Just after reports came in of Ranveer Singh’s exit from Don 3, his Dhurandhar co-star Akshaye Khanna also has reportedly exited a project he was previously attached to. Akshaye, who played a sharp-eyed investigator in Drishyam 2, was touted to return for the third part (whose first look was recently unveiled) but now seems to have stepped out of the project.

As per a report in Bollywood Machine, Akshaye has left the film due to a combination of financial and creative disagreements with the makers.

The report also states that Akshaye had demanded a “substantial hike” in his remuneration following the massive box office success of Dhurandhar. Apart from the monetary concerns, he allegedly sought notable changes to his on-screen appearance for Drishyam 3, which reportedly led to friction during pre-production discussions. Apparently, the negotiations reached a deadlock, with neither party willing to compromise. As a result, Akshaye decided to bow out of the project.

In Dhurandhar, Akshaye plays the role of Pakistani gangster Rehman Dakait and his performance has been lauded by the viewers. His scenes from the film along with his dance on the Flipperachi song FA9LA has also gone viral on social media. Drishyam 3 will be headlined by Ajay Devgn and has locked a release date of October 2, next year.