Hera Pheri 3 Is in Trouble and Everyone Knows It

When the original director of a beloved franchise says the film will “never hit the screen,” it is time to stop treating delays as routine and start asking some serious questions about Hera Pheri 3.

For over two decades, Hera Pheri has held a sacred place in the hearts of South Asian comedy lovers. Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, and Paresh Rawal as Raju, Shyam, and Baburao became cultural icons, their dialogues woven into everyday conversations across India, Pakistan, the diaspora, and beyond. The 2000 original, directed by Priyadarshan, was not just a hit film — it was a shared experience that generations continue to revisit on streaming platforms. So naturally, any news about a third instalment triggers a wave of hope, nostalgia, and increasingly, exhaustion.

The latest chapter in this long-running saga is particularly telling. Producer Firoz Nadiadwala publicly distanced himself from Priyadarshan’s rumoured involvement, stating plainly that the veteran filmmaker is not part of the project, while simultaneously insisting things are moving in the right direction. Within hours, Priyadarshan confirmed his absence from the film — but crucially added something Nadiadwala did not: that legal disputes and personal conflicts make it unlikely the film will ever reach cinema screens at all. That is not a minor caveat. That is a seasoned filmmaker washing his hands of a project while gently sounding the alarm.

What makes this particularly fascinating is the contrast in tone between the producer and the director. Nadiadwala’s language was measured and optimistic, the kind of careful studio-speak designed to keep audiences interested without committing to anything concrete. Priyadarshan’s response was far more unfiltered — and arguably far more honest. He did not slam the door dramatically, but he did suggest that whether he is involved or not is beside the point if the production itself cannot resolve the underlying conflicts keeping it stuck.

For fans of the franchise, this is not entirely surprising. Hera Pheri 3 has been stuck in development limbo for so long that it has become something of a running joke in Bollywood circles. Indra Kumar was officially announced as director back in 2018, then departed. Priyadarshan’s name circulated as a replacement, sparking genuine excitement. Now even that possibility appears to have evaporated. The original cast situation has also been a source of public tension, with Akshay Kumar and Paresh Rawal at various points reported to be at odds over creative and financial terms — though the exact nature of any legal disputes has never been fully clarified publicly.

The diaspora audience in Australia, the UK, Canada, and the US has a particularly emotional stake in this franchise. For many South Asians who grew up abroad, Hera Pheri was one of those rare Bollywood films that crossed language barriers within families, got quoted at dinner tables, and created shared memories. The idea of a third film still carries genuine sentiment. But sentiment alone cannot paper over what sounds like a deeply complicated production situation.

At some point, the conversation around Hera Pheri 3 needs to shift from “when” to “whether” — and that is a conversation the producers owe their audience. So here is the question worth asking: if even the original director believes this film may never happen, is it time for fans to make peace with the idea that some legacies are better left untouched?