Mumbai: Following reports of Akshaye Khanna’s sudden exit from ‘Drishyam 3’ over inadequate renumeration, producer Kumar Mangat Pathak has finally broken his silence.
In a conversation with HT City, the producer revealed that renumeration was never an issue with the actor, and he was being paid as per his demands.
However, after the success of ‘Dhurandhar’, Akshaye apparently became quite arrogant and demanding.
The producer further disclosed that the actor wanted hair on his bald head for his character in ‘Drishyam 3’, which director Abhishek Pathak was not comfortable with as it’s a continuation of the sequel.
“We had signed him for the fees he asked for. We had even given money to the costume designers and they had begun work on his look. One fine day, and this is before Dhurandhar’s release, Akshaye said he wanted his character (who was bald) to have hair because people had praised his look. Abhishek (Pathak, director of Drishyam 3) said it’s not possible because the threequel of Drishyam begins from the same night as the second installment, 6 ghante ke gap mein toh baal nahi aa sakte (hair cannot regrow within 6 hours). He had agreed then, we have everything on record,” the producer was quoted as saying by HT.
Adding that people close to the actor might have influenced him, the producer added, “Aas paas ke chamchon ne dimaag mein daal diya uske, ki Dhurandhar ka look aapka achha laga, ab se aap ussi look mein kaam karo, Aise thodi hota hai! Har film ka look alag hota hai (Flatters around him might have influenced him saying his look in Dhurandhar was too good and he should do films in the same look. But how is that possible!) What happens is sometimes, a side actor is cast in an ensemble. And when the film works, he/she thinks the film worked because of them. But a lot of people contribute to making a film a hit. When I had made Section 375 (2019) with Akshaye, he had no work for four years. And I had told him, that after Drishyam 2, roles will be written for him. We were such good friends, he would come to our office every month and have food with us. Achanak success sar pe chadh gayi (Suddenly, he became arrogant.)”
The producer alleged that just a day before ‘Dhurandhar’ release on December 5, the actor messaged him saying he is walking out of the film.
“He didn’t give any reason, neither did he answer calls. It’s his habit- when he doesn’t want to talk, he won’t take calls. When he is in need, then he will call you 20 times,” Kumar said.
Talking about replacing Akshaye with Jaideep Ahlawat in ‘Drishyam 3’, the producer said, “He’s a better actor. The character has been tweaked by Abhishek a little.”
Kumar also stated that the filmmakers suffered huge loss because of Akshaye’s sudden exit and hence, a legal notice has been sent to the actor.
“Voh set tod diya, ab set dobara lagega, baaki shoot Jaideep ke saath karenge (We have dismantled the previous set. Now, a new set will be set up. The remaining shoot for the film will be done with Jaideep.) I will definitely take compensation from Akshaye for this. It’s not easy, that you commit for a film, take money and then leave. I have suffered losses because of his behaviour. I am going to take legal action. I have already sent him a legal notice; he’s yet to reply to it,” he said.
Asserting that he will never again work with Akshaye, Kumar said, “Even if he wants to return to the film now, we won’t work with him. Na kabhi dobara kaam karna hai, iss tarah ke behaviour ke baad (I will never work with Akshaye after this kind of behaviour).”
