South actor Prakash Raj has officially joined the cast of the highly anticipated Hindi thriller Drishyam 3, and he has addressed recent speculation about whether he’s stepping into the shoes of Akshaye Khanna. Raj took to social media this week to share the news of his involvement and to put an end to rumours about his role — stating clearly that he is not replacing anyone in the film.

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Taking to his X (formerly Twitter) account, Prakash Raj announced, “Started shooting for this engaging franchise #Drishyam3 in Hindi. With a wonderful team and a scintillating role to play. I’m sure you will love it. (And yes, I’m not replacing anyone..).” His message was intended to reassure fans after widespread chatter across entertainment news platforms suggesting he had been drafted in for the part vacated by Akshaye Khanna.

Akshaye Khanna, who played a pivotal role in Drishyam 2, exited Drishyam 3 shortly before filming was set to begin. Reports emerging last month described creative disagreements and remuneration negotiations that could not be reconciled, leading to his departure from the project — a development that quickly caught the attention of fans and media alike.

In response to Khanna’s departure, Drishyam 3’s producers brought in another talented actor, Jaideep Ahlawat, to join the cast. Director Abhishek Pathak later clarified that Ahlawat’s character is a new addition to the narrative, not a direct recasting of Khanna’s role. This narrative shift in casting allows the film to expand its storyline rather than simply replicate past character arcs.

The rest of the ensemble for Drishyam 3 remains robust, with returning cast members including Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shriya Saran and Rajat Kapoor reaffirming the franchise’s strong lineup. The sequel continues to follow the tense and gripping story of Vijay Salgaonkar and his family as they face fresh challenges in protecting themselves from law enforcement scrutiny.

Drishyam 3 is slated for a theatrical release on October 2, 2026, promising fans another intense chapter in one of Bollywood’s most successful suspense sagas. With Raj’s confirmation and these casting clarifications, expectations and excitement around the film are only increasing as production moves forward.