Jeethu Joseph Says Legal Pressure Prevented Hindi Drishyam 3 From Rolling Before Original

The much-anticipated Drishyam 3, headlined by Malayalam superstar Mohanlal and directed by Jeethu Joseph, is currently in the scripting stage and will go on floors later this year. Amid swirling rumours that the Hindi version, featuring Ajay Devgn, might begin production before the original, director Jeethu has firmly put the speculation to rest.

Jeethu Joseph on Hindi version of Drishyam 3

In a recent interview with Mathrubhumi, Jeethu addressed the buzz surrounding the Hindi version getting a head start and revealed that he had to intervene when plans were being considered to move forward with the remake before the original.

“There were demands on making Malayalam and Hindi versions together, but we haven’t decided on those matters. There were initially some plans to start in Hindi first, but after a hint was given that this would be dealt with legally, they backed off from it,” he stated.

Ajay Devgn stepped into Mohanlal’s shoes for the Hindi adaptation of Drishyam in 2015, which went on to become a critical and commercial success. The sequel, Drishyam 2, followed in 2022 and garnered a similar reception. With Drishyam 3, the franchise is expected to reach its final chapter, tying up the loose ends from previous films.

Jeethu also confirmed that the Malayalam version is set to commence filming from October this year, and only after that will the Hindi version begin production. The director, who has been working under intense pressure to deliver a fitting conclusion, shared an update on his progress: “I finished writing the climax of Drishyam 3 last night. I’ve been under immense pressure for a long time.”

Drishyam franchise

Launched in 2013, the Drishyam franchise has evolved into one of Indian cinema’s most gripping thrillers. The original film follows Georgekutty, a cable TV operator whose seemingly ordinary life spirals into chaos after his family becomes embroiled in a mysterious disappearance.

The film’s popularity led to multiple remakes across languages — including Kannada (with V. Ravichandran), Telugu (with Venkatesh), Tamil (with Kamal Haasan), and Hindi (with Ajay Devgn). Internationally, Drishyam was also remade in Sinhala and Chinese, while adaptations in Indonesian and Korean are reportedly underway.

The second installment was released in Malayalam, Kannada, and Telugu in 2021, followed by the Hindi version in 2022. Earlier this year, Drishyam 3 was officially announced, much to the excitement of fans eager to see how Georgekutty’s saga concludes.

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