Akshaye Khanna’s sudden exit from Drishyam 3 has once again put the spotlight on the often-unspoken realities of Bollywood. The actor who was expected to reprise his role in the third instalment of the popular franchise reportedly stepped away from the project following disagreements over fees and creative decisions. The development has not only surprised fans but also revived conversations around nepotism power dynamics and artistic control in the film industry.
Fresh off the success of Dhurandhar Khanna was expected to play a key role in the Ajay Devgn-led thriller. However things reportedly took a turn during negotiations. According to the film’s producers multiple rounds of discussions were held to finalise his remuneration but no agreement could be reached. The situation became more complicated when differences also emerged over the actor’s look and character presentation in the film.

What went wrong between Akshaye Khanna and the makers?
Producer Kumar Mangat Pathak confirmed that talks were held several times but the gap between both sides remained unresolved. He also revealed that at a certain point Akshaye stopped responding to calls leaving the production team with no option but to proceed without him. The makers have since confirmed that Jaideep Ahlawat will take on the role originally intended for Khanna.
The production house has reportedly decided to move forward firmly even hinting at legal action to protect its interests. Despite the sudden change the team remains committed to sticking to the film’s timeline with Drishyam 3 still scheduled for release in 2026.

Why are Akshaye Khanna’s old comments going viral again?
Amid all this an old interview of Akshaye Khanna from 2020 has resurfaced and is now being widely shared online. In that interview the actor spoke candidly about how the industry works and didn’t shy away from calling a spade a spade. “Wanting to be an actor and getting the opportunity are two very different things” he had said adding that nepotism often plays a key role in deciding who gets a foot in the door.
His blunt statement “Nepotism works has once again struck a chord with audiences especially at a time when discussions around fairness privilege and access in Bollywood refuse to die down.

What lies ahead for the film?
With Jaideep Ahlawat now officially stepping into the project the makers are keen to put the controversy behind them and focus on completing the film. Meanwhile Akshaye Khanna has maintained silence on the issue choosing not to publicly respond to the developments.
As Drishyam 3 moves ahead and debates around nepotism resurface yet again one thing is clear: in Bollywood off-screen stories often end up being just as dramatic as the films themselves.