Hera Pheri is an Indian Hindi-language comedy film franchise that began in 2000 with the release of Hera Pheri, directed by Priyadarshan. The franchise is built around three central characters — Raju, Shyam, and Baburao Ganpatrao Apte — whose financial misadventures in Mumbai form the basis of the comedy. The films are widely regarded as among the most popular comedies in Hindi cinema, with the original gaining a strong cult following over the years.
| Franchise | Hera Pheri |
|---|---|
| Original language | Hindi |
| First film | Hera Pheri (2000) |
| Sequel | Phir Hera Pheri (2006) |
| Original director | Priyadarshan |
| Sequel director | Neeraj Vora |
| Lead cast | Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Paresh Rawal |
| Production house (first two films) | Base Industries Group / Eros International |
| Genre | Comedy |
The first film, Hera Pheri (2000), was a Hindi remake of the Malayalam film Ramji Rao Speaking (1989), directed by Siddique–Lal. Priyadarshan, who had earlier worked extensively in Malayalam cinema, adapted the premise for a Mumbai setting. The film introduced the trio of Raju (Akshay Kumar), an unemployed young man with get-rich-quick schemes; Shyam (Suniel Shetty), a sincere job-seeker; and Baburao Ganpatrao Apte (Paresh Rawal), a bespectacled, alcohol-fond garage owner who rents them a room in his Mumbai chawl. A wrong-number phone call drags them into a kidnapping plot, which forms the central comedy of errors.
The film featured music by Anu Malik and dialogue that has since been quoted widely in Indian popular culture, with characters such as Baburao becoming meme staples on the Indian internet from the 2010s onwards.
| Year | Title | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Hera Pheri | Priyadarshan | Remake of Ramji Rao Speaking; introduced the principal trio. |
| 2006 | Phir Hera Pheri | Neeraj Vora | Direct sequel; featured Bipasha Basu and Rimi Sen in supporting roles. |
Both films follow Raju, Shyam, and Baburao as they attempt to escape poverty through schemes that quickly spiral out of control. The first film centres on a kidnapping mix-up triggered by a wrong number on Baburao's phone. The second film, Phir Hera Pheri, picks up after the trio has come into wealth and follows their attempt to multiply it through a 21-day money-doubling scheme that turns out to be a fraud, drawing them into the orbit of criminals.
Tabu played Anuradha in the original film. The sequel introduced new antagonists and supporting characters, while retaining the central trio.
A third instalment has been discussed in the Hindi film industry for several years, with multiple announcements concerning its cast, director, and production team. Owing to repeated changes and the public nature of disagreements among parties associated with the project, specific details around its production status have varied over time and are not settled in a single confirmed form.
The first Hera Pheri is frequently cited in lists of the greatest Hindi comedies. It marked a turning point in Akshay Kumar's career, demonstrating his range beyond action films, and established Paresh Rawal's Baburao as one of the most recognisable comic characters in Hindi cinema. The franchise contributed several catchphrases to everyday Hindi-speaking popular culture and became a major source of internet memes in India during the 2010s and 2020s. Its Mumbai chawl setting, ensemble comic timing, and reliance on situational humour rather than slapstick alone are often noted as reasons for its enduring appeal.
General references include credits and production information published with the theatrical releases of Hera Pheri (2000) and Phir Hera Pheri (2006), and contemporary coverage of the films in Indian film publications.