New Delhi: The legal dispute surrounding Hera Pheri 3 has intensified after Akshay Kumar’s production house, Cape of Good Films LLP, issued a public notice
asserting that it holds the sole and exclusive worldwide rights to produce and commercially exploit the much-awaited film. The company has also cautioned the film industry against entering into any agreement with anyone claiming rights over the project without its written approval.
The notice, published in the July 4, 2026, edition of trade magazine Complete Cinema, was first highlighted through a screenshot shared by an Akshay Kumar fan club and later reported by Bollywood Hungama.
Addressed to the general public and members of the film trade, the notice covers distributors, exhibitors, cinema chains, OTT and streaming platforms, television broadcasters, digital platforms, advertisers, licensors, licensees, aggregators, syndicators and other stakeholders.
It states, “Notice is hereby given to the public at large, and to the Indian film trade in particular, including without limitation all distributors, exhibitors, cinema chains, OTT and streaming platforms, television broadcasters, digital platforms, advertisers, licensors, licensees, aggregators, syndicators, and all other persons and entities concerned, that Cape of Good Films LLP is the sole and exclusive holder of an irrevocable, worldwide, perpetual, and unencumbered licence to produce, distribute, market, exploit, commercialise, and otherwise deal with the cinematograph film presently titled ‘Hera Pheri 3’ (‘the Film’), together with all rights therein, across all modes, media, platforms, technologies, and formats, whether now known or hereafter devised.”
The company further urged everyone to acknowledge its rights and warned against entering into any arrangement or negotiation with any third party claiming ownership or rights related to the film without prior written authorisation from Cape of Good Films LLP.
The notice also carries a legal warning that anyone acting contrary to it would do so at their own risk, while adding that the production house reserves all legal remedies available to protect its rights.
The latest development comes as Hera Pheri 3 continues to face uncertainty. In recent weeks, filmmaker Priyadarshan announced that he had stepped away from directing the film. He also accused producer Firoz Nadiadwala of repeatedly insulting him during their interactions and claimed the project could have become one of India’s biggest film franchises under his direction.
Recalling one such incident in an interview with Mid-Day, Priyadarshan said, “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 and that he had to edit my five-hour movie. 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.”
Originally, Hera Pheri 3 was expected to reunite Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty and Paresh Rawal, with Priyadarshan at the helm. However, the project has encountered multiple setbacks over the past year. Paresh Rawal briefly exited the film in May 2025 before returning to the cast, while the much-awaited comedy has remained entangled in legal and production-related disputes.
