Released on Mohanlal’s 66th birthday and already racing toward ₹100 crore worldwide, Drishyam 3 is 2026’s most hotly debated Bollywood release. Reviews are divided, box office is surging, and the Hindi remake with Ajay Devgn is 5 months away. Here is the complete guide — updated today.
| It has been 13 years since a humble cable TV operator from Goa showed us that a man’s love for his family could outsmart every institution the law threw at him. Drishyam became a phenomenon. Drishyam 2 became a cult classic. Now, Drishyam 3 has arrived — released on Mohanlal’s 66th birthday, May 21, 2026 — to packed theatres, record pre-sales, and an internet that cannot agree on whether Georgekutty has delivered again or finally overstayed his welcome. Here is everything you need to know. |
Drishyam 3: Quick Facts at a Glance
| 🎬 | ₹45 Cr+ | Worldwide gross on opening day alone — second biggest Malayalam opening ever |
| 🎬 | ₹26.9 Cr | India net collection in first 2 days across all language versions |
| 🎬 | ₹76 Cr+ | Worldwide gross in 2 days — nearly matching Mohanlal’s ‘Neru’ lifetime total |
| ⏱ | 2 hrs 39 min | Runtime of Drishyam 3 Malayalam version |
| 🎂 | 66th | Mohanlal’s birthday on release date May 21, 2026 — ‘Lalettan Day’ worldwide |
| 🇮🇳 | Oct 2, 2026 | Hindi remake release date with Ajay Devgn — Gandhi Jayanti |
The Drishyam Universe: From 2013 to 2026
To appreciate what Drishyam 3 means, you need to understand how extraordinary this franchise’s journey has been.
Drishyam (2013) — The Original
Director Jeethu Joseph’s original Drishyam was a slow-burning, nail-biting crime thriller that introduced audiences to Georgekutty — an ordinary, barely-educated cable TV operator who becomes the most cunning protector his family could ever have. The film was lean, tightly plotted, and built to an ending that audiences talked about for weeks.
It was immediately remade in Hindi (2015, Ajay Devgn), Telugu (2014, Venkatesh), Tamil (2014, Kamal Haasan), and Kannada. Every version was a success. Drishyam became one of the most remade Indian films in history — and the Hindi version alone earned over ₹118 crore at the box office.
Drishyam 2 (2021) — The Pandemic Masterstroke
Six years later, Jeethu Joseph brought Georgekutty back — but this time straight to Amazon Prime Video, bypassing theatres entirely due to COVID-19. The gamble paid off spectacularly. Drishyam 2 became one of the most-watched Malayalam films in OTT history, introduced the franchise to a massive new audience, and immediately entered cult status.
The Hindi version — again with Ajay Devgn — released in November 2022 to thunderous box office success, earning over ₹250 crore worldwide and introducing a new generation of Bollywood audiences to Vijay Salgaonkar.
Drishyam 3 (2026) — The ‘Final’ Chapter?
The third instalment is described by the filmmakers as “the last chapter” of the Georgekutty saga. Set approximately four-and-a-half years after the events of Drishyam 2, it picks up with Georgekutty and his family still living under the shadow of a buried past. The world has moved on — but the past, as always in Drishyam’s world, refuses to stay silent.
Drishyam 3 Cast: Malayalam Version
| Actor | Character | Role in Franchise |
| Mohanlal | Georgekutty | The heart and soul of the franchise. Returns as the brilliant, morally complex family protector |
| Meena | Rani | Georgekutty’s wife. Emotional anchor of the family across all three films |
| Ansiba Hassan | Anju | Elder daughter. Central to the original crime that set the franchise in motion |
| Esther Anil | Anu | Younger daughter. Now older and more aware of the family’s secrets |
| Siddique | Supporting | Veteran actor, pivotal to the investigation narrative |
| Asha Sarath | IG Geetha | The determined police officer who has never stopped suspecting Georgekutty |
| Murali Gopy | New antagonist | Brings fresh menace and shifts the power dynamic of the franchise |
| Biju Menon | Pivotal role | Strong addition to the ensemble, part of the new conflict arc |
Hindi Remake Cast: Drishyam 3 (Bollywood, October 2, 2026)
| Actor | Character | Note |
| Ajay Devgn | Vijay Salgaonkar | Hindi equivalent of Georgekutty. Returns as the lead across the full Bollywood trilogy |
| Tabu | IG Meera Deshmukh | The formidable police officer who has been the series’ most compelling antagonist |
| Shriya Saran | Nandini Salgaonkar | Vijay’s wife. Emotional anchor of the Hindi franchise |
| Ishita Dutta | Anju Salgaonkar | Elder daughter. Confirmed on set via January 2026 clapboard photo |
| Mrunal Jadhav | Anu Salgaonkar | Younger daughter, now a young adult |
| Jaideep Ahlawat | New character | Major new addition. Role described as adding a ‘fresh twist’ to the narrative |
| Prakash Raj | Pivotal role | Veteran actor bringing authority to the investigation side |
| Rajat Kapoor | Supporting | Reprising his role from the Hindi franchise |
| 💡 Key difference between the two versions: Producer Kumar Mangat Pathak confirmed that the Hindi Drishyam 3 will NOT be a direct copy of the Malayalam version. The story picks up from where Hindi Drishyam 2 ended, with a completely different screenplay and narrative. So if you’ve watched the Malayalam version, the October 2 Hindi film will still surprise you. |
Drishyam 3 Story: What Is It About? (No Major Spoilers)
The story of Drishyam 3 picks up approximately four and a half years after the events of Drishyam 2. Georgekutty and his family appear to have settled into a semblance of normal life. But as the franchise has always taught us: in Georgekutty’s world, the past never truly dies.
One of the film’s most talked-about scenes involves a meta, self-referential joke at Georgekutty’s own expense. He is shown at the premiere of a film called ‘Drishyam’ — a film based on his own story from the previous instalments. In a brilliantly cheeky moment, Georgekutty makes jokes about filmmakers from other industries — clearly referencing Bollywood, Tollywood, and Kollywood — ‘coming begging’ for remake rights. The dialogue referencing Kumar Mangat Pathak (the actual producer of the Hindi remakes) reportedly got the loudest cheers in Kerala theatres. It is the franchise winking at itself.
The central conflict of the third film brings a new antagonist into Georgekutty’s orbit — someone who raises the unsettling question that forms the emotional core of the film: does only Georgekutty have a family worth protecting? What happens when someone else uses the same logic — and turns it against him?
| The emotional shift: Critics and audiences agree that Drishyam 3 is less a pure cat-and-mouse thriller and more a family drama with thriller elements. Jeethu Joseph has said the Malayalam version was made specifically for Malayalam audiences who value emotional storytelling. This is a deliberate departure from the tighter, more plot-driven structure of the earlier films. |
Drishyam 3 Review Roundup: What Critics and Audiences Are Saying
The response to Drishyam 3 is genuinely split — and that split is worth understanding carefully, because it tells you whether this film is right for you.
✅ The Praise: What Fans and Supporters Are Saying
- Mohanlal’s performance is universally acclaimed. Even critics who were disappointed with the film praised him. One reviewer wrote: “At this point, Georgekutty feels less like a character and more like a second skin for the actor.”
- The interval twist has been described as a ‘game-changer’ by multiple reviewers. This is the moment that silenced most of the critics in the first half.
- The second half is significantly stronger than the first, according to the majority of audience reviews. Those who stayed patient were rewarded.
- The franchise factor is powerful. Fans who have followed Georgekutty since 2013 found the film emotionally satisfying, even if the plot did not match the first two films’ tightness.
- The meta scene mocking remake culture got the loudest cheers in Kerala theatres and has gone massively viral on social media.
❌ The Criticism: What Disappointed Viewers Are Saying
- The first half is widely described as slow and predictable. Several reviewers noted that a franchise built on unpredictability is starting to show its formula.
- The supporting cast is underused. The emotional conflicts of Georgekutty’s family — which made the earlier films so gripping — feel less developed in this instalment.
- Some critics called it “the weakest chapter of the franchise” — a film that delivers exactly what you expect and rarely more. For a franchise whose signature is the unexpected, this is a significant criticism.
- At 2 hours 39 minutes, several viewers felt it was 20–25 minutes too long, with sequences in the second half that could have been tightened.
| Audience Verdict Summary (based on social media aggregation, May 24, 2026): ⭐ Fans who loved it: ~55% — Gripping second half, Mohanlal, interval twist, emotional core 😐 Mixed response: ~30% — Enjoyed it but expected more from the franchise 👎 Disappointed: ~15% — Slow first half, weaker plot than previous films, overhyped |
Drishyam 3 Box Office Collection: Updated Numbers
Despite the mixed critical reception, Drishyam 3 is performing strongly at the box office — driven by franchise loyalty, Mohanlal’s massive fanbase, and the sheer anticipation that had been building for 5 years.
| Day | India Net Collection | Worldwide Gross |
| Day 1 — May 21 (Thursday) | ~₹15.85 crore net | ~₹45 crore gross worldwide |
| Day 2 — May 22 (Friday) | ~₹11.05 crore net | ~₹31 crore gross (30% drop) |
| Day 3 — May 23 (Saturday) | Tracking ₹15+ crore | Eyeing ₹100 crore worldwide milestone |
| 2-Day Total India | ~₹26.90 crore net | ~₹76 crore gross worldwide |
| Expected Week 1 India | ~₹70–80 crore | ~₹120–140 crore worldwide |
Drishyam 3 had the second-biggest opening day in Malayalam cinema history — trailing only Mohanlal’s own ‘L2: Empuraan’. In just two days, it has earned almost as much as the lifetime box office collection of Jeethu Joseph’s previous film ‘Neru’ (₹86 crore). Distributors had agreed to a minimum four-week exclusive theatrical run before any OTT release.
Malayalam vs Hindi Drishyam 3: How Are They Different?
This is the question every Drishyam fan in India is asking right now. Here is a clear comparison:
| Aspect | Malayalam Version | Hindi Version | Key Difference |
| Release Date | May 21, 2026 | October 2, 2026 | 5-month gap between versions |
| Lead Actor | Mohanlal as Georgekutty | Ajay Devgn as Vijay Salgaonkar | Same character, different name |
| Director | Jeethu Joseph | Abhishek Pathak | Original creator vs remake director |
| Story | Different screenplay | Different screenplay | NOT the same plot — confirmed by producers |
| Tone | Family drama focus | Likely more thriller-driven | Based on audience DNA of each industry |
| New Cast | Murali Gopy, Biju Menon | Jaideep Ahlawat, Prakash Raj | Both add strong new antagonists |
| OTT Rights | 4-week theatrical exclusive | TBA | Malayalam OTT partner not yet announced |
| Audience Reaction | Mixed — 30% drop Day 2 | Unknown — Oct 2026 | Hindi fans cautiously optimistic |
| What this means for Bollywood fans: If you watched Malayalam Drishyam 3 and felt the plot was too predictable or slow, the Hindi version may genuinely surprise you. The two films share only the franchise’s DNA and the central character — not the story. Ajay Devgn’s Vijay Salgaonkar will face a different challenge, with a different screenplay, built specifically for Hindi audiences. |
The Viral Meta Scene: When Georgekutty Mocks Remake Culture
One scene from Drishyam 3 is dominating social media this week, and it has nothing to do with the main mystery.
In an early sequence, Georgekutty attends the premiere of a fictional film called ‘Drishyam’ — a film based on his own extraordinary story. In a moment of delicious self-awareness, he jokes about film directors from other industries approaching him for remake rights.
The dialogue includes a barely veiled reference to producer Kumar Mangat Pathak — the real-life producer of the Hindi Drishyam remakes — reportedly prompting loud cheers and laughter in theatres across Kerala. Georgekutty’s joke about filmmakers ‘coming begging’ has been interpreted as a playful dig at the remake culture that has turned the original Malayalam trilogy into a pan-India franchise.
The scene also contains a joke about piracy — suggesting that Malayalam audiences protect their cinema better than other regions — which landed particularly well in Kerala. The meta quality of the scene is heightened by the fact that the franchise itself was adapted into a film within the film’s universe, creating a brilliant hall-of-mirrors effect.
- The moment has been widely celebrated as the franchise acknowledging its own cultural footprint
- Some Bollywood fans took mild offence; most saw it as harmless, affectionate fun
- The scene has generated thousands of posts on X and Instagram, driving significant word-of-mouth marketing
- It is now arguably the most talked-about single moment from Drishyam 3 outside of the interval twist
Should You Watch Drishyam 3? Our Verdict by Viewer Type
| If you are… | Watch it? | Why |
| A Mohanlal superfan / Lalettan devotee | ✅ YES | Mohanlal alone is worth the ticket. His performance is universally acclaimed even by those who disliked the film. |
| A Drishyam franchise loyalist (watched 1 & 2) | ✅ YES | You will enjoy the closure, the meta humour, and Georgekutty’s final confrontation. Go in with calibrated expectations. |
| A thriller fan wanting another Drishyam 1-level twist | ⚠️ MAYBE | Lower your expectations slightly. The plot is not as tight, but the interval twist and second half deliver. |
| Waiting for Hindi Drishyam 3 (October 2026) | 🚫 SKIP for now | The Malayalam version has a completely different story. Watching it will not spoil the Hindi version. |
| A casual viewer with no franchise history | 🚫 WATCH 1 & 2 FIRST | Drishyam 3 will make no sense without the context of the first two films. Start from the beginning. |
| Watching for box office curiosity | ✅ TRACK IT | It’s already making records. The story of its commercial performance is itself fascinating. |
Where to Watch Drishyam 3
- Drishyam 3 (Malayalam) — Theatres from May 21, 2026. Available in Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Hindi dubbed versions. Check your local multiplex for showtimes.
- Minimum 4-week theatrical exclusive — Distributors have agreed to keep it in theatres for at least four weeks before any OTT release.
- OTT release — Expected mid-to-late June 2026. The previous films were on Amazon Prime Video; the OTT partner for Drishyam 3 had not been officially announced as of May 24, 2026.
- Drishyam 1 (Malayalam, 2013) — Currently streaming on JioHotstar. Watch this before buying a Drishyam 3 ticket.
- Drishyam 2 (Malayalam, 2021) — Available on Amazon Prime Video. The essential bridge between parts 1 and 3.
- Hindi Drishyam 3 — Theatrical release October 2, 2026 (Gandhi Jayanti). Directed by Abhishek Pathak, produced by Panorama Studios / Star Studio18.
Frequently Asked Questions: Drishyam 3
Is Drishyam 3 worth watching?
It depends on what you are looking for. If you are a Drishyam franchise fan and love Mohanlal, yes — unambiguously. If you are expecting another perfectly plotted thriller like the original 2013 film, calibrate your expectations: the third instalment leans more toward family drama, and the first half is slower. The interval twist and second half redeem the film significantly.
Is Drishyam 3 Malayalam the same as the Hindi remake with Ajay Devgn?
No. Producer Kumar Mangat Pathak confirmed explicitly that the Hindi Drishyam 3 (releasing October 2, 2026) has a completely different screenplay. The story picks up from where Hindi Drishyam 2 ended — a different point from where the Malayalam version begins. You can watch both without spoiling the other.
What is Drishyam 3’s box office collection?
Drishyam 3 grossed approximately ₹45 crore worldwide on its opening day — the second-biggest Malayalam opening in history. By end of Day 2, the worldwide gross had crossed ₹76 crore. The film is racing toward the ₹100 crore worldwide milestone and is expected to cross it over the first weekend.
Who is in the cast of Drishyam 3?
The Malayalam version stars Mohanlal as Georgekutty, with Meena, Ansiba Hassan, Esther Anil, Siddique, Asha Sarath, Murali Gopy, and Biju Menon. The Hindi version (October 2026) features Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shriya Saran, Ishita Dutta, Mrunal Jadhav, Jaideep Ahlawat, and Prakash Raj.
When is Drishyam 3 coming to OTT?
No official OTT date has been announced as of May 24, 2026. Distributors agreed to a minimum four-week theatrical exclusive, which means the earliest possible OTT release would be mid-to-late June 2026. The OTT platform partner has not been officially confirmed.
What is the meta scene everyone is talking about in Drishyam 3?
In an early sequence, Georgekutty attends the premiere of a fictional film called ‘Drishyam’ — based on his own story. He jokes about filmmakers from other industries ‘coming begging’ for remake rights, in what audiences widely interpreted as a playful jab at the Bollywood and Tollywood adaptations of the franchise. The dialogue reportedly referencing real producer Kumar Mangat Pathak got the loudest cheers in Kerala theatres.