Drishyam 3 director Abhishek Pathak challenges Akshaye Khanna to helm a film solo after his controversial exit

Akshaye Khanna, Abhishek Pathak and Ajay Devgn

Bollywood star Akshaye Khanna recently made waves when Drishyam 3 producer Kumar Mangat Pathak criticized him for leaving the movie even though he had a contract. In response to Akshaye's abrupt departure, the film's director, Abhishek Pathak, challenged him to try making a solo movie and revealed Ajay Devgn's reaction.

Abhishek Pathak opens up about Akshaye Khanna's exit

Abhishek Pathak got candid about the situation to ETimes, "He (Ajay) left it to me completely. Anyway, it's more about me, Akshaye and the production. So, I would rather leave that aspect of how we dealt with it out. All this happened after the contract was signed in November. He left the movie five days before it was going on the floors. The look was locked, costumes were getting made, the narration had happened, and he loved the story."

The director also disclosed that Akshaye quit the movie the day before Dhurandhar was released, and that the actor's insistence on donning a wig was the initial point of contention. According to Abhishek, Akshaye's character could not wear a wig in the third installment because the movie picks up where the last one left off. He revealed that he spoke with the actor about the matter and was able to persuade him at first, but the demand reappeared a few days later. Akshaye subsequently left the project, despite Abhishek's assurances that the issue would be resolved.

Abhishek Pathak challenges Akshaye Khanna to do a solo film

Additionally, Abhishek denied that Akshaye received Rs 21 crore for the movie, saying that the actor was the one spreading the rumours. He said that "all the drama started" only after the contract was signed, but he refused to provide the exact sum at which Akshaye was signed.

Abhishek further went to share his perspective on Akshaye Khanna's decision to quit the film, "I think it's just that people around him started telling him that he'll become a superstar and he should now look at something which is all about him. So, I wish him all the best, and would say - try to do a solo film now. When he doesn't have an answer, then he doesn't know what to say. That's something very stupid because we have known each other for a very long time. I stopped (trying to resolve the issue) because I thought there's no point talking to this person right now, he's on some other planet," he said.

Dhurandhar's enormous movie office success coincides with all of this. Aditya Dhar's spy thriller is making ripples and doesn't seem to be slowing down. In just 22 days, the movie broke into the Rs 1,000 crore club and is still doing very well. Akshaye plays gangster Rehman Dakait in the movie, and his acting has won praise from many. Fans have praised his appearance and on-screen persona, and his quick dance to the Fa9La song has also gone viral. Ranveer Singh, R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, and Sanjay Dutt also play significant parts in the movie. The release date of the second section is set for March 19, 2026.