Akshaye Khanna's Exit from Drishyam 3 Sparks Controversy: 'Success Has Gone to His Head', Says Producer

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Bollywood actor Akshaye Khanna is basking in the glory of his recent release, Dhurandhar, which has shattered box office records. However, the success of the film has not stopped controversy surrounding his latest project, Drishyam 3. The film's producer, Kumar Mangat Pathak, has come out against Akshaye, accusing him of backing out of the film just 10 days before the start of shooting. In an interview with Bollywood Hungama, Pathak revealed that Akshaye had initially agreed to the film's script and had even signed a contract after multiple rounds of negotiations over his fees. However, the actor's demands, including wearing a wig for the film, were seen as unreasonable by the director, Abhishek Pathak. Pathak claimed that Akshaye initially agreed to drop the wig demand, but later reconsidered after receiving advice from people around him. The producer stated that despite further discussions, Akshaye eventually decided to leave the project. Pathak also criticized Akshaye's behavior, saying that his success in Dhurandhar had gone to his head. He claimed that Akshaye believes himself to be a superstar, despite the film's success being attributed to multiple factors, including the ensemble cast and the director's vision. The producer also mentioned that Akshaye had initially praised the script of Drishyam 3, saying it was worth ₹500 crore, but later backed out of the project. Pathak confirmed that Jaideep Ahlawat has replaced Akshaye in the film, calling him a better actor and a better person. The controversy surrounding Akshaye's exit from Drishyam 3 comes as the film's release date has been announced for October 2, 2026. The film, starring Ajay Devgn, Shriya Saran, Rajat Kapoor, and Tabu, is currently under production. Kumar Mangat Pathak has initiated legal action against Akshaye, with a legal notice sent to the actor, to which he has yet to respond.