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Bollywood actor Akshaye Khanna has been riding high on acclaim following his whistle-worthy screen presence and commanding performance in Ranveer Singh’s blockbuster Dhurandhar, which emerged as one of the biggest box-office successes of the year. However, even as the film continues its strong theatrical run, a recent development involving the actor has sparked widespread attention in industry circles.

Akshaye Khanna has reportedly exited the much-anticipated Hindi sequel Drishyam 3, which is set to go on floors shortly. Initial reports suggested that the actor walked out of the Ajay Devgn–Tabu starrer due to remuneration-related disagreements with the production house.

Now, according to fresh updates from Bollywood circles, Panorama Studios producer Kumar Mangat Pathak has confirmed that Jaideep Ahlawat has been brought on board to replace Akshaye Khanna in the third installment of the Hindi Drishyam franchise. The producer reportedly stated that Akshaye Khanna demanded a significantly higher fee after signing the agreement and eventually chose to leave the project despite multiple rounds of negotiations.

The reports further claim that the producer described Jaideep Ahlawat as a “better actor and a better person” for the role. Ahlawat, who began his career with minor roles, gained recognition with Gangs of Wasseypur and went on to deliver notable performances in films such as Gabbar Is Back and Vishwaroopam II.

In addition, the producer is said to be considering legal action against Akshaye Khanna, alleging unprofessional conduct. He reportedly also claimed that the actor insisted on wearing a wig for Drishyam 3, a request that was declined by the director due to potential continuity issues. Akshaye Khanna previously portrayed IG Tarun Ahlawat, the investigating officer in the Sam murder case, in the franchise.

Drishyam remains one of the most successful franchises across Malayalam, Hindi, and Telugu cinema. The Hindi version continues to be headlined by Ajay Devgn, with Abhishek Pathak returning as director. Drishyam 3 is currently slated for a theatrical release on October 2.