The Amboli (Bombay) police on April 27 filed an FIR against film producers Gopala Pillai Vijaykumar and M. Paul Michael for alleged cheating and defamation linked to the copyright of Malayalam film Ramji Rao Speaking, which was remade in Hindi as Hera Pheri. The action was taken based on a complaint filed by Firoz A. Nadiadwala, producer of Hera Pheri, who alleged that the producer duo made false copyright violation claims about Hera Pheri.
As per the FIR, the remake rights of Ramji Rao Speaking were sold in 1993 by Sarga Chitra to Compact Disc India. Nadiadwala’s company legally purchased the remake rights for Hindi and other languages except South Indian, from Compact Disc India for Rs. 4.50 lakh on March 24, 2000.
According to the complaint, “In 2000, producers M. Paul Michael and Siddique-Lal claimed copyright and story rights and attempted to prevent the global release of Hera Pheri.” He said, he later filed a complaint with the Bombay police. He alleged that Michael and Siddique-Lal contacted him through middlemen, threatened him and demanded money. Siddique died in 2023.
On December 30, 2024, Firoz Nadiadwala received a copyright violation notice from Gopala Pillai Vijaykumar and M. Paul Michael. In October 2025, Vijaykumar filed a petition in the Madras high court, saying that Seven Arts International Ltd. purchased the copyright of Ramji Rao Speaking from Sarga Chitra for Rs. 3 lakh in 2022.
Nadiadwala has alleged that this claim was fabricated, and Vijaykumar intended to cheat him. Firoz also claimed that the two accused were now demanding Rs. 60 lakh and 25% of the profit from Hera Pheri.
Firoz Nadiadwala also alleged that the accused spread false information about the copyright on online platforms and in the media.