‘Drishyam: The Conclusion’ vs ‘Drishyam 3’: How Ajay Devgn and Mohanlal’s films are different

For years, Ajay Devgn’s Vijay Salgaonkar and Mohanlal’s Georgekutty followed almost the same trail. However, ‘Drishyam: The Conclusion’ follows a different script and takes the Hindi franchise towards its own ending.

The first two Hindi films followed the storylines of the Malayalam originals, but ‘Drishyam: The Conclusion’ has been written as a new story rather than being another adaptation of Jeethu Joseph’s third film. Ajay Devgn confirmed ahead of the release that this is the first film in the franchise with a completely different script.

Two films, two different ‘Drishyam’ worlds

The Malayalam Drishyam franchise began with Mohanlal as Georgekutty in the 2013 original, directed by Jeethu Joseph. The second part arrived in 2021 and continued the story of Georgekutty and his family.

The third Malayalam film, ‘Drishyam 3’, was released worldwide on May 21, 2026. Mohanlal returned as Georgekutty, with Meena as Rani, Ansiba Hassan as Anju and Esther Anil as Anu. Asha Sharath and Siddique also returned as Geetha and Prabhakar, while Murali Gopy joined the main cast as IG Thomas Bastin. Jeethu Joseph once again wrote and directed the film, with Antony Perumbavoor producing it under Aashirvad Cinemas.

The story jumps ahead by four and a half years after the events of ‘Drishyam 2’, with Georgekutty and his family still living with the consequences of their past. The film continues to focus on the family and the pressure created by the secret they have been carrying.

Also Read: Drishyam 1 and 2 recap: Everything to remember before watching Drishyam 3 

The Hindi franchise, meanwhile, took a different route with its third chapter. ‘Drishyam: The Conclusion’ hit theatres on October 2, 2026, with Ajay Devgn returning as Vijay Salgaonkar. Abhishek Pathak, who directed Drishyam 2, is back behind the camera. Tabu, Shriya Saran, Rajat Kapoor, Ishita Dutta, Mrunal Jadhav and Kamlesh Sawant reprise their roles, while Jaideep Ahlawat and Prakash Raj are among the new additions.

The Hindi film does not follow Mohanlal’s third chapter

Rather than adapting ‘Drishyam 3’, the Hindi makers developed a separate screenplay for Vijay Salgaonkar. The story begins from the point where ‘Drishyam 2’ left off, but the events that follow are different from Georgekutty's journey in the Malayalam film.

Abhishek Pathak has described the Hindi film as an original story for this version of the franchise. Ajay Devgn has also stressed that the makers did not simply make changes to the Malayalam screenplay. According to him, an entirely new script was written for the Hindi film.

That means viewers who have already watched Mohanlal's ‘Drishyam 3’ should not expect the same twists or climax in Ajay Devgn's film. The central idea remains familiar, with a family trying to protect itself from the consequences of a crime, but Vijay and Georgekutty now have separate paths.

Before the release, Ajay Devgn revealed that he personally spoke to Mohanlal because he wanted the Malayalam star to watch the Hindi film and respond to their version of the story. He said he wanted Mohanlal's approval and felt that his response would be important.

Also Read: Wanted to end 'Drishyam' franchise on a high: Director Abhishek Pathak

The connection between the two actors goes back to the beginning of the Hindi franchise. The 2015 ‘Drishyam’, starring Devgn, was a Hindi remake of Mohanlal's 2013 Malayalam film. ‘Drishyam 2’ also followed the storyline of Jeethu Joseph's Malayalam sequel before the two versions eventually split with their third chapters.

Same premise, different endings

Despite the differences, both films remain rooted in the same question that has driven the franchise from the beginning: how far can a family go to protect its secret?

In the Malayalam film, the story continues Georgekutty's journey with the original cast and creative team intact. The Hindi film, on the other hand, brings Vijay Salgaonkar's story to its own conclusion with a new screenplay and new characters entering the investigation.

There is also a difference in where the two franchises stand after their third films. ‘Drishyam: The Conclusion’ has been presented as the final chapter of the Hindi series, with Pathak saying there are no plans to revisit the Hindi franchise after this film. The Malayalam story, meanwhile, has been allowed to develop separately under Jeethu Joseph and Mohanlal.