The sudden and mysterious exit of actor Akshaye Khanna from the highly anticipated film Drishyam 3 has sent shockwaves through Bollywood. Contrary to initial speculation linking his departure to the success of his recent film Dhurandhar, the film's producer, Kumar Mangat, has come forward with a detailed and startling account of the events, calling the actor's behaviour "highly unprofessional" and "unethical."
The Sudden Exit: A Text Message Before the Shoot
In an exclusive revelation, producer Kumar Mangat disclosed that Akshaye Khanna's departure was abrupt and left the production in a major lurch. According to Mangat, Khanna was fully on board, having been paid his signing amount after he praised the script and even predicted the film would earn ₹500 crore. His costumes were finalised and paid for, with the shoot scheduled to begin on December 16.
However, just 12 days before the commencement of filming, Mangat received a text message from the actor stating he would not be doing the film and that they would work together in the future. "I tried calling him, but he didn't answer," Mangat stated, highlighting Khanna's known tendency to go missing in action (MIA). "He has a tendency to go MIA whenever he wants to... but this is highly unprofessional."
Debunking the Rumours: It Wasn't About Money or a Wig
Mangat firmly dismissed the widespread assumption that the fallout was over remuneration issues linked to Dhurandhar's success. He clarified that Khanna had factored in the potential success of Dhurandhar while negotiating his fees for Drishyam 3, and an agreement had been reached. The producer pointed out that Khanna left the project on December 4, a day before Dhurandhar's release, but after its trials, where he already had a "fair idea" the film would do well.
Another excuse provided to the team was that Khanna wanted to wear a wig, which did not fit the narrative as Drishyam 3 begins immediately after the events of Drishyam 2. Director Abhishek Pathak was willing to find a creative solution, but Khanna never engaged in those discussions. "At least walk out graciously. How can you not respond to calls and messages? We have known each other for 15 years!" Mangat expressed his dismay.
Financial Fallout and a New Casting Decision
The last-minute exit forced a massive overhaul. The production had to change shooting dates and rewrite the script to accommodate a new character, incurring additional costs of over ₹1 crore. As a result, the producer has sent a legal notice to Akshaye Khanna, though he has not received any response yet.
In the wake of this crisis, the team has finalised actor Jaideep Ahlawat to replace Akshaye Khanna in the franchise. Mangat sees a silver lining, stating, "Jo hota hai acchhe ke liye hota hai (Whatever happens, happens for good). Jaideep is a good addition to the franchise. He is a good actor and a better human being."
While hurt by the incident, Mangat did not completely shut the door on future collaboration with Khanna, saying "never say never." However, he strongly condemned the actor's actions, recalling that before their successful collaborations on Section 375 and the first Drishyam, Khanna was "sitting at home for four years." "Is this how you behave once your film works?" he questioned, calling the behaviour "unpardonable."
