Last year, when Akshaye Khanna opted out of director Abhishek Pathak's *Drishyam 3*, it became a major talking point in the film industry. Now, actor Jaideep Ahlawat has stepped in to replace him in Ajay Devgn's upcoming film, *Drishyam 3*.

The makers launched the *Drishyam 3* trailer on Wednesday, hosting a special event in Goa where Jaideep shared his thoughts on replacing Akshaye Khanna.

**What Jaideep Ahlawat said about replacing Akshaye Khanna**
When asked about replacing Akshaye Khanna in the Ajay Devgn-starrer *Drishyam 3*, Jaideep Ahlawat gave a straightforward response: "It isn't right to link this role to that one. This is a distinct character, a new addition to the story. He is entering the narrative involving Meera Deshmukh and the Salgaonkar family for the first time. Abhishek has written this character with great depth; meticulous attention has been paid to his look and mannerisms."

It is worth noting that in *Drishyam: The Conclusion*, Jaideep Ahlawat will appear as SP Rajveer Singh Tomar, a Crime Branch officer. At the trailer launch, Ajay Devgn explained that Jaideep's character enters the story because the local police failed to solve the Vijay Salgaonkar case, leading to the responsibility being handed over to the Crime Branch.

In *Drishyam 2*, Akshaye Khanna played the role of IPS officer Tarun Ahlawat—a performance well-received by audiences. The makers had initially planned the third installment with him in mind. However, following the success of the film *Dhurandhar*, he backed out of his contract for *Drishyam 3*, and Jaideep Ahlawat was subsequently cast in a different role.

**The *Drishyam 3* trailer is gripping**
A look at the *Drishyam 3* trailer reveals that the suspense and thrill levels are significantly higher this time compared to the first two installments. Seeing this, fans' excitement for this Ajay Devgn movie has soared. It is worth noting that *Drishyam 3* is set to be released in theaters on October 2, 2026.

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