Priyadarshan, the director of the iconic Hindi comedy film Hera Pheri, has recently made a surprising revelation about the movie's creation. In a recent interview, Priyadarshan stated that Hera Pheri was a "frame-to-frame" copy of the 1989 Malayalam film Ramji Rao Speaking. He further added that the dialogues weren't originally written in Hindi but were directly translated from Malayalam.
Hera Pheri, which was released in 2000, stars Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, and Paresh Rawal. The film revolves around three struggling bachelors who get caught up in a kidnapping plot. Hera Pheri was a remake of the Malayalam film, Ramji Rao Speaking, directed by Siddique-Lal. Priyadarshan has directed several Hindi remakes of South Indian films.
Priyadarshan explained that Hera Pheri was the only film where he copied the original "frame to frame". He revealed, "Even its dialogues weren't written, they were only translated". He also clarified that Ramji Rao Speaking itself was a remake of See the Man Run, a 1971 TV film.
Priyadarshan also shared his approach to remakes, explaining why he avoids showing his actors the original films. He stated that when he was remaking Malayalam films in Telugu, he showed Mohanlal's films to the actors, and they tried to imitate him. He believes that everyone has different body language and that actors should not imitate each other. When remaking a film with Akshay Kumar, he never shows him the original. Priyadarshan also stated that he always changes the film and never compares two actors.
Priyadarshan also discussed why many South-to-Hindi remakes struggle to work with audiences. He noted that "90% of remakes are flops because many South films, which are remade in Hindi, look like South films; they don't look like Hindi films". Priyadarshan credits his exposure to 70s and 80s Hindi cinema for helping him ground his films in Hindi sensibilities. He gave the example of Manichitrathazhu and Bhool Bhulaiyaa, stating that Bhool Bhulaiyaa feels like a Hindi film, and one doesn't feel like they are watching a South film.
Priyadarshan is currently directing Hera Pheri 3. He admitted that sequels rarely excite him from a creative perspective. He said that he doesn't like sequels and doesn't believe in them because people's expectations increase, and you will never be able to satisfy that. He sees sequels as just a business.
Hera Pheri has gained a cult following over the years, and its dialogues have become iconic. The film's witty dialogue and comedic performances have been praised.
