Drishyam 3 Wins Big Even Without Dhurandhar Villain

Article by Kumar Published on: 6:27 pm, 3 October 2026

One of the biggest talking points around Drishyam 3 was the absence of Akshaye Khanna, who was expected to reprise his role from the previous instalments. The actor’s popularity had increased significantly after his memorable performance as the ruthless Rehman Dacoit in Durandhar.

Many fans felt his cool yet menacing portrayal of the villain was one of the blockbuster’s highlights of Dhurandhar, and his demand in Bollywood grew overnight. So naturally, Akshay Khanna was on a high, and he demanded big bucks to continue his role as a cop in the Hindi franchise Drishyam 3.

However, talks failed, and Akshay rejected the film just five days ahead of the shoot. This left the team to look for an alternative, and they eventually cast Paatal Lok fame Jaideep Ahlawat in the role.

Drishyam 3 has opened to a blockbuster talk, and the decision to replace Akshay has not hurt the film in any way. In fact, Jaideep Ahlawat has emerged as one of the film’s biggest strengths. Playing a Crime Branch officer, Jaideep gets substantial screen space and several powerful scenes in the Ajay Devgn starrer.

The Drishyam 3 team was reportedly concerned about how viewers would react to the casting change, but those fears seem to have disappeared. The film has opened to massive collections across North India as Drishyam 3 has become Ajay Devgn’s biggest opening to date.

Another major factor behind the film’s success is the way the Hindi version has been adapted. Unlike the Malayalam original, Drishyam 3 features several key changes that have connected strongly with Hindi audiences. The combination of franchise value, strong performances, and smart casting has paid off in a big way.