Producer Firoz Nadiadwala files fraud case over Hera Pheri rights, claims extortion

Film producer Firoz Nadiadwala has filed a fraud complaint at Mumbai's Amboli police station over the copyright and remake rights of the 2000 film Hera Pheri, alleging that some people colluded to usurp his legal rights and extort crores of rupees from him.

In his complaint, Nadiadwala, 62, said the dispute relates to Hera Pheri, based on the Malayalam film Ramji Rao Speaking, released in 1989. He said he had legally bought the remake rights of the story in Hindi and other languages, except South Indian languages, from Suresh Kumar Singhal of M/s Compact Disc India Limited for Rs 4.5 lakh in 2000.

Nadiadwala said that seven days before Hera Pheri was released in 2000, some people tried to extort money from him by putting him under



pressure. In the complaint, he said, "At that time, a huge investment had been made in the film, hence, due to fear of defamation and loss, I had to make the payment under pressure, even though the court had given a stay order in my favour."

According to the complaint, the matter has resurfaced after 25 years. Nadiadwala alleged that the owners of the original film, Siddique KL and M Paul Michael, despite knowing that the rights had already been sold, resold the rights to Gopala Pillai Vijaykumar of M/s Seven Arts International on 12 May 2022 for Rs 3 lakh.

Following his complaint, police registered a case against Gopala Pillai Vijaykumar and M Paul Michael under Sections 318(4), 356 and 3(5) of the IPC, and further investigation is under way.