even though Priyadarshan is no longer part of Hera Pheri 3, he is not sitting idle. The director has announced a new comedy thriller with Akshay Kumar. This will be their ninth film together.
The new project will be produced by Tips and is expected to start filming by the end of 2026. Their recent horror-comedy Bhooth Bangla has done well at the box office. Another film called Haiwaan, which also stars Akshay Kumar, is set to release in September 2026.
Priyadarshan had earlier planned to make a dramedy with Pankaj Tripathi and a film with Mohanlal. But those plans have changed as he focuses on the new project with Akshay Kumar.
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What This Means for Hera Pheri 3
With Priyadarshan out and legal issues piling up, the future of Hera Pheri 3 looks uncertain. The director himself has said that the film may never see the light of day.
He used strong words to describe the franchise’s journey: “Hera Pheri (2000) was born, Phir Hera Pheri (2006) became sick, and Hera Pheri 3 will be dead”.
Firoz Nadiadwala has said that the film is still happening, but without Priyadarshan. However, the legal disputes and personal conflicts make it hard for the project to move forward.
Fans of the franchise are disappointed with the news. They had been hoping to see the trio of Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, and Paresh Rawal together again in a Hera Pheri film. The three actors did work together recently in Welcome To The Jungle, which was produced by Firoz Nadiadwala. But that film was not a Hera Pheri sequel.
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