After 'Dhurandhar' Success, Akshaye Khanna exits 'Drishyam 3': Reports

Following Ranveer Singh's rumoured exit from Don 3, another Dhurandhar star — Akshaye Khanna — has pulled a similar move. According to reports, Khanna has stepped away from the cast of Drishyam 3, the much-awaited third installment in the Hindi Drishyam franchise.

Khanna essayed the role of a dogged investigator, IG Tarun Ahlawat, in Drishyam 2. The film starred Ajay Devgn in the leading role of a man at odds with the law. Tabu, Shriya Saran, Ishita Dutta and Mrunal Jadhav also featured in the cast.

While Khanna was expected to return in Drishyam 3, rumour has it that the actor has dropped off from the project due to a mix of monetary and creative differences. Online reports claim that the actor, currently basking in the success of Dhurandhar, demanded a 'substantial hike' in his fee. Furthermore, he reportedly demanded changes to his character's look in the film. As negotiations hit a roadblock, the actor decided to walk away from the project. However, an official confirmation regarding his exit is yet to arrive.

Khanna essayed the role of feared Karachi gangster Rehman Baloch in Dhurandhar. The actor's charismatic performance was hailed as one of the film's highlights, with his entry sequence in the song 'FA9LA' by Bahraini rapper Flipperachi going viral on social media. Khanna also featured in a negative role in the year's other big hit, Chhaava, playing Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. Collectively, the two films have grossed close to ₹1,800 crore at the global box office.

Drishyam 3 is scheduled to release in cinemas on October 2, 2026. Production on the film is currently underway across multiple cities, with the makers confirming that the film is being mounted on a larger scale than its predecessors. Tabu, Shriya Saran, Ishita Dutta, Mrunal Jadhav, Kamlesh Sawant, and Rajat Kapoor return alongside Ajay Devgn.