Goa — Speaking at the trailer launch of Drishyam 3 in Goa, Ajay Devgn emphasised that the forthcoming Hindi instalment bears no direct narrative connection to the recently released Malayalam third film led by Mohanlal. The actor said the two projects have distinct stories and scripts, marking a deliberate departure from prior remakes in the franchise.
Not a remake, says Ajay Devgn
Devgn, who reprises his role as Vijay Salgaonkar in the Hindi series, described the new film as a fresh creative challenge. He noted that while the first two Hindi Drishyam films drew inspiration from the original Malayalam franchise, the third Hindi outing was developed independently with an original screenplay.
"This film is a big challenge for us because Lal sir and Joseph, because the first and second were inspired by the original. But this is the first film that has a completely different script. So their Drishyam 3 is completely different, our film is completely different. It's not like we have made some changes. It's completely different," Ajay Devgn said at the event.
Devgn added that he is keen for Mohanlal and director Jeethu Joseph to view the Hindi film, saying their approval would mean a lot to him.
Cast, crew and production details
The Hindi Drishyam 3 is directed by Abhishek Pathak and is backed by Star Studio18 and Panorama Studios. Alongside Devgn, the film sees the return of Tabu and Shriya Saran in their established roles. The new instalment also features Prakash Raj and Jaideep Ahlawat in fresh roles for the franchise.
The story continues to centre on Vijay Salgaonkar, portrayed as an apparently ordinary family man whose ingenuity becomes pivotal when his household becomes entangled in a murder investigation — a premise that has defined the series since its inception.
Franchise background and box office context
The Hindi Drishyam franchise began in 2015 with Ajay Devgn leading the remake of the original Malayalam thriller starring Mohanlal. The first Hindi film performed well commercially, earning around ₹110 crore worldwide. Its sequel, Drishyam 2 (2022), expanded the legal and moral struggle of Vijay Salgaonkar and registered greater box‑office success, earning nearly ₹342 crore worldwide.
| Film | Year | Approx. Worldwide Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| Drishyam (Hindi) | 2015 | ₹110 crore |
| Drishyam 2 (Hindi) | 2022 | ₹342 crore (nearly) |
Creative independence and audience expectations
Devgn's remarks underline a broader industry trend: franchises across languages increasingly pursue parallel narratives rather than strict remakes. By stressing that the Hindi film is not a reworked adaptation of the Malayalam third instalment, the makers signal an intent to offer Indian audiences a new mystery within a familiar universe.
- Different script: Ajay Devgn said the Hindi Drishyam 3 has an original screenplay, not a reworked Malayalam script.
- Returning cast: Tabu and Shriya Saran reprise roles; Prakash Raj and Jaideep Ahlawat join in new parts.
- Production: Film is directed by Abhishek Pathak and produced by Star Studio18 and Panorama Studios.
The franchise's past commercial performance sets a high bar for the new release, and audiences and critics will be watching closely to see how a distinct Hindi narrative fares alongside the Malayalam trilogy led by Mohanlal.
At the trailer launch in Goa, the emphasis on a wholly separate storyline from the Malayalam film sought to pre‑empt comparisons and manage expectations, while inviting cross‑industry goodwill by expressing a desire for the Malayalam makers’ approval.
Further details such as release date and additional plot specifics were not disclosed at the event.
