Bollywood’s 2026 release calendar has been shaped as much by the people who walked away as by the films that actually made it to the screen. Directors, lead actors and even whole creative teams have stepped off projects at different stages, from early script readings to just days before a shoot was set to begin. The reasons range from polite creative disagreements to a public legal fight that pulled in India’s film workers’ unions.
Here is a full breakdown of the exits that kept making headlines this year, what each side said, and where every project stands now.
When a director leaves a franchise film
Amit Rai is no longer attached to the third film in the OMG franchise, tentatively titled Oh My Goddess. Reports on November 3, 2026 said the director and the producers decided to part ways after a long stretch of creative disagreements.
The differences were not only about the script. Reports said the casting of the lead actor and the planned release strategy also became sticking points during development. The makers are now looking to move ahead without Rai and could bring another director on board.
There has been no official statement from Rai or the producers about the reported split.
Rani Mukerji stepped away first
The OMG 3 trouble did not start with Rai. Reports in March 2026 said Rani Mukerji had exited Oh My Goddess after creative differences with the director.
A source quoted in the coverage claimed the actress had a very specific way of looking at the script, and that her suggestions eventually turned into what the source called an intrusion. Mukerji was reportedly in talks to reunite with Akshay Kumar for the film, but that pairing never materialised.
With both the lead actress and the director gone, the third OMG film is now without a confirmed cast or a confirmed release plan.
Priyadarshan’s double exit
Veteran filmmaker Priyadarshan walked away from two sequels this year, and both exits were confirmed by him directly.
The bigger one is Hera Pheri 3. The director confirmed in July 2026 that he was no longer part of the film, which was meant to bring Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty and Paresh Rawal back together.
“I am not doing it. I have decided not to do any sequel.”
That is what Priyadarshan told Variety India when asked about Malamaal Weekly 2. The same decision applied to Hera Pheri 3, where he had earlier agreed to return only because the three lead actors personally requested him to direct.
Hera Pheri 3 and the producer problem
Priyadarshan did not hold back about why he left Hera Pheri 3. He claimed he was publicly insulted by producer Firoz A. Nadiadwala, despite having directed the original Hera Pheri in 2000.
“He has insulted me so many times. He told me that my cut of Hera Pheri looked like a ‘poor man’s version’ and that he had to edit my five-hour movie.”
The director also said the project was tangled in legal issues and personal conflicts, and that he did not believe the film would ever release.
“According to me, Hera Pheri was born…”
That line, from the same interview, summed up his view that the franchise’s original spirit had been lost.
A new team for Malamaal Weekly 2
The Malamaal Weekly sequel is moving ahead without Priyadarshan and without lead actor Riteish Deshmukh.
Priyadarshan confirmed his exit to Variety India, and a source quoted in the report said Deshmukh had also parted ways with the project. Filmmaker Amit Joshi, who co-directed Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya, has come on board to direct.
The new cast is already taking shape. Raveena Tandon and Parineeti Chopra have joined, with Fardeen Khan and Mahesh Manjrekar also reportedly on board. Esha Deol is set to make her comeback with the film. Filming is expected to begin in November 2026.
The sequel is expected to keep the small-town setting and the comic misunderstandings of the 2006 original, but with a fresh story.
Deepika Padukone’s two South film exits
Deepika Padukone stepped away from two big Telugu-language projects in less than a year, and both exits became talking points online.
The first was Spirit, directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga and starring Prabhas. Producer Pranay Reddy Vanga later said talks with Padukone went on for nearly 18 months, with the director keen to cast her.
The producer claimed Padukone asked for 10 per cent of the film’s profits on top of her fee, and the makers felt the terms did not fit the project’s budget. Her reported request for a fixed eight-hour workday also became a major part of the discussion.
“I am not doing it. I have decided not to do any sequel.”
That quote belongs to Priyadarshan, but the same spirit of walking away applied to Padukone’s second exit. Her reported demand for a fixed eight-hour workday had dominated the discussion around Spirit, and the producer said remuneration and scheduling disagreements also played a role.
Triptii Dimri was brought in as the female lead opposite Prabhas. Spirit was first set for March 5, 2027, but the makers later moved it to October 29, 2027, for a Diwali release.
What the Kalki makers said
The second exit was Kalki 2898 AD Part 2. On September 18, 2025, production house Vyjayanthi Movies posted a statement on social media confirming that Padukone would not return as Sumathi.
“After careful consideration, we have decided to part ways. Despite the long journey of making the first film, we were unable to find a partnership. And a film like Kalki 2898 AD deserves that commitment and much more. We wish her the best with her future works.”
That was the full statement from Vyjayanthi Movies. The wording suggested the makers wanted someone who could give more time to the project.
Director Nag Ashwin later said Padukone’s character would not be recast in the sequel. The first Kalki 2898 AD was made on a budget of more than Rs 700 crore and grossed over Rs 1,000 crore worldwide.
Ranveer Singh and the Don 3 fallout
Ranveer Singh‘s exit from Don 3 became the most legally messy film departure of the year.
Singh walked away from Farhan Akhtar‘s directorial project in December 2025, nearly two years after signing on to headline it. Reports said he cited changes in the script as the reason. The film, which had been in the works for three years, was yet to begin shooting when he left.
Excel Entertainment, the production house behind the film, said more than Rs 45 crore had already been spent on pre-production, including hotel bookings, location bookings and overseas travel for over 200 workers. The company sought that amount as compensation from Singh.
Singh reportedly offered to return his Rs 10 crore signing amount. A proposed settlement reportedly included Rs 10 crore in immediate compensation and a 25 per cent discount on his fee for a future Excel project, but the producers rejected it.
The FWICE directive and its withdrawal
On May 25, 2026, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) issued a non-cooperation directive against Singh, saying its members would not work with him.
“We’ve decided to send a message to the industry that a superstar is not bigger than the law. We’re issuing a non-cooperation directive until he decides to meet us personally.”
That was FWICE president BN Tiwari‘s statement at the time.
The directive did not last long. On June 3, 2026, FWICE withdrew it with immediate effect after requests from the Indian Motion Picture Producers’ Association, the Producers Guild and CINTAA.
Singh’s team had earlier said he would continue to hold deep respect and goodwill for everyone involved. The legal dispute between Singh and Excel Entertainment remains unresolved.
Akshaye Khanna’s last-minute Drishyam 3 exit
Akshaye Khanna left Drishyam 3 on December 4, 2025, just one day before his film Dhurandhar released in theatres. The exit came only seven days before a key sequence with Ajay Devgn was scheduled to be filmed.
Director Abhishek Pathak recalled the moment:
“I thought, ‘Ye kya tareeka hua’ (What is this)?”
Pathak decided to rewrite the character and continue instead of postponing the shoot.
Reports linked the exit to creative and monetary differences. One report claimed Khanna was seeking Rs 21 crore after the success of Dhurandhar. There were also reports of a disagreement over his request to wear a wig, which the makers said clashed with continuity.
Jaideep Ahlawat was brought in to replace him, and the screenplay was rewritten in a matter of days.
Other exits: Dostana 2 and The Royals 2
Two more departures added to the list.
Director Advait Chandan exited Dostana 2 in June 2026 after nearly seven months of development, reportedly over creative differences. The sequel to the 2008 film had already faced casting changes and production delays before his exit.
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On the streaming side, The Royals 2 lost three people in quick succession. Lead actress Bhumi Pednekar decided not to return for the second season after facing trolling over the first. Director Jasmeet K Reen stepped back just three days into filming in Rajasthan, reportedly over scripting and execution issues. Mitakshara Kumar took over, then she too was replaced. Tanuj Chopra, who directed Delhi Crime seasons 1 and 2, is now helming the season.
Bollywood’s release calendar keeps shifting with every project change. Stay with VvipTimes for clear, fact-checked updates on the films you are waiting for.
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