The controversy around Akshaye Khanna`s abrupt exit from Drishyam 3 continues to make headlines. Now, director Abhishek Pathak has offered his version of the events. For the unversed, a few days earlier, producer Kumar Mangat Pathak publicly accused Akshaye of leaving the film at the last moment. Abhishek has now explained what went wrong and also addressed the casting rumours.
Abhishek Pathak clarifies that Jaideep Ahlawat is not replacing Akshaye Khanna in Drishyam 3
Addressing the recent rumors which suggested that Jaideep Ahlawat has stepped in as Akshaye`s replacement in the Ajay Devgn starrer, Abhishek denied the reports while speaking to Bombay Times. He clarified, “No, Jaideep is not replacing Akshaye. I`m writing a new character.”
He went on to add how Ajay Devgn, who reprises his role as Vijay Salgaonkar, did not to interfere in the matter. Abhishek says, “He (Ajay Devgn) left it to me completely. Anyway, it`s more about me, Akshaye, and the production. So, I would rather leave that aspect of how we dealt with it out.”
Recently, while speaking with ANI, producer Kumar Mangat Pathak shared that Jaideep has been cast in a new role. The producer had said, “We have cast Jaideep Ahlawat. We have added a new character. He is doing it now. He will do what Akshaye was doing, but he will come in a new form. We are presenting him in a very good way.”
Abhishek Pathak talks about Akshaye Khanna`s exit
Further talking about Akshaye’s exit, Abhishek shared, “All this happened after the contract was signed in November. He left the movie five days before it was going on the floors. The look was locked, costumes were getting made, the narration had happened, and he loved the story. “
“My film starts from the point where it (Drishyam 2) ended. I couldn`t have him in the courtroom in the afternoon, and in the evening, he comes back with hair. How is it possible? That was the point I explained and convinced him. A few days later, this came up again, and that`s when we said we would work it out,” added Abhishek.
The filmmaker dismissed rumours that the reason for the exit was money, stressing that the matter had been resolved earlier. He said, “He is putting out those rumours. I do not want to talk about the amount we eventually locked. Yes, the commercials were revisited, but we somehow worked it out and reached a figure that was mutually agreed upon. Then the contract was signed, and after that, all this drama started.”
