Mumbai: Drishyam: The Conclusion, the Hindi-language third instalment of the popular thriller franchise, delivers a tense and crowd-pleasing finale built around family, deception and the consequences of a long-buried crime.
Directed by Abhishek Pathak, the film stars Ajay Devgn as Vijay Salgaonkar, alongside Tabu, Jaideep Ahlawat, Prakash Raj, Shriya Saran, Rajat Kapoor and Ishita Dutta. Released on October 2, 2026, the film runs for approximately 150 minutes.
The story revisits the long-dormant Sameer Deshmukh case, which is reopened after the emergence of fresh evidence. A determined new investigator puts Vijay and his family under renewed pressure, forcing them to once again navigate the dangerous intersection of police investigation, courtroom proceedings and family loyalty.
Ajay Devgn remains the film’s biggest strength. His restrained, almost expressionless portrayal of Vijay gives the character the calculating calm that has become synonymous with the franchise. Jaideep Ahlawat makes an effective addition as the intense new adversary, creating a compelling cat-and-mouse dynamic with Devgn. Tabu also makes a strong impact, particularly in scenes depicting Meera Deshmukh’s grief and determination.
The courtroom sequences, investigative twists and climactic confrontation provide the expected suspense and dramatic payoffs. Importantly, the Hindi film follows an original storyline rather than remaking the Malayalam version, allowing this instalment to develop its own narrative direction.
However, the film is not without shortcomings. The pacing occasionally becomes uneven, while some developments feel over-engineered. Certain twists lack the shock value of the earlier films, and the loud background score sometimes diminishes the tension rather than enhancing it.
Critical responses have generally ranged from positive to mixed, with several reviews placing the film around the 3 to 3.5-star mark. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh gave it a significantly higher rating and described it as the best film in the franchise. Early audience response has also been encouraging.
Verdict
Drishyam: The Conclusion is a well-performed and engaging thriller that retains the franchise’s central themes of family protection, moral ambiguity and calculated deception. It may not match the freshness of the first two films, but it offers a satisfying conclusion to Vijay Salgaonkars journey.
Rating: 3.5/5
For fans of the franchise, this is a theatrical watch, particularly for Ajay Devgn’s performance, Jaideep Ahlawat’s antagonist and the film’s suspenseful final act.
