Section 375 Writer Manish Gupta Blasts Akshaye Khanna For Unprofessional Behaviour

Following Kumar Mangat Pathak’s legal notice to Akshaye Khanna, writer Manish Gupta reveals how the actor allegedly orchestrated his removal as Director from the 2019 courtroom drama.

December 31, 2025: The ongoing firestorm surrounding Akshaye Khanna’s abrupt exit from Drishyam 3 has opened a “Pandora’s Box” of past grievances.

On Wednesday, December 31, 2025, writer-director Manish Gupta—the creative force behind the critically acclaimed Section 375—spoke out, detailing a “despicable” pattern of behavior by the actor.

The controversy began when producer Kumar Mangat Pathak sent a legal notice to Akshaye for walking out of the Ajay Devgn-starrer just days before the shoot. Now, Gupta has revealed that the producer is essentially “reaping what he sowed” after siding with the actor years ago.

The “Section 375” Fallout: A Timeline of Allegations

According to Manish Gupta, the production of Section 375 was marred by Akshaye’s “unreasonable” demands and “dirty politics”:

• The Breach: In 2017, Akshaye signed the film for ₹2 crore and took an advance of ₹21 lakh. However, he reportedly gave those dates to The Accidental Prime Minister and flew to London, leaving the Section 375 crew idle for six months.
• The Fee Hike: Upon his return, Gupta alleges Akshaye demanded ₹3.25 crore, breaching his signed contract.
• The Ouster: Gupta, who had spent three years researching the script and attending 160 court hearings, was allegedly removed as director because Akshaye found him too “authoritarian.”
• The “Scapegoat”: Gupta claims producer Kumar Mangat succumbed to Akshaye’s pressure, seizing Gupta’s hard drives and pre-production work, eventually giving the directorial credit to Ajay Bahl.

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“He is a Puppet-Master”

In a scathing assessment of the actor’s work ethic, Gupta didn’t hold back:

“Akshaye is no doubt a brilliant actor, but there is a difference between being a good actor and a good person. He is the most difficult person I have ever worked with—whimsical, lazy, and disrespectful. He wants a puppet for a director.”

The Current Status of Drishyam 3

While Akshaye Khanna is currently riding a wave of massive success for his role as Rehman Dakait in the blockbuster Dhurandhar (₹1,100+ crore), his professional reputation in the industry is taking a hit.

Detail	Latest Update
Replacement	Jaideep Ahlawat has officially joined the cast of Drishyam 3.
Legal Status	Kumar Mangat has issued a legal notice for breach of agreement and “loss of resources.”
Makers’ Take	Director Abhishek Pathak stated they are moving forward with a “better actor and a better person.”
Akshaye’s Side	The actor has reportedly stopped taking calls from the production house and is yet to issue a statement.