'Drishyam 3' producers send legal notice to Akshaye Khanna after exit, bring in Jaideep Ahlawat

Film producer Kumar Mangat Pathak has stated that a legal notice has been served to actor Akshaye Khanna regarding an alleged breach of agreement related to the upcoming film Drishyam 3, following the actor's decision to opt out of the project via

 a text message.

Speaking to PTI on Saturday, Mangat Pathak stated that the makers had signed an agreement with Khanna the previous month and paid him an advance. He added that the production was subsequently impacted, prompting the team to sign actor Jaideep Ahlawat.

According to the producer, work on Drishyam 3 had been underway for nearly two years, and Khanna was fully aware of the project. He said the script was narrated to the actor, who had expressed his approval. Mangat Pathak said negotiations over Khanna’s remuneration were held on three occasions, and an agreement was signed only after both sides were satisfied, following which the signing amount was paid.

Without revealing the exact figure, Mangat Pathak said Khanna was paid the fee he had asked for, which he said was three times higher than his remuneration for

Drishyam 2.

The producer also said discussions were held regarding Khanna’s look in the film, including a disagreement over the use of a wig. He said the actor eventually agreed to the makers’ view, and the agreement was signed at Khanna’s farmhouse in Alibaug. Mangat Pathak added that Khanna had expressed confidence in the film at the time.

However, he said the actor later sent a message stating that he would not be doing the film and thereafter stopped responding to calls and messages. He added that the message was received a day or two before the release of

Dhurandhar.

Mangat Pathak said the production team issued a legal notice last week after Khanna failed to respond and did not comply with the terms of the agreement. He said the notice asked the actor to honour the contract, failing which legal proceedings would be initiated. According to the producer, there has been no response from Khanna so far.

He said filming had already begun on December 18 at YRF Studios and preparatory work on Khanna’s costumes and look had been completed. Khanna had reportedly committed dates until March. Mangat Pathak said the team incurred losses due to the actor’s exit, leaving them with no option but to recast the role.

Describing the situation as disappointing, Mangat Pathak said he had worked with Khanna earlier on Aakrosh and Section 375 and had not faced any issues in the past. "He used to be a media shy person, but today he is seen almost everywhere (on social media). We can clearly see there’s a paid campaign happening," he said, adding, it seems "the success of 'Dhurandhar' has gone to Khanna's head".

There has been no response from Khanna and his team.

Written and directed by Abhishek Pathak, Drishyam 3 is presented by Star Studio18 and produced by Alok Jain, Ajit Andhare, Kumar Mangat Pathak and Abhishek Pathak. The film stars Ajay Devgn as Vijay Salgaonkar and Tabu as Meera Deshmukh. Khanna had played IG Tarun Ahlawat in Drishyam 2. The film is scheduled for a theatrical release on October 2, 2026.

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