The beloved Hera Pheri franchise is now embroiled in a legal battle as producer Firoz Nadiadwala has reportedly issued a legal notice to Netflix. The notice accuses the streaming giant of unauthorized use of Baburao Ganpatrao Apte, the iconic character immortalized by Paresh Rawal.
Advocate Sana Raees Khan, representing Nadiadwala, emphasized the seriousness of the matter, stating, “Intellectual Property is not a matter of casual borrowing; it is the lifeblood of creativity. Unauthorized exploitation of my client’s iconic character is not just infringement—it is theft in its most blatant commercial form. The law will not allow dilution of rights that have been lawfully earned and zealously protected.”
Though Nadiadwala has not made an official statement, this legal move clearly signals his intent to protect the legacy of the cult comedy series. Paresh Rawal’s portrayal of Baburao in Hera Pheri (2000), directed by Priyadarshan, and its sequel Phir Hera Pheri (2006), directed by the late Neeraj Vora, cemented the character’s cultural significance. Alongside Rawal, Akshay Kumar as Raju and Suniel Shetty as Shyam formed the iconic trio that made these films enduring hits.
With Hera Pheri 3 on the horizon—once again directed by Priyadarshan and featuring the same trio—Nadiadwala’s legal action reflects a broader concern about preserving the brand value of characters with immense cultural importance in Indian cinema.This dispute also highlights the growing prominence of intellectual property and personality rights issues in Bollywood.
Earlier this year, actor Abhishek Bachchan approached the Delhi High Court to prevent unauthorized use of his name, image, voice, and performances. During that hearing, Justice Tejas Karia noted that search engines could be ordered to remove infringing links if specific URLs were provided.
Cases like these underscore the entertainment industry’s increasing awareness and efforts to safeguard creative and personal rights amid rapid digital expansion. Stay tuned to know more about it and others only with us.
