Reports are circulating that Akshaye Khanna may not be a part of Drishyam 3, allegedly due to a disagreement over his fees. This news arrives on the heels of the tremendous success of Dhurandhar, in which Khanna starred alongside Ranveer Singh.

Dhurandhar, directed by Aditya Dhar, has become a box office phenomenon. As of December 23, 2025, the film has grossed over ₹901 crore worldwide. It has become the highest-grossing Hindi film of 2025, and the highest-grossing Indian film of 2025. Dhurandhar has also earned the distinction of being the 5th highest-grossing Hindi film of all time and the 10th highest-grossing Indian film of all time. Some critics have noted the film's lengthy runtime and depiction of India-Pakistan relations, but praised the cast performances, direction, cinematography, action sequences and music.

Khanna's possible exit from Drishyam 3 comes as a surprise to many, especially since he played a key role as IG Tarun Ahlawat in Drishyam 2. Drishyam 3 is intended to be the final chapter of the Drishyam franchise. The film is scheduled to release in theaters on October 2, 2026. Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shriya Saran, Ishita Dutta, and Mrunal Jadhav are expected to reprise their roles. Abhishek Pathak, who directed Drishyam 2, will also direct Drishyam 3.

The Drishyam franchise began with the first film in 2015, directed by Nishikant Kamat. Drishyam 1 earned ₹197 crore worldwide, while Drishyam 2 collected ₹345 crore globally.

Meanwhile, Ranveer Singh, buoyed by the success of Dhurandhar, is reportedly reconsidering his upcoming projects. Singh has apparently put Don 3 on hold and wants to work with filmmakers such as Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Lokesh Kanagaraj and Atlee. He is also reportedly keen to start his zombie film with Jai Mehta.

Whether Khanna's departure from Drishyam 3 is solely due to financial disagreements or if creative differences also played a role remains unconfirmed.