Arshad Warsi has spoken about Akshaye Khanna’s famously private persona amid a growing controversy around Khanna’s reported exit from Drishyam 3. In an interview with Lallantop, Warsi described Khanna as “a very serious guy” who prefers to stay “in his own world,” adding that he has never cared much about public opinion or PR.
The remarks come after Drishyam 3 producer Kumar Mangat Pathak alleged that Khanna walked out of the film shortly before shooting was due to begin. Pathak has said a legal notice was sent to the actor, claiming the exit happened about 10 days before the shoot despite an agreement being in place.
What the producer alleges
As reported, Pathak has accused Khanna of unprofessional conduct, including claims that the actor stopped responding to calls and raised last-minute demands. One such allegation relates to Khanna requesting a wig for the film—an idea the director reportedly did not accept due to continuity concerns.
Khanna has not publicly responded to the allegations in the reports cited so far.
Replacement and schedule
Following the exit, Jaideep Ahlawat has been brought in to take over the role. The film is reported to be slated for October 2, 2026, though release dates remain subject to change.
Warsi’s framing: persona, not publicity
Warsi’s comments do not address the dispute’s legal merits. Instead, they position Khanna’s detached public profile as longstanding—suggesting that silence, rather than clarification, aligns with how Khanna has historically navigated attention.
By – Manoj