At the film’s trailer launch, the actor said his character was built as an entirely new addition to the franchise, not a substitute for the role Akshaye Khanna exited.
Jaideep Ahlawat has addressed comparisons to Akshaye Khanna ahead of Drishyam: The Conclusion‘s release, saying his character was never meant to fill the gap left by Khanna’s exit from the franchise.
Speaking at the trailer launch, Jaideep said that when he first heard the story, it didn’t feel like he was coming in place of Khanna. He explained that a new character was being introduced altogether, and that comparison isn’t something an actor should dwell on. His track in the film, he added, follows its own path, including a new dynamic with Meera and the Salgaonkar family, making his approach to the role entirely individual.
He also recalled that this was clear from his very first conversation with director Abhishek Pathak, saying the story never came across as one built around an existing character. His journey in the film, he said, stands on its own.
Why Khanna exited the franchise
Khanna had played IG Tarun Ahlawat in Drishyam 2 but exited Drishyam 3 after disagreements over remuneration and his look for the role, including a dispute about wearing a wig. Producer Kumar Mangat Pathak of Panorama Studios told The Times of India that Khanna left the project a day before Dhurandhar’s release, and told NDTV that Khanna’s fee had been renegotiated three times before he stopped responding to calls, leading the studio to consider a legal notice. Pathak also cited unresolved differences over the character’s hairstyle as a factor.
More from LifestyleDrishyam: The Conclusion, directed by Abhishek Pathak and backed by Star Studio18 and Panorama Studios, brings back Ajay Devgn, Tabu and Sriya Saran, with Prakash Raj and Jaideep Ahlawat joining in new roles. The film releases on October 2.
