Ajay Devgn Says 'Drishyam 3' Ends the Franchise for Good

Ajay Devgn tells Variety that "Drishyam 3: The Conclusion" surpasses its two predecessors, and that the Hindi-language franchise ends definitively with the new film, due in theaters Oct. 2.

The star, who plays protagonist Vijay Salgaonkar, watched the completed film on Tuesday and came away reassured. He describes the pressure of following two successful films, particularly the second installment, which he calls a difficult film to follow. He screened it alongside people whose judgment he trusts and emerged without the fear that audiences might feel it could have been better. He credits writer-director Abhishek Pathak and the writing team, calling the film well shot and gripping throughout.

"You will not be able to guess," Devgn says. "So, the twists and turns are a lot, and they are unexpected."

The franchise centers on a family man who covers up an accidental killing to protect his wife and daughters, then finds himself locked in a battle of wits with the police officer investigating the case.

The story has traveled widely since Jeethu Joseph's original Malayalam film, starring Mohanlal, opened in 2013. It was remade in Kannada as "Drishya" and in Telugu as "Drushyam," both in 2014, and in Tamil as "Papanasam" in 2015, with Kamal Haasan in the lead and Joseph directing. The Hindi version, starring Devgn and Tabu, also arrived in 2015, followed by a Sinhala remake and the Chinese adaptation "Sheep Without a Shepherd" in 2019.

Joseph's Malayalam sequel arrived in 2021, with Pathak's Hindi "Drishyam 2" following in 2022. The Malayalam "Drishyam 3" opened earlier this year and has grossed INR239 crore ($25 million). Panorama Studios, which holds the Hindi and international remake rights, is now developing Korean, Spanish and English versions while limiting its own Indian-language output to Hindi.

Despite the Malayalam "Drishyam 3" leaving its ending open, Devgn says the Hindi version takes a different path. "This is a completely different script altogether," he says. "There is no comparison. There is nothing. And in our film, we're not leaving any loophole or anything. We are finishing it. This is the conclusion."

On playing Salgaonkar across all three films, Devgn says the character has "become more calmer, I would say. He's more prepared." The story picks up directly where "Drishyam 2" left off rather than jumping forward again, leaving limited room to trace additional emotional evolution beyond what the film itself depicts.

Devgn spoke to Variety on the sidelines of the FICCI-Frames Indian media industry conference in Mumbai, where he was in conversation with Alok Jain, head of Hindi and English entertainment business at JioStar.

His slate is full. The comedy "Golmaal 5" is complete and will arrive in January. He has wrapped an as-yet-untitled film carrying the working title "Ranger," a Luv Ranjan production, and is preparing to start work on "Chauhan."

Asked about further installments of the "Raid" franchise, Devgn says he would continue only with the right material. "Hopefully, yes, if we get a great script, because you don't plan it," he says, adding that a strong script would determine whether the franchise moves forward. The "Rudra" franchise remains on pause, a decision he says was intentional.

Devgn also addressed the Hindi film industry's turnaround after a pandemic-era slump he attributes to audiences outpacing the industry's output as international viewing habits reshaped expectations. The industry has since worked to catch up with a more evolved audience, he says, with some films succeeding as a result. Theatrical viewing endures in India, he argues, partly because it remains one of the few affordable communal entertainment options families can share, unlike the shorter, costlier outings offered by restaurants. Once audiences have a good experience at the theater, they return.

On the broader evolution of Indian audiences amid a shift toward AI-generated content, Devgn says viewers have become highly discerning, often able to judge from a trailer alone whether a film is worth watching — and that instinct is right most of the time. A weak film struggles regardless of marketing strength, he says, because audiences sense when they are being misled.

Asked about AI's role in storytelling, Devgn, who owns generative AI company Prismix, is unequivocal. "I think it is here to stay. I myself have an AI company," he says, adding that the venture is performing well. Full audience connection may take time, since viewers know AI-generated content isn't real, but the format will endure, he says.

Devgn is also developing a few scripts with an eye toward returning to directing, tentatively within the next two years — a timeline that would place his next turn behind the camera after "Drishyam 3" closes the book on Vijay Salgaonkar.