Hera Pheri 3: Priyadarshan Says 'Could've Made It Than Dhurandhar' After Exit, Claims Producer 'Insulted Me'

Hera

Pheri 3 has been in the news for all the wrong reasons since it was first announced. The third instalment is set to bring back Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty and Paresh Rawal in their iconic roles as Raju, Shyam and Baburao. Last year, Paresh’s exit and the Rs 25 crore legal notice made headlines. After that, the film landed in legal trouble over copyright claims. And recently, director Priyadarshan walked away from the project. After producer Firoz Nadiadwala, the filmmaker himself confirmed the news. He has now opened up about his exit and made some shocking allegations.

Priyadarshan On Hera Pheri 3 Exit

In a chat with Mid-Day, Priyadarshan revealed that Firoz had told Akshay that he had the rights to make Hera Pheri 3 but should not make it with Priyadarshan. According to the Bhoot Bangla director, this was his only request. He further claimed that Firoz had often insulted him, including saying that his cut of Hera Pheri (2000) looked like a poor man’s version. He also revealed that he had to edit his five-hour film.Priyadarshan said he initially agreed to work on the third instalment with Akshay because he believed he could make one of the country’s biggest franchises. He added, "If I had directed it, I could’ve made it bigger than Dhurandhar."He said that Akshay, Suniel and Paresh had also requested him to direct Hera Pheri 3, and were excited after he narrated the story to them.

Hera Pheri 3 Row

Reportedly, the troubles began in 2025 when Priyadarshan was informed by Seven Arts Films’ GP Vijayakumar that making the film could lead to legal violations. The director said that he was unsure how to proceed.In the interview, he even suggested that Hera Pheri 3 might never be released with the same characters due to multiple legal complications. He added, "According to me, Hera Pheri (2000) was born, Hera Pheri 2 (2006) became sick, and Hera Pheri 3 will be dead."He also called it a "legally complicated battle of copyright."Meanwhile, Firoz recently said that things were moving in the right direction. For now, fans are simply hoping that the film materialises and does justice to the iconic franchise. Without Priyadarshan, however, many believe that it seems unlikely. For now, the constant problems during the pre-production phase have already earned the film the tag of being "jinxed."What are your thoughts on this? Let us know.