Finally here! The fans of the Drishyam franchise can breathe a sigh of relief, as Panorama Studios has officially made an announcement regarding Drishyam 3. The long-awaited third part of the thriller franchise shall see the return of Ajay Devgn as the popular Vijay Salgaonkar, with Abhishek Pathak returning as the director. This came in the form of an official letter filed with the Bombay Stock Exchange on May 29, 2025… news that was only serving to further heighten excitement and anticipation over the film.
Ajay Devgn, who has portrayed Vijay Salgaonkar with remarkable restraint and intelligence, is all set to return. The film will once again be directed by Abhishek Pathak, who masterfully helmed Drishyam 2 (2022), a film that turned into a surprise blockbuster and brought new life to the franchise. This reunion itself has generated huge enthusiasm, with fans waiting with bated breath to know what surprises and what turns the story will take in the concluding chapter of this thriller saga.
Drishyam: A Franchise That Transformed India’s Thrillers
Drishyam began life with the 2013 Malayalam original featuring Mohanlal. It was an instant hit, achieving the milestone of being the highest-grossing Malayalam film ever made at that point in time. Its unique storyline—about a common man using his intelligence to protect his family members after a crime—is what spoke to masses across India.
Ajay Devgn replaced Vijay Salgaonkar in the Hindi remake of 2015, assisted by a strong supporting cast such as Tabu, Shriya Saran, and Ishita Dutta. Although the film did moderately well at the box office, it developed cult status after being made available on digital platforms. Some scenes, like when the family eats pav bhaji on October 2, were cultural touchstones, consistently quoted and parodied.
The actual game-changer, though, was Drishyam 2. Out in 2022 and helmed by Abhishek Pathak, the sequel took up the narrative seven years later and introduced fresh layers of suspense and drama. With the addition of Akshaye Khanna as a suave cop, the movie raised the stakes and grossed more than ₹350 crore worldwide, cementing its position in the list of great Indian thrillers.
What to Expect From Drishyam 3
As the official plot of Drishyam 3 remains under wraps, anticipation is already at an all-time high. The first two films were masterclasses in slow-burning suspense and psychological drama, and the third is anticipated to take the story full circle.
Interestingly, the Hindi version isn’t the only one in the works. Mohanlal has already confirmed his return in the Malayalam version of Drishyam 3 and is reportedly planning a simultaneous release in both Hindi and Malayalam. He is set to begin shooting towards the end of May 2025, with plans for a release later in the year. This offers the exciting possibility of watching two very different takes on the same story, a rich experience in multilingual film for viewers.
A Cultural Phenomenon in the Making
It is not just the smart narration of the Drishyam franchise that makes it so strong, but its deep emotional depth. It investigates just how much a man will do to defend his family and tests out-of-the-ordinary traditional ideas of justice and morality. Vijay Salgaonkar is no traditional hero… he’s a cable operator with no legal training, no riches, and no influence. But he employs his mind, his passion for film, and an unyielding determination to battle a bureaucracy much greater than himself.
This connectedness, along with taut direction, incisive writing, and fantastic performances, has taken Drishyam beyond the realm of a film franchise. It has made it a cultural phenomenon.
Final Thoughts
With Ajay Devgn and Abhishek Pathak coming together once more and formal production now in progress, Drishyam 3 will be one of the most highly anticipated movies of 2026. The pressure is great, given the franchise’s previous success, but if anyone can deliver the goods, it’s this team.