Drishyam 3 Ajay Devgn: Latest Update, Release Date, Cast, and What We Know So Far

Drishyam 3 Ajay Devgn: The highly anticipated announcement of Drishyam 3 starring Ajay Devgn has set the entertainment industry and social media platforms ablaze with excitement. On December 22, 2025, the makers officially confirmed that the third installment of the blockbuster thriller franchise will release on October 2, 2026—a date laden with symbolic significance for the narrative.

This announcement marks a significant milestone as the franchise continues to maintain its stronghold as one of Bollywood’s most successful and profitable series. With the return of the original ensemble cast, heightened production scale, and a decade-spanning storyline, Drishyam 3 has already begun generating massive buzz even before cameras rolled onto the set.

Latest Update and Official Information (Drishyam 3 Ajay Devgn)

The makers of Drishyam 3 released an official announcement promo on December 22, 2025, confirming the release date as October 2, 2026. The teaser announcement, featuring the tagline “Aakhri hissa baaki hai” (The final chapter remains), clearly suggests that this will be the concluding chapter of Vijay Salgaonkar’s gripping saga. The October 2 date selection is particularly significant, as it aligns with the franchise’s iconic alibi—a date that holds pivotal importance within the narrative world of both previous films.​

Filming for Drishyam 3 is currently underway across multiple locations in different cities. According to reports, the production team has confirmed that the third installment is being mounted on a larger scale than its predecessors, featuring an expanded canvas and heightened intensity. Director Abhishek Pathak, who helmed both the first and second films, returns to direct this final chapter, ensuring continuity and narrative consistency. The screenplay has been written by Jeethu Joseph, Abhishek Pathak, Aamil Keeyan Khan, and Parveez Shaikh, promising fresh creative dimensions to the established storyline.

The complete cast list confirms the return of the original ensemble. Ajay Devgn reprises his iconic role as Vijay Salgaonkar, the mild-mannered family man whose intelligence and cunning have been central to the franchise’s appeal. Joining him are Tabu as IG Meera Deshmukh, Shriya Saran as Nandini Salgaonkar, Rajat Kapoor as Mahesh Deshmukh, Ishita Dutta and Mrunal Jadhav as Vijay’s daughters, Akshaye Khanna, and Shreyas Talpade.

Additionally, there are new additions to the cast, including Akshaye Khanna, who was prominently featured in the second installment. The ensemble approach ensures that the narrative maintains its intricate web of relationships and conflicts that have defined the franchise.​

Background and Context: Understanding the Franchise’s Success

The Drishyam franchise originated as a remake of the acclaimed Malayalam film of the same name. The first Hindi installment, released in 2015 and directed by Nishikant Kamat, followed Vijay Salgaonkar, a seemingly ordinary cable television operator from Goa, whose quick thinking and strategic planning help his family navigate a deadly murder case.

The film earned ₹197 crore worldwide, establishing a strong foundation for the franchise. Its success sparked both critical appreciation and commercial viability, setting a new benchmark for psychological thrillers in Hindi cinema.​

The sequel, Drishyam 2, released on November 18, 2022, took the narrative forward with even greater complexity and emotional depth. The film’s success surpassed all expectations, becoming a blockbuster that earned ₹241 crores net in India alone, translating to ₹284.38 crores gross. Internationally, the film collected ₹60 crores gross, bringing the worldwide total to ₹344.38 crores gross. This performance placed Drishyam 2 among Ajay Devgn’s highest-grossing films, second only to Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior.​

The franchise’s profitability has been remarkable compared to other Bollywood series. The Drishyam franchise has generated an estimated profit of ₹316.75 crore from the first two films combined, with a profit margin of approximately 66% when calculated against total production costs. In comparison, other franchises like Singham have achieved a profit margin of just 5%, underscoring Drishyam’s exceptional commercial performance.

These statistics demonstrate that audiences have consistently rewarded quality storytelling and compelling performances. The franchise’s sustained success is a testament to Ajay Devgn’s nuanced portrayal of an everyman trapped in extraordinary circumstances, a character whose intelligence and emotional complexity have resonated deeply with viewers across age groups and demographics.​

Production Scale and Creative Ambitions

The makers have emphasized that Drishyam 3 represents a significant escalation in production value and narrative scope. The expanded canvas and heightened intensity promise to deliver a more ambitious cinematic experience compared to the previous installments.

Shooting locations span multiple cities across different regions, with reports indicating that Maharashtra has served as a primary filming location. The production has been organized with meticulous planning, with the team finalizing shooting schedules that ensure smooth execution and timeline adherence.​

Producer Kumar Mangat and Director Abhishek Pathak have overseen the project with careful attention to detail, ensuring that the franchise’s narrative integrity remains intact while pushing creative boundaries. The involvement of Jeethu Joseph, who created the original Malayalam story, alongside the primary writing team, suggests a balance between franchise familiarity and fresh storytelling perspectives.

This collaborative approach indicates that the filmmakers are invested in delivering a conclusion that respects the established universe while introducing new dimensions to the mystery.​

Public Reaction and Industry Buzz

The announcement of Drishyam 3 has generated significant social media engagement and industry conversation. Netizens flooded platforms with mixed reactions ranging from excitement to humorous skepticism.

Several fans expressed their enthusiasm with comments like “Blockbuster loading again” and “Excited AF,” showcasing strong support for Ajay Devgn’s return in this iconic role. The actor’s consistent excellence in portraying complex characters has earned him respect within the fan community, as evidenced by comments stating “Respect for Ajay Devgn sir”.​

However, some viewers expressed playful sarcasm about the franchise’s longevity and the perpetual mystery surrounding the central crime. One humorous comment read, “Kisi ka toh intezar tha Drishyam 3 ka, 2 October, Gandhi Jayanti,” referencing the significance of the release date. Others joked about the never-ending investigation, with comments like “Sam ka dusra janam ho jaayega, tum log case hi ladte reh jaoge,” drawing parallels to how long the legal proceedings have stretched across three films.

A few netizens even humorously requested mercy for the character of Sam, saying “Baksh do yaar Sam ki body ko,” reflecting the franchise’s dark humor regarding the central crime. Despite the sarcasm, the overwhelming sentiment on social media platforms has been positive, with fans eagerly anticipating the final chapter.​

Content creators and entertainment analysts have also contributed significantly to the buzz. YouTube reaction videos have garnered substantial viewership, with creators breaking down the announcement teaser and sharing their expectations for the film.

The franchise’s reputation for delivering intelligent suspense thrillers has set high expectations among audiences, many of whom anticipate that Drishyam 3 will conclude the Salgaonkar family saga in a satisfying and narratively coherent manner.​

What This Means for Fans and the Indian Film Industry

The release of Drishyam 3 carries significant implications for multiple stakeholders in the Indian entertainment ecosystem. For fans of the franchise, the film promises a definitive conclusion to a story that has captivated audiences across both Hindi and Malayalam cinema.

The phrase “Aakhri hissa baaki hai” (The final chapter remains) in the announcement strongly suggests that this will be the last installment, offering viewers closure to the Vijay Salgaonkar narrative that began a decade ago. This anticipated conclusion has generated speculation about how the filmmakers will resolve the lingering mysteries and provide satisfactory narrative closure for characters and plotlines established across the previous films.​

The parallel development of both Hindi and Malayalam versions of Drishyam 3 demonstrates the franchise’s pan-Indian appeal and cultural significance. While Ajay Devgn’s Hindi version is scheduled for October 2, 2026, the Malayalam version starring Mohanlal has already completed filming and is set for release in March 2026.

This coordinated approach ensures that audiences across linguistic regions receive their respective versions while maintaining narrative consistency across both adaptations.​

For the Indian film industry, Drishyam 3 represents a continued commitment to intelligent thriller cinema that prioritizes narrative quality over formulaic entertainment. The franchise’s consistent commercial and critical success challenges the notion that only big-budget action spectacles or romantic comedies guarantee box office returns.

The success of Drishyam franchise demonstrates that sophisticated storytelling, nuanced performances, and psychological suspense can command significant audience attention and generate impressive financial returns.

The achievement of ₹500 crore cumulative box office collection remains a realistic possibility if Drishyam 3 earns approximately ₹183 crores at the Indian box office, a target that appears achievable given the franchise’s unbroken success record.

This potential milestone would underscore the franchise’s exceptional standing within Hindi cinema and potentially establish a new benchmark for thriller franchises in terms of longevity and sustained audience interest.

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Drishyam 3 Ajay Devgn: Conclusion

Drishyam 3 Ajay Devgn represents a pivotal moment in Hindi cinema, marking the anticipated return of one of Bollywood’s most successful thrillers. With Ajay Devgn reprising his iconic role as Vijay Salgaonkar, the complete ensemble cast returning, and production mounted on a larger scale, the film promises to deliver the same quality of intelligent storytelling that has defined the franchise. The October 2, 2026, release date, while nearly ten months away, has already ignited significant anticipation among audiences and industry observers.

As filming continues across multiple locations and the production team works toward finalizing this narrative chapter, audiences across India and beyond await what promises to be the definitive conclusion to a story that has captivated them for a decade. The Drishyam franchise’s journey from a 2015 theatrical release to a pending trilogy culmination exemplifies the power of quality cinema and audience engagement, establishing a template for franchise success in Indian cinema.