Mumbai, Oct 4: Ajay Devgnm starrer Drishyam 3: The Conclusion has made a powerful start at the Indian box office, giving the popular thriller franchise its biggest opening yet. Released in theatres on October 2, the film has attracted audiences in large numbers during the extended Gandhi Jayanti weekend.
The third instalment has also delivered the biggest opening of Ajay Devgn’s career, signalling strong interest in the concluding chapter of the franchise. According to box-office figures reported on October 3 and 4, the film collected around Rs 66.75 crore net in India on its first day. Its second-day performance also remained strong, taking the overall domestic tally past the Rs 100 crore mark.
The opening is particularly significant because the earlier two Hindi films in the series had started on a considerably smaller scale. The 2015 original reportedly opened at around Rs 5.85 crore, while Drishyam 2, released in 2022, earned approximately Rs 15.38 crore on its first day. The latest release has therefore expanded the franchise’s commercial reach substantially.
The strong beginning was supported by substantial advance demand before the movie reached cinemas. Reports said the film had generated sizeable advance bookings, helping establish expectations for a major opening. Once the film opened, favourable audience reactions and word-of-mouth further strengthened its momentum.
Ajay Devgn returns as Vijay Salgaonkar
At the centre of Drishyam 3 is Vijay Salgaonkar, the character played by Ajay Devgn throughout the Hindi franchise. Vijay’s ability to remain several steps ahead of investigators has been the defining feature of the series.
The new chapter brings another challenge for the character as the investigation surrounding the earlier events comes under renewed scrutiny. The film builds its suspense around whether Vijay can once again protect his family and keep his carefully constructed version of events intact.
Devgn’s restrained performance has emerged as one of the major talking points surrounding the film. Rather than depending entirely on action or dramatic outbursts, the actor’s portrayal relies heavily on controlled expressions, pauses and Vijay’s seemingly calm behaviour when confronted with pressure.
The returning cast includes Tabu as Meera Deshmukh and Shriya Saran, while Jaideep Ahlawat joins the central conflict as SP Rajveer Singh Tomar. Prakash Raj is also part of the cast, along with Rajat Kapoor, Ishita Dutta, Mrunal Jadhav, Kamlesh Sawant, Saurabh Shukla and Neha Joshi.
Jaideep Ahlawat adds a new challenge
One of the key additions to the third film is Jaideep Ahlawat, whose character represents a fresh investigative threat to Vijay.
His presence changes the dynamics of the familiar cat-and-mouse structure. Instead of simply revisiting the earlier conflict, the film introduces another determined police officer who is interested in finding gaps in Vijay’s account.
Ahlawat’s performance has received particular appreciation from industry figures. Filmmaker Karan Johar reviewed the movie positively and praised the performances of Devgn and Ahlawat, while also congratulating director Abhishek Pathak and the wider team.
The reaction has added to the film’s momentum at a time when theatrical releases are increasingly competing with a large number of streaming options. A strong franchise identity, familiar characters and the promise of a final chapter have helped the movie create curiosity among viewers.
Final chapter draws franchise followers
The Drishyam series has built its popularity around suspense, family protection and the question of how far an ordinary person can go to shield loved ones. The first two films established Vijay Salgaonkar as a character who relies more on planning and observation than physical strength.
The third film carries the additional responsibility of bringing that story to a conclusion.
Directed by Abhishek Pathak, the movie has a reported runtime of about two and a half hours and has received a U/A certificate. The screenplay has been credited to Aamil Keeyan Khan and Parveez Shaikh. The production team includes Alok Jain, Ajit Andhare, Kumar Mangat Pathak and Abhishek Pathak.
The film’s release during the holiday period has also worked in its favour. With audiences having additional time for cinema visits, the movie has benefited from strong occupancy and sustained interest after its opening day.
Its performance is being closely watched because the franchise has now moved well beyond the scale of its original film. The first Drishyam became known primarily through word-of-mouth and its suspense-driven storytelling, while the third instalment has entered theatres as a major commercial event.
Strong weekend could determine its next milestone
The opening figures have put Drishyam 3 in a strong position for the remainder of the weekend. The second day’s performance indicated that the film was not dependent solely on advance bookings and could maintain audience interest after its initial release.
Reports on October 3 showed the film moving rapidly towards and beyond the Rs 100 crore domestic benchmark, while global figures were also reported to be strong.
The next few days will determine whether the film can sustain its pace beyond the holiday period. A stable run on weekdays would further strengthen its position and could turn the concluding chapter into one of the year’s major Hindi theatrical successes.
For Ajay Devgn, the early numbers represent a significant achievement. The film has not only outperformed the opening days of its predecessors but has also given him his strongest opening as a lead actor.
For audiences, however, the central attraction remains the fate of Vijay Salgaonkar. After two films built around elaborate planning and unexpected twists, the final question is whether he can escape the latest threat or whether the investigation will finally expose the truth.
With its strong theatrical start and positive response from several industry voices, Drishyam 3: The Conclusion has turned its release weekend into a major Bollywood box-office story.