Amidst a swirling controversy over his abrupt departure from the highly anticipated thriller Drishyam 3, actor Akshaye Khanna has officially commenced work on his next major project. The actor is now on the sets of the upcoming mythological epic Mahakali, marking his official foray into Telugu cinema.
From Spy Thrills to Mythological Debut
Riding high on the success of his recent spy action film Dhurandhar, Akshaye Khanna has transitioned to the grand sets of Mahakali. The film, which stars Bhoomi Shetty in the titular role of Maha, is a crucial part of the expanding Prashanth Varma Cinematic Universe (PVCU). The filmmaker had unveiled Akshaye's first look as the pivotal character Shukracharya back in September last year.
The latest confirmation of his involvement came directly from the set. Director Puja Kolluru recently shared a year-end Instagram post featuring a selfie with Akshaye Khanna, effectively putting to rest any speculation and confirming that filming is actively underway with the actor.
Touted as Tollywood's pioneering female superhero film, Mahakali is being developed as a large-scale, genre-defining spectacle. The project is eyeing a theatrical release in early 2026.
The Drishyam 3 Fallout: Accusations and Allegations
While his professional calendar fills up, Akshaye Khanna's sudden exit from Drishyam 3 has ignited a fierce debate within Bollywood circles. Producer Kumar Mangat Pathak of Panorama Studios publicly accused the actor of walking out of the project merely days before filming was scheduled to begin.
In a candid conversation with Bollywood Hungama, Pathak did not mince words. He alleged that Akshaye's recent career resurgence has affected his professional behavior. "Success has gone to Akshaye Khanna’s head," Pathak stated, revealing that a legal notice was subsequently sent to the actor.
Pathak further contextualized the actor's career, claiming that films like Section 375 and Drishyam 2 were instrumental in reviving his standing. He described the atmosphere Akshaye created on set as "toxic" and openly questioned his commercial viability as a solo lead. "If Akshaye does a solo film, it won’t even collect Rs 50 crore in India," he challenged, downplaying the actor's individual contribution to the hit Dhurandhar by attributing its success largely to co-star Ranveer Singh.
Director Abhishek Pathak Breaks His Silence
Adding more layers to the controversy, Drishyam 3 director Abhishek Pathak also addressed the issue in an interview with ETimes. He clarified that actor Jaideep Ahlawat is not a replacement for Akshaye but will portray a newly written character.
Pathak provided a detailed timeline, stating the contract was signed in November, but the actor exited just five days before the shoot, despite all pre-production work—including look finalization, costume preparation, and script narration—being complete.
One of the key points of conflict, according to the director, was Akshaye's request to wear a wig. Pathak explained that since Drishyam 3 is a direct continuation of the previous film where Akshaye's character was bald, this demand created a major continuity issue. "You can’t have him bald in the afternoon courtroom scene and suddenly show up with hair in the evening," he reasoned.
While addressing rumors of a hefty fee renegotiation, Pathak admitted the commercials were revisited and settled before the contract was signed. He emphasized that the exit, which happened a day before Dhurandhar's release, was not financially motivated.
In a pointed remark, Abhishek Pathak suggested external influences might be at play. "People around him are telling him that he’ll become a superstar and that he should do something all about him," he said, concluding that the success of a film is always a collective team effort.
As the industry continues to dissect this dramatic exit, Akshaye Khanna appears steadfast in moving forward. His focus is now locked on Mahakali, a project set to introduce him to a vast new audience in the Telugu film industry and beyond.
