Drishyam 3 has been surrounded by shocking developments, and recent clarifications have finally squashed speculations of Jaideep Ahlawat replacing Akshaye Khanna in the highly awaited sequel. Director Abhishek Pathak has finally reacted to the controversy surrounding Drishyam 3 and has given a perspective on the things that unfolded when Akshaye Khanna abruptly walked out.
What Is Akshaye Khanna, Drishyam 3 Controversy?
Speculation ran rampant after the film’s producer, Kumar Mangat Pathak, accused Akshaye of quitting the film at the last minute. This later sparked rumors that he was replaced by Jaideep Ahlawat. But Abhishek Pathak was quick to dispel these rumors when he said that Jaideep was not replacing Akshaye. Instead, the director announced that he was including Jaideep in the film with a whole new character that was not connected with Akshaye’s.
Abhishek, while speaking to Bombay Times, also talked about Ajay Devgn’s involvement in the issue. He said, “Ajay, who is playing the character of Vijay Salgaonkar, decided to stay out of the casting conflict altogether. In fact, the conflict was amongst the three of us, the producers, and Akshaye Khanna, and Ajay didn’t have any say in the final decision.”
Giving insights into how the entire episode has gone down, Abhishek has said that none of the disagreements had cropped up before the paperwork was finished. The contract was signed by Akshaye in November, and things were already in motion. Even the look that the actor was going to carry, his clothes, as well as his concept regarding the plot, which he is said to have enjoyed, was ready.
One of the areas of debate, according to reports, had to do with continuity. Abhishek revealed how Drishyam 3 purportedly begins right from the end of Drishyam 2, making it illogical to change a character’s looks drastically in the time framework of the movie. This issue was brought up before, but it appears to have settled before Akshaye decided to quit the project.
The director has refuted allegations that financial disagreements led to the fallout. He explains that although financial matters came to the fore during negotiations, they eventually reached an agreement on an acceptable amount before putting ink to paper on the contract. He says troubles started at this point.
More Details Drishyam 3, penned and helmed by director Abhishek Pathak, would be released in theaters on October 2, 2026.