25 Years of Hera Pheri: Priyadarshan on the success, controversies & unwanted songs of the film; says, “It’s my film, except for two songs”

After the surprise success of Hera Pheri, Priyadarshan had plenty to smile about. Unfortunately, the film’s success was marred by controversy.

Your film Hera Pheri was a hit, but you weren’t in Mumbai to enjoy its success? By that time, I had already directed around fifty films in various languages. I’ve seen more ups and downs in my career than most. At this stage, success or failure doesn’t make much of a difference to me. I enjoy my success, but to some extent, I’ve become immune to its trappings.

I’ve seen how people in Mumbai ignore you after a flop, and then when you succeed, they—well, let’s just say they start treating you very differently (laughs). You don’t see this attitude in the South. Once a director is accepted there, they remain respected regardless of box office failures. But in Mumbai, a filmmaker’s fate changes from Friday to Friday. 

How much of the original Malayalam film Ramji Rao Speaking did you retain in Hera Pheri? I changed about thirty percent of the original, including the setting and several scenes. I never wanted so many songs in Hera Pheri. In fact, two of the songs in the film weren’t even shot by me. When I first saw them in the final cut, I was shocked. I had already completed editing when they were added. When I asked my producer why he felt the need to add songs, he said the film lacked gloss. I requested him not to interfere, but he was adamant. The matter was out of my hands. 

There was talk in Mumbai that you walked out of the film before it was completed. No, no, I didn’t walk out. If that were the case, why would the producer keep my name in the credits? 

Because your name sells? Not at all. In fact, my producer initially struggled to sell the film. After Virasat, I hadn’t had a successful Hindi film, and he had signed me on the strength of that film. But after Doli Saja Ke Rakhna, he felt I didn’t understand commercial Hindi cinema. He thought I was trying to make an art film with Hera Pheri. He even told me the film looked like it was made for just one crore rupees, even though it cost much more, simply because the characters wore shabby clothes and lived in a chawl. 

So he added two songs? Yes, he shot two songs with choreographer Ahmed Khan—without my consent. He did inform me, and I told him I was against it because they didn’t fit the rest of the film. But he persisted. Apart from those songs, everything else you see in Hera Pheri was done by me. Since the final cut was in his hands, there was nothing I could do. Unfortunately, I hadn’t signed a proper contract. 

But producer Firoz Nadiadwala later admitted that Hera Pheri didn’t need those songs? Yes. On the day of the release, he called me to say that the audience loved the film for its simplicity, humour, and emotion—not for the gloss. I was happy he admitted his mistake. That rarely happens in this industry. 

But in the end, the audience saw your film? Absolutely. You’ve seen Suniel Shetty and Akshay Kumar in other films, and then you saw them in Hera Pheri. Their performances came from my direction. I was very happy with all my actors—Akshay, Suniel, Tabu, and Paresh Rawal were all very cooperative. Thanks to them, I completed Hera Pheri very quickly. In fact, the major portion of the film was shot in just seventeen to eighteen days. The delay in release happened because the producer was trying to wrap up his previous film, Kartoos.

Also Read: 25 Years of Hera Pheri EXCLUSIVE: “‘Jab Bhi Koi Haseena’ was shot in the desert in 45 degrees; Akshay Kumar was wearing a black dress and yet, he didn’t complain…danced the whole night while shooting for ‘Tun Tunak Tun'” – Firoz A. Nadiadwallah

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