Akshaye Khanna Exits Drishyam 3 Over ₹21 Crore Fee and Wig Demand, Report Claims
Akshaye Khanna Exits Drishyam 3 Over ₹21 Crore Fee and Wig Demand, Report Claims
Akshaye Khanna is currently riding a high wave in his career. After delivering striking performances in Chhaava and Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar, the actor has once again become a major talking point among film audiences. His portrayal of the Lyari gangster Rehman Baloch, combined with his powerful screen presence and unexpected viral dance moment on FA9LA, has only added to his renewed popularity.
Amid this career resurgence, reports have now emerged suggesting that Akshaye Khanna has exited Ajay Devgn and Tabu’s much-awaited Drishyam 3. While early speculation hinted at creative dissatisfaction, newer reports claim the real reasons were related to remuneration and certain creative disagreements.
According to a Bollywood Hungama report, a source close to the development revealed that Akshaye reassessed his fee after back-to-back successes. The source was quoted as saying, “After being widely praised for his performances in Chhaava and Dhurandhar, Akshaye felt he had become a major crowd-puller. Keeping that in mind, he revised his fees and asked the makers of Drishyam 3 for Rs 21 crore.”
The same source further stated that the producers were caught off guard by the amount. “The makers tried to explain that paying such a high fee would stretch the film’s budget beyond limits,” the source reportedly said, adding that Akshaye believed his demand was fair because his presence significantly increased the film’s buzz and audience anticipation.
As per the report, discussions continued for some time, but neither side was willing to compromise. Eventually, the negotiations failed, leading to Akshaye’s exit from the project.
Another report quoted an additional insider who revealed that money was not the only point of disagreement. According to the source, “One of the creative issues was Akshaye’s request to wear a wig for the film. The makers were uncomfortable with this suggestion, especially since he did not wear a wig in Drishyam 2.”
With multiple differences remaining unresolved, the actor reportedly decided to step away from the project. However, the separation was said to be cordial. One insider was quoted as saying, “The parting happened on a positive note, and both sides have expressed interest in working together again in the future if they find common ground.”
Akshaye Khanna became part of the Drishyam franchise in 2022 when he joined Drishyam 2 as IG Tarun Ahlawat. His character played a crucial role alongside Tabu’s IG Meera Deshmukh in the ongoing pursuit of Vijay Salgaonkar, played by Ajay Devgn, who is accused of killing Meera’s son.
Meanwhile, reports have also hinted at another development involving Dhurandhar. Akshaye’s co-star Ranveer Singh is reportedly no longer associated with Farhan Akhtar’s ambitious project Don 3, though no official confirmation has been made regarding this either.
As of now, neither Akshaye Khanna nor the makers of Drishyam 3 have released an official statement confirming or denying these reports. On the work front, Akshaye is expected to make his Telugu debut with Mahakali, marking a new milestone in his career.
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