In a surprising turn of events, producer Firoz A. Nadiadwala is taking legal action against Netflix and the makers of ‘The Great Indian Kapil Show.’ The producer has issued a legal notice demanding ₹25 crore, alleging that the show unauthorizedly used the beloved character ‘Baburao Ganpatrao Apte’ from the iconic film franchise ‘Hera Pheri.’
Nadiadwala, in a strong statement, emphasized the character’s significance: “Baburao is not just a character, but the soul of Hera Pheri. This legacy was built with our sweat, vision, and creativity. Paresh Rawal ji nurtured the role with his heart and soul. No one has the right to misuse it for commercial gain. Culture is not for exploitation; it is for preservation.”
The legal notice cites copyright infringement under Section 51 of the Copyright Act, 1957, and trademark infringement under Section 29 of the Trademarks Act. Nadiadwala’s legal team claims that ‘Baburao’ is a registered trademark belonging to the Nadiadwala family. The complaint also points to violations of Section 14 of the Copyright Act, which safeguards the exclusive rights to publicly communicate and utilize a work.
The controversy arose after a promotional video for the upcoming episode of ‘The Great Indian Kapil Show’ showed comedian Kiku Sharda portraying Baburao, a character famously played by Paresh Rawal in the ‘Hera Pheri’ films, which also starred Akshay Kumar and Suniel Shetty.
Nadiadwala’s legal team has issued a strict ultimatum, demanding the immediate removal of all related content from Netflix, social media, and any third-party platforms. They also require a written assurance against future unauthorized use of the character and a formal apology within 24 hours.
Failure to comply with these demands, the notice warns, will lead to further civil and criminal proceedings. Advocate Sana Raees Khan, representing Nadiadwala, stated, “The unauthorized use of my client’s iconic character is not just infringement. It is blatant theft for commercial gain. These rights have been lawfully earned and zealously protected, and will now be defended with full legal force. No one has the liberty to treat a creative legacy as a free-for-all.”
This legal dispute casts a shadow over the much-anticipated finale episode of ‘The Great Indian Kapil Show,’ scheduled to feature Akshay Kumar.