October 2 is a date that holds significance for fans of Ajay Devgn’s Drishyam franchise. In keeping with the date’s relevance to the crime drama, the actor and the makers wanted to unveil Drishyam 3’s announcement teaser on October 2. However, it looks like they faced an unlikely hurdle from the original’s makers, writer and director Jeethu Joseph, and producer Antony Perumbavoor.
(L-R) Abhishek Pathak with Ajay Devgn and Kumar Mangat Pathak
It turns out that a one-minute-25-second teaser was cut for the announcement, but the unveiling was postponed. A source says that while producer Kumar Mangat Pathak cited the background music not being ready as the reason for the teaser’s delay, there is more to the story. “There is an understanding between the makers of the Malayalam franchise, Jeethu and Antony, and the Hindi remake’s producer Kumar Mangat. Apparently, one of the adaptation clauses states that the Hindi team cannot make any announcement about their film’s content without the permission of the original’s makers,” says the source.
Jeethu Joseph and Pankaj Tripathi
Work on the Malayalam Drishyam 3 has begun with Mohanlal kicking off the shoot on September 22 (Georgekutty in action, Sept 23). In contrast, Devgn will begin the crime drama, which will be helmed by Abhishek Pathak, in December. “After Mohanlal announced the shoot, the Hindi counterpart’s makers announced that their film would release on October 2, 2026. This sudden date announcement did not go down well with Antony and Jeethu. Following this episode, the clause came into effect,” adds the source.
Even before Devgn’s adaptation has gone on floors, there appears to be friction between the stakeholders of the two versions. What’s the cause? We’re told it’s rooted in the Hindi remake. The source reveals, “The original plan was that all the three versions — Malayalam, Hindi, and Telugu starring Mohanlal, Ajay, and Venkatesh respectively — would be released on October 2, 2026, simultaneously. They were to be directed by Jeethu. But Kumar Mangat wanted his son Abhishek to helm the Hindi outing as Drishyam 2 [2022], directed by him, was a blockbuster. That led to a difference of opinion. Now, Antony and Jeethu are keen to release the Malayalam offering before the Hindi counterpart.”
mid-day reached out to Kumar Mangat, Joseph, and Perumbavoor, who didn’t respond till press time.
