The high-stakes suspense of the Drishyam franchise has spilled over into the real world, but this time, the drama isn’t scripted. Kumar Mangat Pathak, the veteran producer behind the blockbuster series, has officially sent a legal notice to actor Akshaye Khanna, accusing him of unprofessional behaviour that led to his abrupt exit from the upcoming Drishyam 3.
In a candid and scathing interview with Bollywood Hungama, Pathak pulled no punches, detailing a series of disagreements involving hairpieces, “inner circles,” and broken agreements. The producer confirmed that the legal machinery is now in motion after the actor reportedly walked away from the project despite having signed a formal contract.
According to Pathak, the friction began not with the script, but with the actor’s look. After extensive renegotiations regarding his remuneration, Khanna allegedly insisted on wearing a wig for his character. Director Abhishek Pathak initially resisted the idea, citing significant continuity issues. Since Drishyam 3 is a direct sequel where Khanna’s character was previously established with a specific look, a sudden change in hair would, in the director’s view, break the immersion.
“Abhishek convinced him that it wouldn’t be practical,” Kumar Mangat Pathak explained. “He understood the point and initially agreed to let go of that demand.”
However, the peace was short-lived. The producer claims that “chamchas” (sycophants) in Khanna’s inner circle later influenced the actor, convincing him he would look “smarter” with the hairpiece. When Khanna returned to the demand, the director was reportedly open to a discussion, but the actor allegedly decided to skip the negotiation entirely and quit the film.
Beyond the technical disputes, Pathak’s frustration boiled over into a critique of Khanna’s commercial standing. While acknowledging Khanna’s presence in recent hits, the producer was quick to point out that those films were anchored by other superstars.
Pathak noted that while #Chhaava is a Vicky Kaushal film and the record-breaking #Dhurandhar is fronted by Ranveer Singh, the Drishyam franchise belongs firmly to Ajay Devgn.
“It’s important to note that the Drishyam franchise is fronted by Ajay Devgn,” Pathak remarked bluntly. “If Akshaye does a solo film, it won’t even collect Rs. 50 crores in India.”
This reality check served as the backdrop for Pathak’s argument that the actor’s demands and subsequent exit were disproportionate to his actual market draw, especially for a sequel where the brand and the lead star do the heavy lifting.
The producer revealed that the sudden departure has caused tangible financial and logistical setbacks for the production. With sets being planned and schedules locked around the cast, a lead actor’s exit can cause a domino effect of delays.
“I have suffered losses because of his behaviour. I am going to take legal action,” Pathak stated firmly.
While the off-screen battle rages, the show must go on. As previously reported, the makers have moved swiftly to fill the void, with Jaideep Ahlawat now stepping into a newly conceived role to maintain the film’s investigative edge.
The exit of Akshaye Khanna, who was a highlight of the second installment, is a blow to fans who enjoyed the cat-and-mouse game between his character and Ajay Devgn’s Vijay Salgaonkar. However, Pathak seems confident that the strength of the Drishyam brand—and the reliability of Ajay Devgn—will keep the project on track for its October 2, 2026 release.
As the industry watches this legal battle unfold, it serves as a reminder of the fragile nature of high-budget film production. For Akshaye Khanna, who is currently riding a wave of critical acclaim from Dhurandhar, this legal hurdle could be a significant distraction.
The ball is now in Khanna’s court. Whether he chooses to settle the matter or fight the “unprofessionalism” tag in court will likely determine the tone of his future collaborations with major production houses.
