01 May,2026 04:28 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Firoz Nadiadwala (Pic/X)
An FIR was reportedly filed against the makers of Hera Pheri after film producer Firoz Nadiadwala filed a complaint against them. The producer accused them of defamation and cheating in the ongoing copyright case.
Film producer Firoz Nadiadwala has filed a complaint at Amboli police station against producers Gopala Pillai Vijaykumar and M. Paul Michael for alleged cheating and defamation over the copyright of the Malayalam film Ramji Rao Speaking, on which Hera Pheri is based. The police registered a case on April 27, 2026.
According to the FIR, Nadiadwala, the 62-year-old Juhu resident, operates Empire Studio in Andheri West and had invested heavily in Hera Pheri. In 1997, director Priyadarshan brought him the story, following which the film was developed and shot between 1998 and 2000.
Hera Pheri is actually based on the 1989 Malayalam film produced under M/s Sarga Chitra, where M Paul Michael and Siddique KL alias Lal were partners. In the FIR, Nadiadwala claimed that remake rights were sold in 1993 to M/s Compact Disc India Limited, from whom Nadiadwala legally acquired rights on March 24, 2000, for Rs 4.50 lakh. He got copyright for Hindi and other languages, excluding southern languages.
Subsequently, based on this, Hera Pheri (2000) and Phir Hera Pheri (2006) were made, both of which became commercial successes. However, no objections were raised for 25 years.
Nadiadwala has alleged that in 2000, Michael and Siddique claimed rights to the film and attempted to block the film's release. He added that they even threatened him through intermediaries and demanded money from him. As a result, Firoz filed a complaint with the Commissioner of Mumbai Police on March 21, 2000.
He further claimed that in December 2024, he received a copyright notice, and later in October 2025, Vijaykumar filed a petition in the Madras High Court alleging fresh ownership through another company. Nadiadwala called Vijaykumar's claim fabricated, and went to state that the accused demanded Rs 60 lakh along with 25 per cent profit share.
He also alleged them of defamation by spreading false information using actors' names.
