Actor Akshaye Khanna has reportedly exited Drishyam 3 just days after the makers announced the film’s release date.
According to Bollywood sources, the decision was taken due to remuneration-related issues.
Lead actor Ajay Devgn officially announced October 2, 2026, as the release date of Drishyam 3 on Monday.
However, soon after the announcement, reports emerged that Akshaye Khanna had walked out of the project following disagreements over his fee.
Akshaye Khanna joined the Drishyam franchise with Drishyam 2, which released in 2022. He played the role of IG Tarun Ahlawat, a senior police officer who takes over the investigation after the character earlier portrayed by Tabu.
The actor is enjoying a stellar year in 2025, delivering back-to-back successes with Chhaava and Dhurandhar.
He began the year with Chhaava, where he portrayed Mughal emperor Aurangzeb opposite Vicky Kaushal’s Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj.
In Dhurandhar, Akshaye Khanna impressed audiences as Rehman Dakait, a character inspired by the real-life Lyari gangster.
His performance, especially his dance in the song “FA9LA,” has gone viral, keeping social media buzzing. Both Dhurandhar and Chhaava rank among the highest-grossing Indian films of 2025.
Up next, Akshaye Khanna will make his Telugu film debut with Mahakali, where he will portray Asuraguru Shukracharya.
The superhero film is written by Hanuman fame Prasanth Varma and directed by Puja Aparna Kolluru, with Bhoomi Shetty playing Goddess Kali.