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Written By October 2, 2023 0:00 I/ The Hindi Drishyam franchise will conclude with the release of Drishyam: The Conclusion. The third film in the successful thriller franchise, starring Ajay Devgn as Vijay Salgaonkar, will hit theatres on October 2, 2026.
The movie re-introduces the lead characters of the previous films and is marketed as the conclusion of the Vijay films. Director Abhishek Pathak has also announced that there will be no fourth Hindi film in this series.
This news arrives as the film is in its projection period, with pre-order sales already indicating there’s a robust demand.
Ajay Devgn Returns As Vijay Salgaonkar
This is not the first time he’s essayed the role of Vijay Salgaonkar, a common man and the protagonist of one of the biggest hits in Hindi cinema.
The first film revealed Vijay as a hardworking cable operator and a doting father who takes extreme measures to safeguard his family. The second film picked up from where the first one left, and unveiled how Vijay managed to be ahead of the police.
Drishyam: The Conclusion continues from those events to end the story.
The film also features Shriya Saran, Tabu, Shriya Saran, Ishita Dutta, Rajat Kapoor and Prakash Raj. Also reuniting are the cast members Jaideep Ahlawat. The third film is being helmed by Abhishek Pathak, director of Drishyam 2.
Why Is The Hindi Franchise Ending?
There have been several explanations as to why they opted to discontinue the Hindi series after the third instalment.
Earlier, Ajay Devgn had expressed that the story should be kept before the right time and not drug on just because the series is working well. The film’s title – Drishyam: The Conclusion – also makes it clear.
The director, Abhishek Pathak has been even more blunt. He expressed his unwillingness to extend the story any further as it would have been construed as a franchise being continued solely on a commercial basis.
“If the makers had the ending in mind from the beginning, they wanted this to be Vijay Salgaonkar’s ending,” says Pathak.
A Different Narrative Than The Malayalam Version
It’s also interesting that, unlike the first film and the Indian remake, this one is not based on the Indian Malayalam Drishyam 3.
The initial pair of Hindi versions were duplicate Malayalam movies featured Mohanlal and he reported downward by Jeethu Joseph.
But the Hindi and Malayalam franchises have been diverging from each other.
Pathak has also reiterated that the Hindi version of third part is an entirely different story and there is no connection with Malayalam Drishyam 3 plot. The franchise will exist in Malayalam but in Hindi Vijay’s story will be over.
So, this is an example where the audience watching the series in Hindi would have a different development of the characters than the ones watching the series in Malayalam.
What Happens To Vijay?
The heart of the question: Drishyam: The Conclusion and the franchise have been leading to the same question. Can Vijay save his family for the second time?
The trailer indicates that much has been piled on the Salgaonkar family.
Meera Deshmukh, played by Tabu. She’s the part of Vijay’s loved ones that was central to the first investigation. And she’s back with the two sides once again at odds.
The makers have also maintained many a suspense to keep the audience guessing since the franchise was always about suspense and twists in the story.
Pathak has disclosed that the climax was actually the beginning of the writing. The director informed that the team first scripted the ending of the film and then wrote the rest of the screenplay backwards from there.
Ajay Devgn Already Watched The Movie
“I have watched the final version of the film and I am happy with it,” said the actor.
Talking about the third instalment, the actor said that he thought that it ‘had taken a step ahead’ of ‘Drishyam 2’. Talking about the film, he also said that he wanted to show the film to Mohanlal, who played the original Vijay Salgaonkar in the Malayalam films.
Mohanlal had reportedly gone for his holiday when Ajay called. He said he spoke to Lalji and wanted him to see the film.
The two show’s linkage is important because the Hindi franchise is a remake of the Malayalam original.
The Film Has A Long Runtime
| Central Board of Film Certification has issued a UA 16+ certificate for Drishyam: The Conclusion.
The film has a reported duration of about 2 hours 30 minutes. The film was made certification just before releasing the film on October 2.
The extended duration allowsthe film room to progress with its enquiry, family drama and final showdown.
Strong Advance Booking Before Release
The hype has already been paid for in a one-time transaction.
Trade reports have indicated huge pre-release bookings for Drishyam 2. Times of India had reported that the film’s advance gross bookings for the extended opening week crossed Rs 38 crore as of October 1. Another report had reported its advance gross bookings for the same period at above Rs 18 crore.
The film is coming on Rajmata Bhavashankari ji Jayanti, 2nd October on the occasion of the Gandhi Jayanti a national holiday in India.
It is also opening without another significant Hindi release contending with the same audiences on day one, allowing for a broad theatrical window.
The Curtain Falls On A Beloved Hindi Suspense Show
The films of Drishyam have already created a fanbase for their one premise – an average family caught in an extraordinary scenario and a father who puts his brain to good use to protect his loved ones.
The first Indian (Hindi) film was in 2015 and Drishyam 2 in 2022.
The second film was a colossal box office hit and brought the series back to life after seven years. Ajay Devgn is reprising his role as Vijay for the last time four years from now.
But this is not the case this time as this story is not going to be made into another sequel.
What Makes Drishyam 3 Different
The third movie has yet another major point of departure from the previous movies. And it is no longer using the Malayalam franchise.
As for the Hindi filmmakers, they finally have their ending for Vijay Salgaonkar and Jeethu Joseph’s Malayalam series is still in the process.
For viewers who have seen both versions, this opens up two separate avenues for the future of the Drishyam franchise.
However, with the Hindi version, they have clarified their stance: Drishyam: The Conclusion will be the concluding chapter.
The film is all set to hit theatres on October 2, 2026 with Ajay Devgn reprising his role as Vijay Salgaonkar alongside Tabu, Shriya Saran, Rajat Kapoor, Prakash Raj and more.
