The future of Hera Pheri 3 appears to have hit another roadblock. Filmmaker: Priyadarshan confirmed that he is no longer involved in the much-anticipated sequel, adding that he is not sure if the movie will ever make it to the big screen.The development comes after producer Feroze Nadiadwala stated in an interview that Priyadarshan is no longer directing the third installment of the beloved comedy franchise.Confirming the news to Hindustan Times, Priyadarshan said, “What Feroze said is true. I am not associated with Hera Pheri 3 as of now.”
‘Hera Pheri 3 will never hit the screens’
The filmmaker went a step further and expressed doubts about the fate of the project itself.“As best as I know, Hera Pheri 3 will never hit the screen due to several legal issues and personal conflicts. “Whether I’m involved or not is irrelevant,” he told the publication.His statement is likely to disappoint fans who have been eagerly awaiting the return of the iconic trio and the beloved franchise.
A film mired in controversies
Hera Pheri (2000), directed by Priyadarshan, became a cult classic, while its sequel, Phir Hera Pheri (2006), directed by Neeraj Vora, was also a commercial success.However, the third phase has been plagued by many obstacles over the years. One of the biggest issues revolves around a legal dispute over the rights to the Hera Pheri franchise. South-based production company Seven Arts International claimed ownership of the franchise and its characters, a claim contested by Feroze Nadiadwala.Earlier, a spokesperson for: Akshay KumarThe production house also said that the rights were acquired from Nadiadwala under the understanding that it belongs to him.The film is expected to reunite the original cast-Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty: and: Paresh Rawal:—with Priyadarshan returning as director. The project also suffered a setback when Paresh Rawal walked out of the film in May 2025 before finally getting on board.Interestingly, Akshay, Suniel and Paresh recently reunited for Welcome To The Jungle, another film produced by Feroze Nadiadwala.