Ajay Devgn’s Drishyam: The Conclusion, the third and final instalment of the Hindi Drishyam franchise, released in cinemas on October 2, 2026, the Gandhi Jayanti holiday. Directed by Abhishek Pathak, the thriller brings back Vijay Salgaonkar and pits him against a new and relentless police officer played by Jaideep Ahlawat. Here is our review, based on what the film sets out to do and how critics and audiences have responded so far.
What Is Drishyam: The Conclusion About?
The film picks up the story of Vijay Salgaonkar (Ajay Devgn), the cable operator who has spent two films protecting his family from the consequences of one night. According to The Hollywood Reporter India, this chapter sees Vijay face a crime branch officer who is determined to dig up the truths buried in the earlier films. Jaideep Ahlawat plays that officer, SP Rajveer Singh Tomar.
Ajay Devgn has said in interviews that the Hindi film follows a different story and screenplay from the Malayalam Drishyam 3, as reported by Onmanorama. He has also called it the final instalment of the franchise.
Cast And Crew
- Director: Abhishek Pathak, who also wrote the story
- Screenplay: Abhishek Pathak, Aamil Keeyan Khan and Parveez Shaikh, with dialogues by Aamil Keeyan Khan
- Lead cast: Ajay Devgn, Jaideep Ahlawat, Tabu, Shriya Saran, Ishita Dutta, Mrunal Jadhav, Rajat Kapoor and Prakash Raj
- Music: Songs by Ravi Basrur, Rochak Kohli and Karma, with the background score by Amar Mohile
Tabu returns as Meera Deshmukh, while Shriya Saran and Ishita Dutta return as Vijay’s wife Nandini and elder daughter Anju.
What Works
The biggest plus, according to most reviews, is the face-off between Ajay Devgn and Jaideep Ahlawat. NDTV’s review, which gave the film 3 stars, singled out Ahlawat for adding real weight to the story. The Times of India, at 3.5 stars, called the film immersive and said it holds tension through most of its runtime. Moneycontrol, also at 3.5 stars, said that despite holes in the screenplay, the film keeps the suspense going and gives the story a satisfying ending.
Trade analyst Komal Nahta praised the dialogues, while Taran Adarsh rated it 4.5 stars and called it the best film in the franchise.
What Does Not Work
Several critics felt the film stretches itself. The Times of India noted that the roughly 150-minute runtime starts to drag towards the end. The Hindustan Times review (3 stars) found enough drama and nostalgia but questioned how believable some turns are, adding that the magic of the first Drishyam is hard to recreate. The Indian Express (3 stars) felt the loud background music works against the storytelling, and India Today (3 stars) called it a good thriller but wondered whether the franchise deserved a bigger send-off.
Box Office: Audiences Have Turned Up
Whatever the critics think, the audience has clearly shown up. As per Sacnilk figures reported by Outlook India, the film earned Rs 62 crore net in India on day one and Rs 53.50 crore on day two, taking its two-day India total to Rs 115.50 crore. Its worldwide gross stood at Rs 177.10 crore after two days. The holiday release clearly helped.
Verdict
Drishyam: The Conclusion does what a franchise finale is supposed to do. It brings back characters fans care about, adds a strong new opponent in Jaideep Ahlawat and gives Vijay Salgaonkar’s story a proper ending. The reviews suggest it is not as sharp or as surprising as the first film, and the length could have been trimmed. But if you have followed Vijay’s journey since 2015, this is worth a trip to the theatre, ideally with friends who have also seen the first two films.
Rating: 3.5/5
FAQs
When did Drishyam: The Conclusion release?
It released in cinemas on October 2, 2026.
Who plays the new cop in Drishyam: The Conclusion?
Jaideep Ahlawat plays SP Rajveer Singh Tomar, the officer investigating Vijay Salgaonkar.
Is Drishyam: The Conclusion the same as the Malayalam Drishyam 3?
No. Ajay Devgn has said the Hindi film has a different story and screenplay from the Malayalam version.
