‘Ye Kya Tareeka Hua?’: Drishyam 3 Director Opens Up on Akshaye Khanna’s Sudden Exit

Drishyam 3 writer-director Abhishek Pathak has revealed how the film’s team dealt with a major casting change just days before production was scheduled to begin.

Akshaye Khanna reportedly exited the project seven days before the shoot, forcing the makers to quickly rework the character and find a replacement.

The third and final instalment of the Hindi Drishyam franchise had already been announced, with preparations for filming underway. While previous reports cited differences over creative matters and remuneration as reasons for Khanna’s departure, Pathak has now shared details about how the team handled the situation without pushing back the shooting schedule.

Abhishek Pathak Recalls Akshaye Khanna’s Exit

Speaking to Hindustan Times, Pathak said the sudden development did not cause panic but left the team disappointed.

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

With very little time available, Pathak decided to modify the material that had been written specifically for Khanna. Jaideep Ahlawat was subsequently approached to take over the role.

Pathak recalled asking Ahlawat whether he was prepared for a casting change or a character change. The director told him that the character itself was being altered and then shared the rewritten material with him. Ahlawat reportedly found the new role interesting.

The entire process, Pathak said, was completed in roughly five to six days.

‘We Will Do It’: Director Chose Not to Postpone Shoot

Pathak said the bigger challenge was deciding whether to continue with production on schedule.

The director recalled telling the team not to cancel the shoot and giving himself a couple of days to determine whether the changes could be managed. At that point, only seven days remained before filming was due to begin, including a scene involving Ajay Devgn.

According to Pathak, postponing the production was difficult because the film had already involved a large crew, with more than 200 people dependent on the shoot for work. The set had also been prepared and actors had committed their dates.

As a result, the filmmaker chose to rewrite the relevant portions rather than put the entire production on hold.

Drishyam 3 Release Date and Cast

Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shriya Saran and Jaideep Ahlawat are among the key cast members of Drishyam 3.

The film, billed as the third and final chapter of the Hindi franchise, is scheduled to release in theatres on October 2.