In a significant development within the Bollywood industry, filmmaker Manish Gupta has publicly criticised actor Akshaye Khanna, accusing him of unprofessional conduct. This comes amidst the ongoing legal tussle between Khanna and producer Kumar Mangat concerning the actor's exit from the upcoming film 'Drishyam 3'. Gupta's allegations, however, stem from a previous collaboration on the 2019 crime-thriller 'Section 375'.
The 'Section 375' Dispute: Dates, Delays, and Demands
Manish Gupta, who served as the director and writer for 'Section 375', shared a detailed account of events dating back to 2017. He stated that Akshaye Khanna had been signed for the film with a fixed fee of Rs 2 crores. Khanna allegedly took an advance of Rs 21 lakhs and signed a contract. However, Gupta claims the actor suddenly gave away the dates committed to 'Section 375' to another project, 'The Accidental Prime Minister', and flew to London for its shoot.
This move reportedly left Gupta and his production crew waiting idle for a period of six months. Upon his return, Gupta alleges that Khanna sought to renegotiate his remuneration, demanding a significantly increased fee of Rs 3.25 crores. The filmmaker further accused Khanna of wanting to exert full creative control over the project, insisting everything be done his way.
Removal and Legal Repercussions
As tensions escalated, Manish Gupta claims he stood his ground against the actor's demands. The situation culminated with producer Kumar Mangat removing Gupta from the director's chair, replacing him with Ajay Bahl. Gupta expressed his dismay, alleging that Mangat made him a scapegoat instead of addressing the actor's behaviour.
He also accused the producer of seizing his fully-written bound script and the hard drive containing three years of pre-production work. Gupta later threatened legal action, which led to an out-of-court settlement. As part of this settlement, he was granted the sole writer's credit for 'Section 375'.
Gupta pointedly noted the irony in the current situation, where producer Kumar Mangat is now facing similar issues with Khanna on 'Drishyam 3' and has initiated legal proceedings against the actor.
Praise Amidst Criticism
Despite the serious allegations regarding Khanna's professional ethics, Manish Gupta was careful to separate the artist from his actions. He insisted that Akshaye Khanna is a brilliant actor and acknowledged that 'Section 375' served as a notable comeback film for Khanna after a long period away from the spotlight. Gupta clarified that his criticism was solely aimed at the actor's alleged lack of professional integrity, not his talent or performance in the film.
This revelation adds a new layer to the ongoing narrative surrounding Akshaye Khanna's professional relationships and highlights recurring conflicts between actors and filmmakers over commitments and creative control in the Indian film industry.
