The producers of Drishyam 3 have decided to sue actor Akshaye Khanna after his sudden departure from the project, a few days before the shoot was going to take place. As per recent reports, Akshaye Khanna has been replaced with Jaideep Ahlawat, and the producer accused the actor of leaving the project due to unprofessional behavior only. Kumar Mangat Pathak revealed to Bollywood Hungama that, after a long time of talks and several rounds of negotiating the fees, Akshaye Khanna was signed for Drishyam 3. The producer said that they even had a written contract and all the main points had been sorted out way ahead of time. Nevertheless, Akshaye is said to have quit the movie about ten days before his shooting schedule, putting the filmmakers in a tight spot.
Akshaye Khanna Leaves Drishyam 3
Pathak explained that the disagreement over the actor’s look was the main point around which the issue revolved. The director, for continuity reasons, thought it would be very unlikely for the character to wear a wig in a sequel. When Akshaye first heard the explanation, he agreed with the logic and also with the decision. However, the producer claimed that he changed his position after talking with his team. Shortly after, the actor sent a message saying that he was leaving the film.
The producer also disparaged Akshaye Khanna’s work history, stating that the actor’s career revival was after only Section 375 (2019) and Drishyam 2 (2022). Pathak stated that trouble with Akshaye’s behavior on the set was already behind the scenes before, and suggested that the recent box office success may have affected his mood. He said that some actors, after being part of successful ensemble projects, start to overestimate their individual contribution.
More Details On Drishyam 3
After Akshaye’s departure, the producers didn’t waste any time in finding a new face for the role. It has been announced that Jaideep Ahlawat is the new member of Drishyam 3. Pathak felt that the recasting was a good one, as he mentioned that the Drishyam brand is strong and not reliant on any single actor. He further said that Jaideep has the talent as well as the work ethic to add to the project, and also pointed out that they have known each other for a long time since the release of Aakrosh (2010).
In the meantime, the producers have issued a legal notice to Akshaye Khanna and are getting ready to take the matter to court.