- By Swati Singh
- Fri, 19 Sep 2025 05:08 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Producer Firoz Nadiadwala has issued a legal notice to Netflix regarding the use of the beloved character, Baburao Ganpatrao Apte, from his Hera Pheri franchise. According to his representative, the notice highlights concerns of “unauthorised exploitation” of the iconic role, claiming it was used without obtaining due permission.
Advocate Sana Raees Khan, who is representing Nadiadwala, said, "Intellectual Property is not a matter of casual borrowing, it is the lifeblood of creativity. Unauthorised exploitation of my client’s iconic character is not just infringement, it is theft in its most blatant commercial form. The law will not permit dilution of rights that have been lawfully earned and zealously protected."
For the unversed, actor Paresh Rawal brought to life the character of Baburao Ganpatrao Apte in Hera Pheri (2000) and its sequel Phir Hera Pheri (2006). The first film was helmed by Priyadarshan, while the second was directed by the late Neeraj Vora. Both movies also starred Akshay Kumar and Suniel Shetty in key roles.
Hera Pheri 3 had been embroiled in controversy after Paresh Rawal's sudden exit, which led to a fallout with co-star Akshay Kumar. However, contrary to reports of his return, Rawal maintained that his decision to step away from the project is final "for now". The veteran actor initially cited not feeling connected to the project as the reason for his exit.
However, Rawal has rejoined the cast of Hera Pheri 3 as Baburao, thanks to the efforts of Sajid Nadiadwala and Akshay Kumar, who helped reconcile the team. Priyadarshan is set to direct the film, which will also star Akshay Kumar and Suniel Shetty, reuniting the iconic trio. The film's production is moving forward, with the cast and crew fine-tuning their creative vision.