'Expectations are sky-high but I am trying something different' - Jeethu Joseph wary of unprecedented hype around Drishyam 3

Arguably, the biggest pan-India franchise right now, the Drishyam series redefined storytelling when it comes to the thriller genre. In 2013, when director Jeethu Joseph and superstar Mohanlal came together for this low-profile flick, little did anybody realise the gamechanger it went on to be, as it set several historic benchmarks during the theatrical run.

 

After being an unprecedented blockbuster at the box office, it then gained cult status across India and also got remade into other languages. Drishyam was also one of those elite films that became part of the pan-India movement that pushed the popularity of Malayalam industry across the country.

 

Eight years later, amidst the COVID19 pandemic, Drishyam-2 arrived, not in theatres but directly on Amazon Prime Video. However, the film still gained phenomenal response and the franchise only grew stronger with this installment, re-establishing Mohanlal's Georgekutty as one of Indian cinema's iconic characters. While the makers did regret not being able to release the film theatrically during that period, it was evident that a third installment would generate over-the-roof hype, whenever the announcement was to be made.

 

After three years of rumours aplenty, Drishyam-3 was officially announced in June 2025 with Jeethu Joseph aiming for a simultaneous shoot for the Malayalam and Hindi versions, featuring Mohanlal and Ajay Devgan respectively. The hype for the franchise is at an all-time high but with it comes bigger responsibilities too. Like the previous two installments, Jeethu is once again quietly confident of the script he has but knows that exceeding mammoth expectations would be a challenge.

 

"Expectations are sky-high (but) I am trying something different (in Drishyam 3)", said Jeethu in an inteview with Mathrubhumi.

 

"When I made the first part, there were no plans for a sequel. Later, when I decided to do it, my family was skeptical. I told them that I'll give it a try with the script and then take a call on the project. Once I wrote it, they felt it would be a very good film. Now with the third part, I've finished the script and shown it to them. They feel this will also be a good film. But people are having massive expectations, so I don't know, I'm just taking a chance."

 

The shoot of Drishyam-3 is expected to begin in Thodupuzha, tentatively scheduled to go on floors in September 2025.

 

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