Producer Firoz Nadiadwala has sued streaming platform Netflix accusing them of using the iconic character, Baburao Apte from Hera Pheri without permission. The recently released promo of The Great Indian Kapil Show features actor-comedian, Kiku Sharda donning the character in the upcoming episode, scheduled to be released on the platform on Saturday. Akshay Kumar is set to be the guest on the episode.
As per a News18 report, Firoz is seeking Rs 25 crore in damages and compensation, warning of civil and criminal proceedings if failed to comply. He is the producer of the 2000 comedy-drama film and also backed its 2006 sequel. Paresh Rawal played the eccentric Baburao Apte in the films, which also starred Akshay and Suniel Shetty.
Firoz issued a statement saying that the character is the soul of the film. “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,” he said.
The legal notice accuses Netflix and the show’s producers of copyright infringement and trademark infringement. Firoz’s team say that the character of Baburao is a registered trademark which is owned by the Nadiadwala family.
They have also demanded to remove the content featuring the character from Netflix, social media and all third-party channels. Along with that, they have requested to give a written undertaking to not use the character in future without permission.
Advocate Sana Raees Khan, representing Firoz, said, “The unauthorised 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.”
The Great Indian Kapil Show is set to close with the last episode of this season featuring Akshay, who is promoting his recently released, Jolly LLB 3.