Filmmaker Priyadarshan has confirmed that he is no longer attached to Hera Pheri 3, and also expressed doubts about whether the long-delayed film will ever release due to ongoing legal complications and personal disputes.
Speaking to HT City, he clarified his current status on the project, saying, “What Feroze has said is true. I am not associated with Hera Pheri 3 at the present.”
He further questioned the film’s future, adding, “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 clarification follows earlier statements by Feroze Nadiadwala to Variety India, in which he also said Priyadarshan was not part of the film. The project has been facing prolonged uncertainty due to disputes over rights, including claims from Seven Arts International, a South-based production company, which alleges ownership of the franchise and its characters—claims that Feroze has contested.
A spokesperson for Akshay Kumar’s production house previously stated that the rights were acquired from Nadiadwala on the belief that he held ownership. Hera Pheri 3 was initially planned to reunite Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, and Paresh Rawal, with Priyadarshan expected to direct. However, the film has already gone through multiple setbacks, including Paresh Rawal’s exit in May 2025, followed by his later return.
Earlier this year, Priyadarshan also told India Today that the sequel remains stalled due to unresolved legal issues, saying, “It is still... there are some legal issues. We are trying to sort it out. Once that is sorted, then we’ll go ahead with that film.”
The original Hera Pheri (2000) became a cult classic, while its sequel Phir Hera Pheri also performed well at the box office. The lead trio of Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, and Paresh Rawal was recently seen together in Welcome To The Jungle, but the future of Hera Pheri 3 remains uncertain amid ongoing disputes.
