Hera Pheri 3 just got a lot more complicated, and this time it's not about casting or legal battles. It's about some pretty serious allegations from the man who made the original.

Priyadarshan, director of the 2000 cult classic, has confirmed he is out of Hera Pheri 3, and he didn't hold back about why.

Speaking to Mid-Day, he alleged that producer Firoz Nadiadwala has insulted him repeatedly over the years. 

"Firoz told Akshay, 'You have the rights to make Hera Pheri 3, but never make it with Priyadarshan. That's my only request.' He has insulted me so many times. He told me that my cut of Hera Pheri (2000) looked like a poor man's version and that he had to edit my five-hour movie," the 69-year-old said.

He also made clear what fans are missing out on. "I initially agreed to do the third part with Akshay because I thought I could make one of this country's biggest franchises. If I had directed it, I could've made it bigger than Dhurandhar. Akshay, Suniel and Paresh requested me to make Hera Pheri 3. When I narrated the story to them, they were all excited."

But legal troubles added another layer to the mess. Priyadarshan said he received a call from Seven Arts Films' GP Vijayakumar warning that making the film could be a legal violation. 

Besides this his verdict on the franchise's future was pretty grim, "According to me, Hera Pheri (2000) was born, Phir Hera Pheri (2006) became sick, and Hera Pheri 3 will be dead."

For context, Hera Pheri is one of Hindi cinema's most beloved comedies, built around the iconic trio of Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty and Paresh Rawal. The original became a cult classic, and its 2006 sequel kept the laughs going. 

Hera Pheri 3 was supposed to reunite all three, with Priyadarshan back at the helm.