Ajay Devgn believes Drishyam: The Conclusion lives up to the films that came before it, while making it clear that the Hindi franchise will come to a definitive end with the upcoming third instalment.
In an interview with Variety ahead of the film’s October 2 theatrical release, Devgn, who returns as Vijay Salgaonkar, said the new psychological thriller contains twists that audiences may find difficult to anticipate.
“You will not be able to guess,” Devgn told Variety, referring to the film’s twists and turns. “So, the twists and turns are a lot, and they are unexpected.”
Ajay Devgn on the Pressure of Drishyam 3
Following the success of Drishyam and Drishyam 2, the third film carries the challenge of continuing a story that has already established a large audience.
Devgn said he recently watched the completed film with people whose judgement he trusts. According to the actor, the experience left him reassured about the film and its ability to follow the previous instalments.
He particularly highlighted the challenge of following Drishyam 2, which he described as a difficult film to follow.
Devgn credited writer-director Abhishek Pathak and the writing team for shaping the new chapter. He also praised the film’s execution, saying it is well shot and maintains its grip on the audience.
The Hindi Drishyam Franchise Will End With This Film
One of Devgn’s clearest comments concerns the future of the Hindi franchise.
The Malayalam Drishyam 3, starring Mohanlal, reportedly takes a different approach to its ending. Devgn said the Hindi version does not follow the same path and has been developed as a separate story.
“This is a completely different script altogether,” Devgn said. “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.”
The statement reinforces that Drishyam: The Conclusion is being presented as the final chapter of the Hindi series.
Vijay Salgaonkar Has Changed
Devgn has played Vijay Salgaonkar across all three Hindi films. Speaking about the character’s progression, the actor said Vijay has become calmer and more prepared.
“He’s become more calmer, I would say. He’s more prepared,” Devgn said.
The actor also explained that the new film picks up directly from the events of Drishyam 2, rather than introducing another substantial time jump.
That continuity means Vijay’s development is tied closely to the consequences of the previous film and the situation in which the audience last saw him.
How the Drishyam Story Expanded Across Languages
The Drishyam story originated with Jeethu Joseph’s Malayalam film, starring Mohanlal, which was released in 2013.
The story was subsequently adapted into several Indian languages, including:
- Drishya — Kannada, 2014
- Drushyam — Telugu, 2014
- Papanasam — Tamil, 2015, starring Kamal Haasan
- Drishyam — Hindi, 2015, starring Ajay Devgn and Tabu
The franchise also received adaptations outside India, including the Sinhala remake and the 2019 Chinese film Sheep Without a Shepherd.
Joseph’s Malayalam sequel arrived in 2021, followed by the Hindi Drishyam 2 in 2022.
The Malayalam Drishyam 3 was released earlier in 2026, while the Hindi version is now preparing to bring its own storyline to a close.
Ajay Devgn’s Next Projects
Beyond Drishyam: The Conclusion, Devgn also discussed several of his upcoming projects with Variety.
The actor said Golmaal 5 has been completed and is scheduled for release in January. He has also finished an untitled project currently known by the working title Ranger, produced by Luv Ranjan.
Devgn is also preparing to begin work on Chauhan.
When asked about another instalment of the Raid franchise, the actor indicated that its continuation would depend on finding the right script.
The Rudra franchise, meanwhile, remains on hold.
Devgn on Bollywood’s Changing Audience
During the conversation at the FICCI-Frames Indian media industry conference in Mumbai, Devgn also spoke about the changing relationship between Indian audiences and theatrical cinema.
He argued that audiences became more exposed to international content during and after the pandemic, raising their expectations of films. According to Devgn, the Hindi film industry has subsequently been adapting to those changes.
He also pointed to the communal nature and relative affordability of a cinema outing in India as factors supporting theatrical viewing.
Ajay Devgn on AI and the Future of Storytelling
Devgn also discussed the growing role of artificial intelligence in entertainment. The actor owns generative AI company Prismix and said he believes AI-generated content will remain part of the entertainment landscape.
“I think it is here to stay. I myself have an AI company,” Devgn said.
He acknowledged that audiences may take time to develop a deeper connection with AI-generated material because they know the content is artificially created. At the same time, he believes the technology will continue to develop and become increasingly relevant to storytelling.
Devgn also revealed that he is developing several scripts with the intention of returning to directing, potentially within the next two years.
Drishyam: The Conclusion Release Date
Directed by Abhishek Pathak, Drishyam: The Conclusion stars Ajay Devgn as Vijay Salgaonkar alongside Tabu, Shriya Saran, Jaideep Ahlawat, Rajat Kapoor, Prakash Raj, Ishita Dutta and Mrunal Jadhav.
The film is scheduled to release in theatres on October 2, 2026.
While the Malayalam and Hindi versions now follow different narrative paths, Devgn’s comments make clear that the Hindi film is intended to provide a definitive ending to Vijay Salgaonkar’s story.
