Priyadarshan: Hera Pheri 3 Might Never Get Made

For fans waiting on the third chapter of Bollywood’s beloved comedy franchise, the wait may be permanent. Director Priyadarshan, who made the original Hera Pheri in 2000, has said the long-gestating sequel may never reach theatres.

Too many complications

In an interview with Hindustan Times, Priyadarshan was blunt about the project. Asked whether the sequel would eventually get made, he replied, “I don’t think it will ever get made.”

The director said the film is tangled in “too many complications”—including legal disputes over the franchise’s rights and personal conflicts. He added that fully explaining the situation would take “chapters and chapters.”

The project has already weathered public turbulence. Last year, Paresh Rawal briefly exited, and Akshay Kumar filed a lawsuit seeking Rs 25 crore from the actor. The two later resolved the matter amicably, and Rawal was said to be back on board. But Priyadarshan’s new comments suggest that even a reunited cast cannot solve the film’s larger problems.

Why he also said no to Bhagam Bhag 2

Priyadarshan’s Hera Pheri 3 pessimism sits alongside another decision: he declined Akshay Kumar’s offer to direct Bhagam Bhag 2. His reasoning is consistent—he does not make sequels unless the new story is better than the original.

He pointed to Terminator 2 as a rare example of a sequel that improved on the first film. In his view, too many follow-ups are “selling the value of the first film”—they are projects rather than films, and he is not interested in projects.

That philosophy also shaped his exit from Hera Pheri 3. He said he initially agreed because Akshay, Suniel Shetty and Paresh Rawal personally asked him, and he believed he could grow it into one of the country’s biggest franchises. The story he pitched excited the three leads. But the complications around the production ultimately changed his mind.

What it means for fans

For an audience that still quotes Baburao, Raju and Shyam, the director’s comments are sobering. The original film’s charm is why the sequel remains so eagerly discussed—and why its absence feels like a loss.

• Priyadarshan has stepped away and does not think the film will be made.
• Legal disputes and personal conflicts remain the core obstacles.
• Akshay, Paresh and Suniel wanted him back, but star power hasn’t cleared the path.

As it stands, Hera Pheri 3 has no clear route to the screen. Unless the rights issues are settled and a director steps in with a story worthy of the original, fans may have to make peace with rewatching the first two films.

Source: The Times of India