Akshaye Khanna EXITED Ajay Devgn, Tabu starrer ‘Drishyam 3’ over remuneration of Rs. 21 crore and a demand for hair wig - Reports

‘Drishyam 3’ is coming to theaters on October 2, 2026. The announcement excited fans, but one thing stood out: Akshaye Khanna's name was missing from the cast list. It included Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shriya Saran, and Rajat Kapoor.

Fans stunned by Akshaye Khanna's exit

Akshaye's absence shocked fans after his strong villain role in ‘Drishyam 2’ (2022). He is at a career high with ‘Dhurandhar’ and ‘Chhaava’, so everyone expected him back for part 3. Soon, reports said he quit over creative and money disagreements with the makers.

Recent hits boost his value

According to Bollywood Hungama, the development revealed that Akshaye's recent success boosted his market value, prompting him to revisit his fees. He was menacing as the villain in ‘Chhaava’ and completely stole the show in ‘Dhurandhar’. He has clearly emerged as one of the most in-demand actors at the moment. Realising this, he revised his fees and asked for Rs 21 crore for ‘Drishyam 3’. The production team attempted to reason with the actor, explaining that such a steep fee would push the film beyond its planned budget.

Wig demand adds to dispute

Reportedly, Akshaye had suggested a change in his on-screen appearance and expressed a desire to wear a wig for the role. The makers, however, were not in favour of the idea because the actor appeared without a wig in ‘Drishyam 2’, and they were keen on maintaining visual continuity. Since his demands were not met, h'e decided to walk out of ‘Drishyam 3’. He wished the makers well, and the separation happened on a positive note. The team hopes to collaborate with him again in the future when both parties are aligned.

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