Filmmaker Priyadarshan has defended actor Akshaye Khanna against past industry perceptions of being 'difficult and moody.' Priyadarshan recounted how he was warned against casting Khanna in their first film, 'Doli Saja Ke Rakhna,' but found him to be a cooperative and disciplined actor. This defense comes amid recent reports of Khanna's exit from 'Drishyam 3,' with producer Kumar Mangat Pathak suggesting professional success might have influenced his decision, a claim director Abhishek Pathak attributed to disagreements over the actor's look.