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

For many years, the Drishyam film series has served as a bridge between Malayalam cinema's regional popularity and India's predominantly Hindi-speaking population. The creation of Drishyam 3 (Hindi) has turned into a case study of industry friction as of late December 2025, meanwhile, rather than a widely awaited sequel. Accusations of "superstar ego" and creative differences over character continuity have emerged from the controversy's public repercussions, which started with rumours of scheduling tensions.

Evolution of remake strategy

Controversy over Drishyam 3 began soon following the film's late 2022 financial triumph. For the first two instalments, the Malayalam original came out years ahead of the Hindi remake. However, for the third and final instalments, the makers of both versions aimed for a more coordinated approach.

By early 2024, Panorama Studios, under the leadership of Kumar Mangat Pathak, initiated negotiations with the creators of the original series, Jeethu Joseph and Aashirvad Cinemas. The objective was to create a cohesive storyline so that the Hindi remake wouldn't be hampered at the box office by spoilers from the Malayalam version. Despite the initial excitement surrounding this partnership, tension over "who goes first" has since developed. To preserve the original work, Joseph insisted that the Mohanlal-starring Malayalam version must release in theatres at least two months prior to any remake.

ALSO READ: Drishyam 3 director Abhishek Pathak says Jaideep Ahlawat isn't 'replacing' Akshaye Khanna: 'Ajay Devgn left it to me completely'

Akshaye Khanna exits

In November and December of 2025, the biggest problem with the Hindi production came to light. It was thought that the continuation of the franchise would not have been possible without Akshaye Khanna, who joined it in Drishyam 2 as the perceptive IG Tarun Ahlawat. Reports revealed the actor's official withdrawal from the project by mid-December.

The aftermath was noisy. After the discussions broke down, Mangat, the producer, and Abhishek Pathak, the director, went on record to explain what happened. The production company claims there were two sides to the argument:

Financial escalation

The actor allegedly demanded a substantial increase in his salary following the huge success of his previous 2025 films, specifically Dhurandhar, a spy thriller, and Chhaava, a period drama. This led to a financial escalation. The makers asserted that Khanna's demand for a price of about ₹21 crore was three times his earlier agreement and financially untenable for the film, according to industry insiders.

Wig controversy

A strange and contentious issue was the continuity dispute, which revolved around the actor's physical appearance. For the third installment, Khanna insisted on wearing a wig, according to Pathak. The director turned it down because it would disrupt the flow of the story. The plot of Drishyam 3 is set to pick up right where the events of the second film left off. The filmmaker felt it would be logically incongruous for Khanna's character to suddenly appear with a full head of hair in the "next day" of the movie, although he is presented with a specific look at the end of Drishyam 2.

The atmosphere in the weeks leading up to the planned Goa filming was unbearable.

Impact of Dhurandhar success

On December 5, 2025, the film Dhurandhar, starring Akshaye Khanna, was released to unprecedented box office success. The actor is highly praised by critics.

Panorama Studios and Khanna's agents allegedly had unpleasant negotiations on December 15-20, 2025. According to the producer, Khanna eventually became "unreachable" and stopped answering their phone and text messages.

Drishyam 3 official teaser

In a teaser video released on December 22, 2025, Ajay Devgn formally announces the release date of Drishyam 3 as October 2, 2026. It is worth mentioning that the promotional materials do not feature Khanna.

Mangat describes Khanna's actions as "unprofessional" in a harsh interview he gives to the media on December 28, 2025. He affirms that the actor has been served with a notice of legal action for breach of contract, asserting that the production incurred financial damages as a result of the actor's last-minute departure.

Jaideep Ahlawat joins the cast

Jaideep Ahlawat has been cast, according to Pathak, who made the announcement on December 29, 2025. The filmmaker has stated that he is creating a "new character" to take the place of the IG Tarun Ahlawat character, who will either be written out or dealt with off-screen, contrary to earlier reports that suggested a direct replacement.

Now that the scandal has erupted, everyone is discussing the potential consequences of success. Mangat made some very sharp remarks in public, implying that Khanna's recent successes made him think he was the main attraction for the Drishyam franchise. According to Pathak, Drishyam is only "an Ajay Devgn brand", and the film's ₹300 crore potential is not due to the minor characters, even though they are essential.

Social media backlash

But there is a schism among internet users. Supporters of Khanna argue that the producer is running a "smear campaign" to defame an actor who has no social media presence or PR team to defend himself. Contrary to the producer's timeline, which states that success caused the rift, they point out that Khanna allegedly quit the project before his recent film became a smash.

The continuing tension between the Malayalam and Hindi creative teams runs parallel to the casting drama. Panorama Studios and Pen Studios jointly announced in mid-December 2025 that they had successfully purchased the digital and theatrical rights for the Malayalam version of Drishyam 3 on a global scale. The goal of this strategic manoeuvre was to manage the release schedule.

Legal threats

Regardless, if the Hindi version tries to release at the same time, Joseph has threatened to sue. "Original First" is the director's insisted-upon hierarchy. The Hindi production is now in a precarious position because they have committed to a release date of October 2, 2026, and they are counting on the Malayalam production to maintain their current pace and release in April 2026.

The Drishyam 3 schedule in Mumbai has been completed. The production crew's current plan involves moving to Goa, the location of much of the "Salgaonkar family" drama's filming.

Returning ensemble cast

Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shriya Saran, Rajat Kapoor, Ishita Dutta, and Mrunal Jadhav are all set to return.

On January 8, 2026, the new addition, Ahlawat, is expected to join the Goa leg. He will play the part of the new main adversary or investigator, and he is said to be a complex, intense character.

Possibility of out-of-court settlement

Khanna has not yet replied to Panorama Studios' legal notice. To prevent any additional negative publicity during filming, industry insiders have speculated that a settlement may be negotiated outside of court.

The controversy surrounding Drishyam 3 highlights the significant stakes involved in contemporary Indian franchise filmmaking. Ego clashes and financial disputes have spoilt what should have been a seamless ending to a cherished trilogy. Although many were thrilled to see Ahlawat cast because of his acting chops, many were disappointed by the public nature of the fallout with Khanna.

Future of the Salgaonkar saga

If Pathak can successfully introduce a new character while keeping the plot focused on resolving the cat-and-mouse game set up in the second section, the film's success will depend on him. The industry is eagerly awaiting the release, which is still over 10 months away, to witness if the Salgaonkar family can handle this off-screen chaos with the same level of success they have withstood the police in the movie.

Drishyam 3 FAQs:

Q: Why did Akshaye Khanna exit Drishyam 3?

A: Akshaye Khanna reportedly exited Drishyam 3 due to a combination of financial disagreements and creative friction.

Q: Who replaced Akshaye Khanna in Drishyam 3?

A: Jaideep Ahlawat has joined the cast of Drishyam 3. While he is not a direct replacement for Akshaye Khanna’s character (IG Tarun Ahlawat), director Abhishek Pathak confirmed that Jaideep will play a "new, intense character"

Q: When is Drishyam 3 (Hindi) releasing?

A: Drishyam 3 is officially scheduled for a theatrical release on October 2, 2026. This date—Gandhi Jayanti—holds significant symbolic value for the franchise, as the "October 2" alibi is a central plot point in the series.