‘Ye Kya Tareeka Hua?’: Drishyam 3 Director Reveals Why Akshaye Khanna Quit Days Before Shoot

Drishyam 3 writer-director Abhishek Pathak has spoken about the sudden casting change.

That forced the film’s team to rethink parts of the script just days before filming was scheduled to begin. Akshaye Khanna, who was initially associated with the third instalment, exited the project only seven days before the shoot.

The Hindi franchise had already been announced as its third and final chapter, and preparations for production were underway when Khanna’s departure created an unexpected challenge. Earlier reports had attributed his exit to differences over creative matters and remuneration. Pathak has now recalled how the team chose to continue with the planned schedule instead of delaying production.

‘Ye Kya Tareeka Hua?’: Pathak Recalls Akshaye Khanna Exit

In an interview with Hindustan Times, Abhishek Pathak said the development did not lead to panic within the team, but it was certainly disappointing.

“I won’t say panic, but we were not happy with the whole idea. I thought, ‘Ye kya tareeka hua (What is this)?’” Pathak recalled.

The filmmaker subsequently rewrote the portions that had been specifically developed for Khanna’s character. Jaideep Ahlawat was then brought into the project as his replacement.

Pathak said the casting change happened within a matter of days. He recalled contacting Ahlawat and asking whether he would be comfortable with a casting change or a change in character. After telling him that the character itself was being reworked, Pathak shared the revised material with the actor, who reportedly found the role interesting.

According to the director, the entire process of bringing Ahlawat on board and restructuring the material was completed in around five to six days.

Why Drishyam 3 Shoot Was Not Delayed

Pathak said the most difficult decision was to proceed with the shoot despite the sudden change.

He recalled telling the team not to cancel the production plans and instead give him a few days to work out a solution. The filmmaker had only seven days before the scheduled shoot, including a scene involving the character and Ajay Devgn.

Pathak explained that postponing production would have had consequences for the large crew working on the film. With the set already prepared and actors’ dates locked, delaying the schedule could have disrupted the commitments of both the cast and crew.

The director therefore decided to rewrite the relevant portions and continue with the production as planned.

Drishyam 3 Cast and Release Date

The third instalment of the Hindi Drishyam franchise features Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shriya Saran and Jaideep Ahlawat in key roles.

The film is scheduled to release in theatres on October 2.