Amid Dhurandhar success, Akshaye Khanna accused of unprofessional conduct by Section 375 team: He took an advance of Rs. 21 lakhs...

Akshaye Khanna accused of misconduct

• Akshaye Khanna accused of unprofessional conduct by Section 375 team
• He allegedly breached contract and demanded higher fees after delaying filming
• Legal notices and settlements followed disputes over his exit from Drishyam 3

Did our AI summary help?

Actor Akshaye Khanna has found himself at the centre of fresh controversy, with members of the Section 375 production team alleging difficult and unprofessional behaviour.

The spotlight on him intensified after he exited Drishyam 3, raising questions about his working relationships in the film industry.

In a detailed interview with Bollywood Hungama, Section 375 writer and initial director Manish Gupta shared the story behind the tension.

He revealed that Akshaye Khanna had signed the film and taken an advance of Rs 21 lakh, only to commit to another project, The Accidental Prime Minister, before filming could begin. “In 2017, Akshaye signed my film Section 375 with me as director-writer and Kumar Mangat as producer. His fee was fixed at Rs. 2 crores. He took an advance of Rs. 21 lakhs, and he signed a contract with us. But suddenly, he gave away the dates he’d committed to us to another movie, The Accidental Prime Minister, and he flew off to London to shoot that movie, leaving my crew waiting idle for six months!”

The disagreement escalated further after Akshaye’s departure from Drishyam 3, prompting producer Kumar Mangat Pathak to issue a legal notice.

Manish Gupta added, “After finishing that movie, Akshaye came back and started demanding Rs. 3.25 crores, instead of the Rs. 2 crores signed by him in the contract. He thus breached his contract. Akshaye’s unreasonable demands did not end here. He wanted to fully control the film and wanted everything done his way. But I am not the sort of director who gives in to the whims of any actor. I stood up to Akshaye’s unreasonable behaviour. But sadly, in Bollywood, most directors bend to every wish of the actor.”

Also Read: 'Akshaye Khanna was the school crush and the quiet storm of Lovedale', reveals West Bengal politician

Manish Gupta even considered taking legal action himself. “I warned Akshaye that I would drag him to court, and I sent two legal notices to producer Kumar Mangat. My lawyers, Naik Naik & Co., were filing a case at Bombay High Court against both of them, but Kumar Mangat promptly did an out-of-court settlement with me. Today, ironically, when producer Kumar Mangat is facing the brunt of Akshaye’s unethical behaviour in the Ajay Devgan starrer Drishyam 3, Mangat has taken legal action against Akshaye.”

While Akshaye Khanna’s acting in Dhurandhar has been widely appreciated, the focus now shifts to his off-screen behaviour. The statements from Manish Gupta and Kumar Mangat Pathak have reignited conversations about professionalism and accountability in Bollywood.