# Abhishek Pathak reveals how Drishyam 3 handled Akshaye Khanna exit

2026-09-21T11:07:22+00:00 | Entertainment | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 3 independent outlets

Akshaye Khanna quit Drishyam: The Conclusion just seven days before filming began, director Abhishek Pathak has disclosed. The team had to replace the actor and rewrite parts of the script in less than a week to keep the October 2, 2026 release date. Jaideep Ahlawat was cast as a new character, Rajveer Singh Tomar, rather than filling Khanna's role. Pathak told Hindustan Times he chose not to delay the shoot because sets were built and more than 200 crew members had locked their dates. The film's trailer launched in Goa and drew praise from Mohanlal, who stars in the original Malayalam Drishyam series. Bollywood Hungama reported Pathak said the franchise ends with this film, hence the title change from Drishyam 3 to Drishyam The Conclusion.

## Indian Opinion Analysis

Bollywood Hungama's exclusive sits the director as a creative voice explaining his own choices. Hindustan Times and Times Now lead instead with a behind-the-scenes crisis: Akshaye Khanna quitting seven days before shoot. The trade outlet omits that disruption entirely, framing the film as a smooth authorial vision. The crisis reportage includes the direct quote 'Ye kya tareeka hua' and the claim 200 crew members could not be cancelled. What neither emphasises is whether Jaideep Ahlawat's last-minute recasting affected the final film. The box office and the Malyalam version comparisons, which the Bollywood Hungama piece treats at length, are absent from the crisis-led versions. The film releases on October 2, 2026.

## Coverage

- bollywoodhungama.com (neutral report) <https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/exclusive-abhishek-pathak-explains-why-drishyam-3-was-retitled-drishyam-the-conclusion-reveals-mohanlal-called-ajay-devgn-after-trailer-launch-he-really-liked-the-trailer-well-s/>
  Exclusive interview leading director's creative framing, omitting the cast crisis entirely
- hindustantimes.com (neutral report) <https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/abhishek-pathak-recalls-drishyam-3-race-against-time-akshaye-khanna-quit-7-days-before-shoot-jaideep-ahlawat-ajay-devgn-101789976729607.html>
  Leads with the crisis and keeps director's explanation of the decision
- timesnownews.com (neutral report) <https://www.timesnownews.com/entertainment-news/bollywood/abhishek-pathak-reveals-drishyam-3-team-was-unhappy-with-akshaye-khanna-quitting-at-last-moment-article-156198646>
  Picks up the crisis angle from HT with similar framing

Tags: Abhishek Pathak, Ajay Devgn, Akshaye Khanna, Drishyam: The Conclusion, Jaideep Ahlawat, Mohanlal
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