‘Drishyam 3’ controversy timeline: Legal notices, Akshaye Khanna's exit, Jaideep Ahlawat's entry- Read full story inside

The ‘Drishyam’ franchise has long connected Malayalam films' local fame to Hindi cinema's massive viewership across India. By the end of December 2025, plans for ‘Drishyam 3’ in Hindi had sparked major industry clashes instead of excitement for the next chapter. Public rows over "superstar egos" and disputes on keeping characters consistent erupted after initial whispers of clashing shoot schedules.

Controversy origin

The ‘Drishyam 3’ controversy began right after its big money success in late 2022. The first two movies had the Malayalam one out years before the Hindi copy. For this last part, both teams wanted to work together. In early 2024, Panorama Studios's owner, Kumar Mangat Pathak spoke to Jeethu Joseph and Aashirvad Cinemas. They together aimed for one story so the Malayalam version wouldn't spoil the Hindi one's ticket sales. The deal started with excitement, but arguments over who releases first grew. Joseph said Mohanlal's Malayalam film must come out in theaters two months before any remake to keep the original safe.

Akshaye Khanna’s key issue surfaces

In late 2025, during November and December, the main issue with the Hindi ‘Drishyam 3’ surfaced. The franchise's future seemed tied to Akshaye Khanna, who played the sharp IG Tarun Ahlawat in Drishyam 2. By mid-December, news broke of his confirmed exit from the project.Eventually, maker Mangat and director Abhishek Pathak spoke out about the sequence of events. The production house stated there were two perspectives in the dispute.

Akshaye Khanna’s pay and look disputes

After his big 2025 hits ‘Dhurandhar’ and ‘Chhaava’, the actor asked for more money. This made the budget go too high. Producers said his Rs. 21 crore demand was three times the old deal and too expensive for the movie. There was also a weird fight about his hair; he wanted a wig for part 3, but the director refused, citing continuity issues.

‘Dhurandhar’ success and Akshaye Khanna ghosting

On December 5, 2025, Akshaye Khanna's film ‘Dhurandhar’ hit theaters and smashed box office records. Between December 15-20, 2025, Panorama Studios and Khanna's team had tense talks, reportedly. The producer claims Khanna went ghost, ignoring calls and texts. Ajay Devgn dropped a teaser on December 22, 2025, announcing ‘Drishyam 3’ for October 2, 2026, with no sign of Khanna in the promo. In a December 28 interview, Kumar Mangat called Khanna's behavior "unprofessional" and revealed a legal notice for contract breach, citing big financial losses from the sudden exit.

New casting announced

Director Pathak said on December 29, 2025, that Jaideep Ahlawat is now in the cast. He is making a new character to replace IG Tarun Ahlawat, who will be dropped from the story or handled without showing, not a direct swap like early reports said. Now with the big fight out in the open, people talk about what it means for the film's success. Producer Mangat made strong comments, saying Khanna's recent hits made him think he was the star of ‘Drishyam’. Pathak said ‘Drishyam’ is just an "Ajay Devgn brand," and its chance to earn Rs.300 crore comes from the main hero, not the side characters, even though they matter.

Release risks ahead

Regardless, Joseph warns of lawsuits if the Hindi version is released simultaneously. He demands "Original First" as the strict rule. This puts the Hindi team in a risky spot, tied to October 2, 2026, while relying on the Malayalam film to stick to its April 2026 schedule.

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