Hera Pheri is a 2000 Indian Hindi-language comedy film directed by Priyadarshan and produced by A. G. Films. It is a remake of the 1989 Malayalam film Ramji Rao Speaking, directed by Siddique–Lal. The film stars Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, and Paresh Rawal in lead roles, with Tabu, Om Puri, and Gulshan Grover in supporting parts. Widely regarded as a landmark in Hindi comedy cinema, Hera Pheri has attained cult status for its writing, performances, and dialogues.
| Title | Hera Pheri |
|---|---|
| Director | Priyadarshan |
| Producer | A. G. Films (Nanubhai G. Patel, Kirti Patel) |
| Writers | Neeraj Vora (screenplay, dialogues); story based on Ramji Rao Speaking by Siddique–Lal |
| Starring | Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Paresh Rawal, Tabu, Om Puri, Gulshan Grover |
| Music | Anu Malik |
| Cinematography | Jeeva |
| Editor | N. Gopalakrishnan |
| Language | Hindi |
| Release date | 31 March 2000 |
| Original source | Ramji Rao Speaking (1989, Malayalam) |
| Sequel | Phir Hera Pheri (2006) |
The film follows three financially struggling men in Mumbai—Raju (Akshay Kumar), an unemployed but ambitious schemer; Shyam (Suniel Shetty), an earnest young man trying to recover his late father's bank job; and Baburao Ganpatrao Apte (Paresh Rawal), a partially deaf, alcoholic garage owner whose phone number unexpectedly connects them to a kidnapping ransom call. The trio attempt to manipulate the situation for monetary gain, leading to a series of comic misadventures involving criminals, the police, and a kidnapped girl named Khushi.
Priyadarshan, who began his career in Malayalam cinema, adapted Siddique–Lal's Ramji Rao Speaking for a Hindi audience, with Neeraj Vora rewriting the screenplay and dialogues to suit the Mumbai setting. The film was shot largely in Mumbai and at studio sets, with Jeeva handling cinematography. The character of Baburao, with his thick spectacles, dhoti, and Marathi-accented Hindi, was designed by Paresh Rawal in collaboration with the director and writer.
The soundtrack was composed by Anu Malik, with lyrics by Rani Malik and Dev Kohli. Notable tracks include "Tun Tunak Tun", "Denewala Jab Bhi Deta", and the title song "Hera Pheri". The album was released by Tips Music.
Hera Pheri was released on 31 March 2000. While its initial box-office performance was modest, the film grew significantly in popularity through television broadcasts and home video, becoming one of the most-watched Hindi comedies of its era. Critics praised the screenplay's situational humour and the chemistry between the three leads. Paresh Rawal's portrayal of Baburao earned him the Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role in 2001.
The film is regarded as a defining work in early-2000s Hindi comedy and is frequently cited among the greatest Indian comedy films. Its dialogues—such as "Utha le re baba", "Ye Baburao ka style hai", and "25 din mein paisa double"—have entered popular culture and remain widely referenced as internet memes. The character of Baburao Ganpatrao Apte has become particularly iconic in Indian pop culture.
A sequel titled Phir Hera Pheri, directed by Neeraj Vora, was released in 2006, with the original lead trio reprising their roles. A third instalment, tentatively titled Hera Pheri 3, has been in various stages of development and announcement since the late 2010s.