Akshaye Khanna Exits Ajay Devgn’s ‘Drishyam 3’; Jaideep Ahlawat Joins Cast

In a surprising development, Akshaye Khanna has reportedly stepped away from Ajay Devgn’s upcoming thriller Drishyam 3, with Jaideep Ahlawat set to replace him in a pivotal role. The film is scheduled to go on floors in January 2026.

Akshaye Khanna has been dominating social media conversations following the release of Dhurandhar, with clips of his viral dance sequence to Flipperachi’s FA9LA repeatedly resurfacing online. Amid growing curiosity about his next project, reports emerged suggesting his exit from the Drishyam franchise.

According to Pinkvilla, Jaideep Ahlawat has now joined the cast of Drishyam 3. A source told the portal, “Jaideep will begin shooting for ‘Drishyam 3’ in January 2026. He has been roped in for a pivotal and extremely exciting role that will add a new twist to the story.”

Ajay Devgn will reprise his role as Vijay Salgaonkar, while Tabu returns as IG Meera Deshmukh. The film will be directed by Abhishek Pathak, who also helmed Drishyam 2. The third instalment is expected to serve as the concluding chapter of the popular thriller franchise.

Reports by Bollywood Machine suggest that Akshaye Khanna’s exit stemmed from disagreements over remuneration and creative direction. The actor reportedly sought a fee hike following the success of Dhurandhar and also requested significant changes to his on-screen appearance, which led to differences with the makers.

Akshaye Khanna played IG Tarun Ahlawat in Drishyam 2, a character that became a key antagonist in the franchise’s narrative.

The Drishyam series is known for its slow-burn tension and layered storytelling. Drishyam 3 is expected to bring Vijay Salgaonkar’s long-running battle with the law to a decisive end, with one final plan determining the fate of his family. The film has been described as the “aakhri hissa” of Vijay’s story.

The returning cast reportedly includes Shriya Saran as Nandini Salgaonkar, Ishita Dutta as Anju Salgaonkar, and Rajat Kapoor as Mahesh Deshmukh.

Drishyam 3 is currently slated for a theatrical release on October 2, 2026.