Bollywood: 'Hera Pheri 3' on hold as director in coma since 10 months

Bollywood filmmaker Neeraj Vora, known for writing the comedy classic Hera Pheri and directing its subsequent installments, has been in a coma for the past 10 months, according to Indian media reports.

The writer/director was working on the third installment Hera Pheri 3 last year before he suffered a heart attack.

According to a Mumbai Mirror report, Vora's heart attack was followed by a brain stroke, which he suffered on October 19 last year.

Vora was taken to All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) where he stayed for two months, before being shifted to his friend, Firoz Nadiadwala's home.

According to the report, Firoz has converted a room for his friend into an Intensive Care Unit.

"At 5pm on March 11, we airlifted Neeraj bhai and dashed to Mumbai in a medical helicopter. Within an hour he was comfortably resting at his new home in Barkat Villa," said Firoz.

Firoz has been taking care of all the medical bills since October.

About the ICU set up in Firoz's home, Mumbai Mirror reports: "On the walls are throwback stills from 'Rangeela', 'Virasat', 'Hera Pheri', 'Phir Hera Pheri', 'Golmaal', 'Daud' and 'Khiladi 420' and in a corner, a stack of DVDs with a flat screen TV plays him blockbusters from down the years round-the-clock. This room has been home to writer-director-actor Neeraj Vora since March 11, with a 24-hour nurse, ward boy and cook. A physiotherapist, neurosurgeon, acupuncture therapist and general physician pay him weekly visits."

Neeraj Vora is said to be slowly recovering and is now more responsive than before. But until he regains his health completely, all his projects including Hera Pheri 3 have been put on hold.