Hera Pheri producer Firoz Nadiadwala files rights fraud complaint at Mumbai police
Producer Firoz Nadiadwala, 62, has filed a formal complaint at the Amboli Police Station in Mumbai, alleging that the copyright and remake rights of the iconic Bollywood comedy 'Hera Pheri' have been fraudulently sold twice. The complaint, filed on 1 May 2025, centres on rights that Nadiadwala claims he legally acquired in 2000 for ₹4,50,000 from Suresh Kumar Singhal of M/s Compact Disc India Limited, covering Hindi and all non-South Indian language remakes of the original Malayalam film 'Ramji Rao Speaking'.
Background: How the Rights Were Acquired
According to Nadiadwala's complaint, he purchased the remake rights of 'Ramji Rao Speaking' — the Malayalam original on which 'Hera Pheri' is based — in 2000, paying ₹4,50,000 for Hindi and other non-South Indian language rights. The transaction was conducted through Suresh Kumar Singhal of M/s Compact Disc India Limited. Nadiadwala contends these rights were legally binding and gave him full authority to produce and exploit the franchise in those languages.
The 2000 Extortion Attempt
Nadiadwala alleged that just seven days before the release of 'Hera Pheri' in 2000, certain individuals attempted to extort money from him by pressuring him over the film's rights. He stated in his complaint:
