Akshay Khanna, Deepika Padukone, Saif Ali Khan: 7 Bollywood actors who dropped out of their hit franchises

As the 2025 calendar year concludes in India's film industry, the landscape of Bollywood franchises has undergone a significant transformation. A rising tendency of "franchise friction" has been observed in the past twelve months, challenging the long-held belief that sequels ensure employment for original casts. Pay, creative control, and a lack of visual cohesion have led to the departure of many well-known individuals.

Ranveer Singh's surprise departure from Farhan Akhtar's Don 3 was the most notable development of the year. Reportedly, the actor left in December 2025, despite being formally confirmed as the franchise's successor, for reasons including creative disputes and a substantial increase in his price, estimated at ₹30 crore, following the giant success of his film Dhurandhar. The makers reportedly have begun preliminary negotiations with Hrithik Roshan to star in the film. This departure, alongside the recent legal standoff involving Akshaye Khanna and the Drishyam production team, underscores a volatile era for star-led brands.

Why Bollywood stars are walking away from their blockbuster sequels

Take a look at the reasons behind these departures, exploring everything from the current controversies in late 2025 to the historical events that set the stage for the "replacement culture" in Hindi cinema.

Akshaye Khanna (Drishyam 3)

In December 2025, there was the most recent (and possibly the most contentious) departure. Drishyam 2 starred Akshay Khanna, who was expected to return for the third installment as IG Tarun Ahlawat. Nevertheless, the actor formally departed from the project only five days prior to the Goa schedule's scheduled start date of December 16.

ALSO READ: Drishyam 3 controversy timeline: From legal notices to Akshaye Khanna's exit and Jaideep Ahlawat joining cast; everything you need to know

A disagreement about visual continuity and an unexpected request for a fee increase were the main causes of the fallout. The events of the second half take place very soon after the events of the first; therefore, director Abhishek Pathak supposedly made Khanna stick to the same style as in the first film. The director thought that the actor’s insistence on wearing a particular wig undermined the film's reality, and this insistence became the catalyst for a bigger breakdown in communication. The production company served the actor with a legal notice after his departure. The script was reworked to introduce a new character performed by Jaideep Ahlawat, preventing a complete production standstill. The case is an unusual example of a character being completely replaced with a new entity to suit a different actor, rather than just recast.

Deepika Padukone (Kalki 2898 AD)

Deepika Padukone's absence from the next sequel to the science fiction blockbuster Kalki 2898 AD was confirmed in September 2025 by Vyjayanthi Movies. Despite the global success of the first film, negotiations for a sequel broke down midway through production.

According to sources within the industry, the departure was entirely business-related. Padukone's managers allegedly asked for a 25% rise from her prior fee, referencing her market value after a series of successes in 2024-2025. She also asked for a change to her work schedule so she could manage her parental duties as well, which would limit her to about eight hours each day. The makers considered these conditions unrealistic due to the ever-increasing VFX budget. It is becoming more difficult for producers to keep original casts when actor valuations soar between installments, as the departure of a female lead from a multi-part "cinematic universe" demonstrates.

Saif Ali Khan (Race franchise)

There have been many career highs and lows for Saif Ali Khan in his association with the Race series, which he basically has been a part of since the inception. The actor's definitive separation from Tips Films occurred in 2025, even though the studio's decision to cast Salman Khan in Race 3 (2018) was an effort to "upscale" the brand.

Saif turned down a film helmed by Sneha Taurani (daughter of producer Ramesh Taurani) earlier this year. Reportedly, the makers opted to proceed with the next Race installment without Saif as a result of this choice, leading to a "tit-for-tat" scenario. Sunny Kaushal will be leading future TIPS projects, as was announced in late 2025. This situation shows how an actor's most famous sequel parts can be ruined by a personal professional issue that happens outside of a series.

Paresh Rawal (Hera Pheri 3)

In May 2025, cult favourite Baburao Ganpatrao Apte's veteran actor Paresh Rawal announced his departure from the highly anticipated Hera Pheri 3. This departure differed from others in that it stemmed from an open legal battle with Akshay Kumar, the actor's co-star and producer.

Due to unhappiness with the final product and an absence of openness in the contract, Rawal swiftly demanded a return of his signing fee plus interest. The decision shook the industry, as people perceived the Hera Pheri name as unsustainable without the three main characters. The months of legal stance demonstrated how "seniority" and "creative integrity" are being used as bargaining chips in sequel negotiations, even if a confidential deal was achieved in November 2025, enabling Rawal to resume production.

Abhishek Bachchan (Bunty Aur Babli 2)

One needs to examine the examples given by Abhishek Bachchan to comprehend the 2025 exits. Bachchan’s absence from Bunty Aur Babli 2 (2021) remains a significant point of discussion regarding Yash Raj Films (YRF). In the 2005 original, Bachchan played the lead role; in the sequel, Saif Ali Khan replaced him. After Dhoom 3 was shot, rumours began circulating that Bachchan and YRF leader Aditya Chopra were at odds.

Sharman Joshi (Golmaal Returns)

The Golmaal series also had an example of "financial replacement" when Sharman Joshi left after the first film. Golmaal Returns (2008) featured Shreyas Talpade in place of Joshi. The actor eventually came clean about the reason behind his dismissal from the production: a sum that the producers saw as excessive considering his solo box office success. All of these instances from the past show that actors are more like parts in the "sequel economy" than the foundational pieces they formerly were.

Nushrratt Bharuccha (Dream Girl 2)

The female lead of the 2019 smash hit Dream Girl, Nushrratt Bharuccha, recently and dramatically left the film. When the sequel, Dream Girl 2, was announced and eventually released, the actor was replaced by Ananya Panday.

Commentaries like Bharuccha's about the departure brought to light an unfortunate truth of the business: sequels often replace female protagonists with "younger" or "more marketable" actors, even if the original actor contributed to the film's success in the first place. When asked why the alteration was made, Bharuccha said nobody ever explained it to her. She went on to say that sequels typically put female protagonists' "freshness" and star power ahead of their character continuity.

FAQs:

Q: Why did Akshaye Khanna leave Drishyam 3?

A: Akshaye Khanna reportedly exited the project just five days before filming was scheduled to begin in December 2025. The primary reasons cited were a creative disagreement over his physical appearance—specifically his insistence on wearing a wig that conflicted with the film’s timeline—and a last-minute demand for a fee hike following his recent box-office successes.

Q: Why did Ranveer Singh quit Don 3?

A: Ranveer Singh’s departure from the Don franchise in late 2025 was attributed to creative differences and a stalemate over remuneration. Following the massive success of his film Dhurandhar, the actor reportedly requested a fee of ₹30 crore, which exceeded the production's budget, leading to a mutual decision to part ways.

Q: Why was Deepika Padukone removed from the Kalki 2898 AD sequel?

A: Deepika Padukone’s exit in September 2025 was linked to a significant script change that reportedly reduced her role to a cameo. Additionally, reports suggested the production house was unable to meet her team's demands for a 25% fee hike and a restricted eight-hour work shift, which were deemed unfeasible for the VFX-intensive production.