Akshaye Khanna begins Telugu debut Mahakali shoot amid Drishyam 3 fallout

akskaye khaana in mahakali

• Akshaye Khanna joins Telugu film Mahakali, marking his debut in Telugu cinema
• Khanna exited Drishyam 3 over creative differences and remuneration issues
• "Mahakali" joins Prashanth Varma Cinematic Universe, out early 2026.

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Bollywood actor Akshaye Khanna has moved quickly to shift the spotlight onto his upcoming projects following news of his controversial exit from Drishyam 3. The actor, currently riding a wave of acclaim for his performance in the spy-action hit Dhurandhar, has officially joined the sets of the Telugu mythological epic Mahakali, marking his debut in Telugu cinema.

Mahakali stars Bhoomi Shetty in the title role and is part of the Prashanth Varma Cinematic Universe (PVCU) — a growing superhero-mythology franchise in South Indian cinema. Last year, the filmmakers released a first-look poster unveiling Khanna in the role of Shukracharya, a key mythological figure. The film is being positioned as a major genre project and is expected to be released in early 2026

Director Puja Kolluru recently shared behind-the-scenes photos from the Mahakali set, including a year-end Instagram post featuring herself and Khanna smiling together — indirectly confirming his active involvement in the shoot. According to industry insiders, the Mahakali opportunity represents a significant expansion of Khanna’s cinematic footprint, taking him beyond Bollywood and into pan-Indian audiences.

Khanna’s presence on Mahakali comes amid ongoing discussions in the film world about his sudden departure from Drishyam 3. The third instalment of the popular thriller franchise was widely expected to bring back Khanna after his role in Drishyam 2, but he exited the project just weeks before production began. Drishyam 3’s makers publicly addressed the situation, citing creative differences over continuity and character look, including disagreements around Khanna’s appearance and the use of a wig, as well as remuneration negotiations. They have since clarified that Jaideep Ahlawat will join the film in a newly written role rather than directly replace Khanna.

Also read: Akshaye Khanna quits Drishyam 3 days before Dhurandhar release, revealed producer

Despite the controversy, Akshaye continues to garner praise for his recent work, and Mahakali is widely anticipated as his next major milestone — one that could significantly raise his profile in Indian cinema beyond the Hindi language market.