Akshaye Khanna left Drishyam 3 a day before Dhurandhar’s release, reveals producer
Akshaye Khanna has quit Drishyam 3. His choice became a hot topic in the community following the massive success of Dhurandhar, where he portrays the character of Rehman Dakait. Khanna’s fame surged once more due to his role in the movie, particularly the trending dance to FA9LA. Producer Kumar Mangat Pathak confirmed this news in a recent discussion. Speculation suggested that Khanna departed from Drishyam 3 due to requests for increased pay and the necessity of a wig. Addressing the rumors, Pathak informed a news outlet that the actor withdrew from the film just a day prior to Dhurandhar’s premiere on December 4. Akshaye left Drishyam 3 before the release of DhurandharKumar Mangat Pathak stated to ETimes, “I am uncertain why Akshaye made that decision. He exited Drishyam 3 a day before Dhurandhar’s debut on December 4. During the screenings, he had a good sense that Dhurandhar would perform well. He didn’t leave Drishyam 3 due to financial concerns, as he had accurately anticipated and factored in Dhurandhar’s success when negotiating his fees for Drishyam 3, which was agreed upon.”
He added, “Akshaye Khanna received his signing fee after being impressed by the script. He embraced director Abhishek Pathak and expressed that this would easily gross 500 crore. After he signed the contract, his costumes were finalized and paid for. Just 12 days before filming was set to begin on December 16, I received a message from him stating he would not be participating in the film, but we would certainly collaborate in the future. I attempted to reach him by phone, but he did not respond. He has a habit of going off the grid when he chooses to, and I am aware of that aspect of him, but this is extremely unprofessional.”
‘Wig not the reason behind exit’
Refuting claims that Akshaye left Drishyam 3 due to wig requirements, the producer remarked, “We were also given an explanation that Akshaye departed because he wanted to wear a wig, but that doesn’t align with the storyline. Drishyam 3 starts on the same night as the conclusion of Drishyam 2, and one cannot grow hair in just four hours. Abhishek still mentioned we could take some creative liberties and work that out, but he never even came to discuss these matters. At least exit gracefully. How can you ignore calls and messages? We have known each other for 15 years! Why accept the payment initially? Our agreement was finalized. Before I worked on Section 375 and Drishyam with him, he had been inactive for four years. Is this how one behaves after their film succeeds? I have been in this industry for 40 years. Success and failure are part of the game, but this conduct is unethical and inexcusable.”
About Drishyam 3
Jaideep Ahlawat has taken over Akshaye’s role in Drishyam 3. The Hindi adaptation of Mohanlal’s celebrated Malayalam series is set to hit theaters on October 2, 2026. The film series also features Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shriya Saran, Ishita Dutta, Mrunal Jadhav, and Rajat Kapoor.