Akshaye Khanna has found himself in the middle of the spotlight, but this time due to accusations that were made by Drishyam 3 director Kumar Mangat. The producer claims that the actor was responsible for leaving the film abruptly, only days before the shoot despite accepting the advance amount. When these allegations made the news an earlier dispute relating to Section 375 resurfaced, prompting the director-writer of the film Manish Gupta to finally reveal his story.

In a conversation in an interview with Bollywood Hungama, Manish Gupta discussed the events that occurred in Section 375, a courtroom drama which was released in the year 2019 and described what he saw as a lengthy and troubling professional experience that involved Akshaye Khanna as well as director Kumar Mangat.

The Beginning of Section 375

Based on Manish Gupta, the movie Section 375 was conceived in 2017 with him involved as the director and writer. Akshaye Khanna was enlisted to play the lead part, while Kumar Mangat came on board as the producer. Manish declared that the entire contract was made clear from the beginning.

He said that Akshaye Khanna’s salary was set at Rs 2 crore, and that the actor was paid an upfront payment amounting to 21 lakh upon signing an official contract. With the dates set, preparations for the production done, and the cast put together the film was scheduled to go ahead according to the schedule.

But, Manish alleged that things changed in a sudden manner when Akshaye chose to put a higher priority on an additional project.

Alleged Date Conflict and Shoot Delay

Manish Gupta said that Akshaye Khanna was able to allot the dates he’d set for Section 375 to another film, The Accidental Prime Minister. According to Gupta, Akshaye then flew to London to shoot the film which left his Section Team 375 in uncertainty.

The director claimed this move caused huge disruption. The crew and cast claimed to have been waiting for six months, as the film was unable to advance without the leading actor.

Manish insists that this delay was not a mere scheduling issue, but rather a major breach of contract that affected the whole production. The extended stoppage did not only affect finances but also morale, the planning process, and even the momentum.

Fee Dispute and Contract Allegations

After having completed his filming abroad, Akshaye Khanna reportedly returned to India and demanded a renegotiated amount, according to Manish Gupta. Director Manish Gupta claimed that the actor requested the sum of 3.25 crore, which was significantly more than the initial agreed-upon Rs 2 crore stipulated in the contract that was signed.

Manish said that the demand was an obvious breach of contract, and said that the actor’s conduct became increasingly challenging as time went on. He claimed that Akshaye began to push for greater authority over films, which went beyond his acting duties.

According to Manish, Akshaye wanted major creative decisions to be based on his personal preferences, which included elements normally handled by the director. Manish declared that he was not willing to give up this authority.

“I am not the kind of director who gives in to the whims of an actor,” said he added, adding that directors in the field find themselves under pressure to meet actor demands to keep projects on the right track.

Power Struggle on Set

As tensions increased, Manish Gupta claimed the incident turned into an argument over power. He claimed that Akshaye Khanna was not comfortable receiving instructions from what he claimed to be an assertive and strong-willed director, and started contacting director Kumar Mangat to remove him from the film.

Manish said that Akshaye was seeking full control over the film and wished to completely replace the director. Instead of addressing or mediating the issue of what Manish described as the actor’s erratic behaviour, he claimed that the producer was in the same boat as the actor.

According to Manish, he was abruptly dismissed as Director in Section 375. Manish also stated that his complete script and hard drive that contained three years of work in preparation for production were taken without his permission.

He said that this was among the most difficult moments in his career.

Legal Notices and Settlement

After his dismissal, Manish Gupta said he took the decision to take legal action. He said he was warned by Akshaye Khanna about court proceedings and issued two notices of legality to the director Kumar Mangat through his lawyers, Naik Naik & Co.

Manish said that preparations were in progress to file a lawsuit before the Bombay High Court against both the actor and producer. However, before the case was able to go to court, Kumar Mangat reportedly opted to settle it out of court.

Although Manish did not reveal details regarding the agreement, he said that the legal proceedings gave an end to the issue despite the fact that the emotional and professional harm had already been dealt with.

Irony in the Current Controversy

Manish Gupta likewise pointed out the ironic turn of events. He said Kumar Mangat, who had previously taken him off Section 375 He is now experiencing similar problems with Akshaye Khanna in Drishyam 3.

According to reports from recent times, Kumar Mangat has taken legal action against Akshaye accusing him of unprofessional conduct and professional misconduct in connection with this Ajay Devgn-starrer. Manish claimed that the present controversy is similar to what he was through a few years ago.

He said that the problems that are now being exposed were not isolated incidents, but the result of a pattern of behavior that he attempted to expose earlier.

Industry Power Dynamics

When describing his experiences, Manish Gupta also spoke generally about the dynamics of power within the Hindi film industry. Manish expressed his displeasure at the way creative professionals, especially directors and writers are often left out to be a part of the star cast.

He suggested that many producers opt for commercial security over ethical accountability, allowing powerful actors to dictate the terms without regard to professionalism and fairness.

Manish said that protesting against these kinds of behaviour comes with cost, but he also said that silence will only allow it to continue.

No Response From Akshaye Khanna

At present, Akshaye Khanna has not publicly addressed Manish Gupta’s claims about Section 375. In the same way, no official statement has been made public regarding specific allegations related to breach of contract and fee disputes. creative control.

The recent resurfacing of this debate has led to debates within fan circles as well as within the industry and fans, where many debate professionalism, accountability and the power balance in film productions.

Closing Thoughts

Manish Gupta concluded his remarks by saying that even though the time is passing, the event has remained with him. He said that the reason he was expressing his opinion today was not revenge but to gain clarity.

Multiple disputes with the same actor becoming public knowledge his comments add another layer to the already complicated story. The extent to which these revelations will lead to larger discussions or changes to the industry is yet to be determined.

The controversy continues to play out and keep Akshaye Khanna Kumar Mangat, and the legacy of Section 375 firmly in the spotlight.