Akshaye Opts Out Of ‘Drishyam’

Even as the Dhurandhar wave refuses to subside, the film has claimed its first casualty — the third instalment of the popular Drishyam franchise won’t feature Akshaye Khanna.

The actor played senior cop Tarun Ahlawat in Drishyam 2, and, according to an informed source, “after Dhurandhar (where his character had negative shades) Akshaye doesn’t want to be typecast in grey/villain roles.”

The Drishyam producers even offered to hike Akshaye’s fee for Part 3, but he declined.

The makers of Border 2 have decided to bring back Akshaye’s character, Lieutenant Dharamvir Singh Bhakhri, from Border. An insider says “The decision was taken in view of his sudden popularity. J P Dutt (who directed Border and is co-producer of Border 2) shared a very close rapport with Akshaye’s father Vinod Khanna and now with Akshaye. When JP asked Akshaye to make a guest appearance in Border 2, he readily agreed.”