The franchise – Drishyam has been making news for many reasons. One of it include the exit of Akshaye Khanna. We heard the makers of Drishyam 3 announced that the highly anticipated film will release on October 2, 2026. The press note listed the lead actors as Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shriya Saran, and Rajat Kapoor—noticeably missing Akshaye Khanna’s name.
This sparked curiosity, especially since Akshaye impressed audiences as the villain in Drishyam 2 (2022) and is currently riding high on the success of Dhurandhar. Fans were eager to see him reprise his role but reports soon emerged that remuneration issues led to his exit. Bollywood Hungama has now uncovered more details behind the scenes.
A source revealed, “Akshaye was menacing in Chhaava and stole the show in Dhurandhar. He has become one of the biggest stars right now. Realizing this, he revised his fees and asked for Rs. 21 crores from the Drishyam 3 makers.”The source added, “The producers were shocked by the demand. They tried to explain that paying such a high fee would push the film’s budget beyond limits. However, Akshaye felt justified, knowing that his presence significantly boosts a film’s appeal.”
Another insider shared, “There were additional disagreements between Akshaye and the makers. For instance, Akshaye wanted to wear a wig for his role, but the makers were uncomfortable with this since he appeared without one in Drishyam 2.”
Ultimately, the first source concluded, “When his demands were not met, Akshaye chose to walk away from Drishyam 3. The separation was amicable, and both sides expressed goodwill. The makers hope to work with him again in the future when their visions align.
”Thus, financial demands coupled with creative differences led to Akshaye Khanna’s surprising exit from the much-awaited sequel. Stay tuned to know more about it and others only with us and if you have anything to share do comment below and share your thoughts.
