**Hera Pheri Franchise Caught in Legal Battle Over Baburao’s Character**
The beloved *Hera Pheri* franchise has recently become embroiled in a legal controversy. Producer Firoz Nadiadwala has reportedly issued a legal notice to streaming giant Netflix, accusing the platform of unauthorized use of Baburao Ganpatrao Apte—the much-loved character immortalized by Paresh Rawal.
Advocate Sana Raees Khan, representing Nadiadwala, released a strong statement highlighting the seriousness of the alleged infringement. She remarked,
*“Intellectual Property is not a matter of casual borrowing; it is the lifeblood of creativity. Unauthorized exploitation of my client’s iconic character is not just infringement, it is theft in its most blatant commercial form. The law will not permit dilution of rights that have been lawfully earned and zealously protected.”*
While Firoz Nadiadwala himself has not made an official comment, this legal move clearly signals his determination to protect the legacy of the cult comedy series.
### The Legacy of Baburao and Hera Pheri
Paresh Rawal brought the character of Baburao to life in *Hera Pheri* (2000), directed by Priyadarshan, and reprised the role in *Phir Hera Pheri* (2006), helmed by the late Neeraj Vora. Alongside Rawal, Akshay Kumar as Raju and Suniel Shetty as Shyam formed an iconic trio that turned these films into enduring blockbusters.
The same trio is set to reunite for *Hera Pheri 3*, with Priyadarshan once again at the helm. Nadiadwala’s legal action, therefore, reflects a broader concern about preserving the brand value of characters that hold immense cultural significance in Indian cinema.
### Broader Implications in Bollywood Regarding Intellectual Property
This case also sheds light on the increasing frequency of disputes around intellectual property and personality rights within Bollywood. Earlier this year, actor Abhishek Bachchan approached the Delhi High Court seeking to restrain unauthorized use of his name, image, voice, and performances.
During a brief hearing, Justice Tejas Karia observed that search engines could be directed to remove infringing links if specific URLs were provided. Cases like these underscore the growing awareness in the entertainment industry about protecting creative and personal rights—especially in an era marked by rapid digital proliferation.
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*Akshay Kumar DENIES Hera Pheri 3 rift with Paresh Rawal was publicity stunt: There were some ups and downs. But now everything is solved*
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**More Pages:**
– Hera Pheri Box Office Collection
– Bollywood News Live Updates
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