Overview
- Jaideep Ahlawat has been confirmed to replace Akshaye Khanna in Drishyam 3, with the makers saying the shoot is moving ahead.
- Producer Kumar Mangat Pathak says a legal notice has been sent over the withdrawal after an agreement and payment, and he plans to seek compensation in court with no response from the actor so far.
- Pathak recounts that Khanna informed the team by text roughly 10–12 days before the scheduled December 16 shoot and then stopped taking calls.
- He asserts the exit was not about remuneration, citing continuity concerns over the character’s look and calling the conduct unprofessional.
- The film remains slated for an October 2, 2026 theatrical release with Ajay Devgn, Tabu and the ensemble, while fans online have defended Khanna and he has not issued a rebuttal in these reports.