Producer Kumar Mangat Pathak has accused actor Akshaye Khanna of unprofessional conduct after he allegedly exited Drishyam 3 just days before filming began. The producer claimed contractual commitments were in place and financial losses were incurred, prompting legal action.
Producer Moves Legal Action After Akshaye Khanna’s Sudden Exit from Drishyam 3
Mumbai: A major controversy has erupted surrounding the highly anticipated Bollywood film ‘Drishyam 3’. The film's producer, Kumar Mangat Pathak, has accused actor Akshaye Khanna of unprofessional behavior and stated that he will be sending him a legal notice. Pathak claims that Akshaye Khanna backed out of the film just 10 days before shooting was scheduled to begin, causing significant financial losses to the production.
In an interview, Kumar Mangat Pathak revealed that Akshaye Khanna had initially agreed to work on ‘Drishyam 3’. An agreement was signed, the fee was finalized, and an advance payment was made. Despite this, he decided to withdraw from the film just 10 days before shooting was to commence.
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According to Pathak, a specific demand from Akshaye Khanna sparked the controversy. The actor wanted to wear a wig in the film. Director Abhishek Pathak explained to him that this would create continuity problems, as the story of ‘Drishyam 3’ picks up where ‘Drishyam 2’ left off. Initially, Akshaye Khanna agreed, but later, he was allegedly persuaded by people close to him to insist on wearing the wig again.
The producer says that the director was ready to discuss the issue, but before that could happen, Akshaye Khanna informed them that he would not be doing the film. Pathak stated that this behavior is completely unprofessional, especially when a contract has been signed and payment has already been made.
Kumar Mangat Pathak reacted strongly to Akshaye Khanna's attitude. He said that there was a time when Akshaye had no work, and he himself had given him an opportunity in a film like ‘Section 375’. Even then, many people had warned him about his behavior. According to Pathak, his energy on set is "toxic."
The producer alleged that after the success of his recent films, Akshaye Khanna has started considering himself a superstar. He said that the success of films like ‘Chhawa’ and ‘Dhurandhar’ is not solely due to Akshaye, but is the result of the entire team's contribution. Pathak even went so far as to say that if Akshaye Khanna were to lead a film alone, it wouldn't even earn ₹50 crore.
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After Akshaye Khanna's exit, Jaideep Ahlawat has been cast in the film. Kumar Mangat Pathak defended this decision, saying that ‘Drishyam’ is a strong brand and does not depend on any one actor. He described Jaideep as not only a better actor but also a better person.
The producer confirmed that he has sent a legal notice to Akshaye Khanna and is awaiting a response. He stated that the actor's decision has caused him financial loss and that he will pursue the matter legally.
Ajay Devgn and Tabu starrer ‘Drishyam 3’ is scheduled to release on October 2, 2026. Despite the controversy, the makers say that the film will be released on time and there will be no compromise on its quality.
