For the past few days, rumours around Akshaye Khanna walking out of Drishyam 3 have kept social media busy. Some reports blamed money issues. Others said he wanted to capitalise on the success of Dhurandhar. You were left guessing what really happened.
Now, the producer of Drishyam 3 has stepped in to address the controversy. In an interview, Kumar Mangat Pathak said the team had already signed an agreement with Akshaye Khanna. He confirmed that the actor’s fees were locked after several renegotiation rounds initiated by Akshaye himself.
Pathak said the problem started when Akshaye insisted on wearing a wig in the film. Director Abhishek Pathak explained that this would affect continuity, since Drishyam 3 is a sequel. A wig would not match the character’s earlier appearance.
According to the producer, Akshaye initially agreed and dropped the demand. Later, he returned with the same request after people around him reportedly told him he would look smarter with a wig. This reopened the issue and delayed clarity.
Abhishek Pathak was still open to discussing the matter again. However, the producer claimed that Akshaye eventually told the team he no longer wanted to be part of the film. That decision, they say, ended all discussions.
The producers also alleged that Akshaye’s on-set energy is often “toxic.” Kumar Mangat Pathak went a step further and took a direct swipe at the actor’s standing in the industry.
He said the Drishyam franchise belongs to Ajay Devgn. Chhaava, according to him, is Vicky Kaushal’s film, with Akshaye in a supporting role. Dhurandhar, he added, is clearly Ranveer Singh’s project.
Pathak claimed that if Akshaye led a solo film today, it would not even collect 50 crore in India. He said any talk of Akshaye becoming a “superhero” should be dropped entirely.
After Akshaye exited Drishyam 3, Jaideep Ahlawat was brought on board. The producer said a “much better person” has joined the team and expressed relief over the casting change.
Pathak also revealed that Akshaye’s exit caused him financial losses. He confirmed that a legal notice has already been sent to the actor and that he is waiting for a response.
These allegations are serious and have sparked strong reactions among fans. You now wait to see how Akshaye Khanna and his team respond to these claims.
