India, Sept. 24 -- Director Abhishek Pathak says Akshaye Khanna's sudden exit from "Drishyam 3" put him under immense pressure and forced the team to rewrite the character and introduce a new one just days before the shoot.

Khanna, who played IG Tarun Ahlawat in "Drishyam 2", left the third instalment of the franchise seven days before filming was scheduled to begin, according to the producers. Actor Jaideep Ahlawat was subsequently brought on board.

Pathak, who is directing, producing and writing "Drishyam 3", said the team had to completely rework the character at short notice.

"Maybe an independent director on the film would have stepped back and said, 'I can't do it, I need some time, I might have to push the shoot'. There are acto...