Mumbai

Fans of the immensely popular Drishyam franchise can expect two distinct cinematic experiences with the upcoming third installment, as producers-filmmakers Abhishek Pathak and Kumar Mangat Pathak have revealed that the Malayalam and Hindi versions of Drishyam 3 will follow separate narrative paths while remaining part of the same larger universe.

Known for its intricate storytelling, unexpected twists, and memorable performances, the Drishyam franchise has built a devoted audience across languages over the years.

Speaking about the upcoming films, Abhishek Pathak said the two versions have been designed with different emotional and tonal approaches.

“Both versions of Drishyam 3 will unfold differently. The Malayalam film leans more towards an emotional family drama, while the Hindi adaptation is being crafted as a gripping drama-thriller. Audiences will enjoy watching both and spotting how the stories diverge,” he said.

The franchise began with the 2013 Malayalam blockbuster starring Mohanlal, directed by Jeethu Joseph. Its sequel, released in 2022, further cemented its legacy, and the third Malayalam installment is scheduled to hit theatres on May 21.

The success of the original led to remakes in multiple languages, including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Mandarin, and Sinhalese, turning Drishyam into one of Indian cinema’s most successful thriller franchises.

The Hindi adaptation, headlined by Ajay Devgn and directed by the late Nishikant Kamat, debuted in 2015 and became a major commercial and critical success. Its sequel, directed by Abhishek Pathak, followed in 2022.

Abhishek, who will also direct the third Hindi installment, said the scripts for the Malayalam and Hindi versions were written independently, keeping their respective audiences in mind.

“I developed the Hindi story around what audiences expect from Vijay Salgaonkar, Ajay’s character. Jeethu Joseph wrote his own version for Malayalam viewers. Later, we exchanged scripts and genuinely loved what each of us had created,” he said.

Abhishek has co-written the screenplay with writers Aamil Keeyan Khan and Parveez Shaikh.

The Hindi version of Drishyam 3, slated for an October 2 theatrical release, recently made headlines following the exit of Akshaye Khanna, whose character played a pivotal role in the second film.

The makers have now brought in Jaideep Ahlawat for the third chapter.

Abhishek clarified that Jaideep will not be replacing Khanna’s character, but will instead portray an entirely new role.

“Jaideep is an exceptional performer. We’ve admired his work for a long time, and we felt he would bring something fresh to the film. His character is new, and audiences are in for a surprise. The face-off between Ajay and Jaideep is going to be one of the film’s biggest highlights,” he said.

Kumar Mangat Pathak dismissed concerns that the earlier release of the Malayalam version could affect the Hindi film’s performance, saying audiences have a strong emotional connection with the Hindi franchise.

Beyond Drishyam, the father-son duo is actively expanding into regional cinema and franchise filmmaking.

Kumar Mangat said their banner Panorama Studios plans to produce six Malayalam-language films this year in collaboration with leading industry names, including actor-producer Nivin Pauly.

He said the studio is working with established and emerging talent, including filmmaker Shahi Kabir and director Dinjith Ayyathan.

The Pathaks also confirmed that new installments of their successful franchises Raid and Shaitaan are currently in development.

Abhishek said the team is taking a cautious approach with sequels, stressing that franchise value should never be compromised.

READ MORE: Najma Akhtar: Ex-VC played a key role in shaping India's educational growth

“It’s easy to use a popular title and assume people will turn up just because they recognise the brand. But if the audience doesn’t connect with the story, the franchise loses its value. Raid 3 and Shaitaan 2 are currently in development, and we are carefully working on the stories,” he said.