In a legal battle just before the much-anticipated finale of The Great Indian Kapil Show, producer Firoz A. Nadiadwala has filed a lawsuit against Netflix and the show’s makers for allegedly using the iconic ‘Baburao Ganpatrao Apte’ character from ‘Hera Pheri’ without permission. The producer is demanding ₹25 crore in damages.
The legal notice accuses Netflix and The Great Indian Kapil Show of copyright and trademark infringement. Babu Rao is a registered trademark owned by Nadiadwala’s family. The complaint claims that using the character on the show violates Sections 51 and 29 of the Copyright and Trademarks Acts. Nadiadwala’s team argues that Baburao, played by Paresh Rawal in Hera Pheri, is central to the film’s legacy. They say it cannot be used commercially without permission.
Nadiadwala emphasized Baburao’s importance to the Hera Pheri franchise. “Baburao is not just a character; he is the soul of Hera Pheri,” he said. “No one has the right to exploit it for commercial gain.” He added that they built this legacy with hard work and creativity. He believes the unauthorized parody of the character on the show has violated it.
Nadiadwala’s legal team demands that all content featuring Baburao be removed from Netflix, social media, and other third-party platforms. They also require the show’s producers to provide a written undertaking to prevent future use of the character without permission and to issue a formal apology within 24 hours.
Failure to comply will lead to civil and criminal legal action, with the producer seeking ₹25 crore in compensation.
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As the final episode of The Great Indian Kapil Show approaches, this legal dispute overshadows what was meant to be a celebratory finale. Bollywood star Akshay Kumar, who starred in Hera Pheri, will appear in the episode.
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