Ajay Devgn’s Drishyam 3 delayed as Jeethu Joseph prioritises Malayalam version, warns of legal step

Director Jeethu Joseph has clarified his stance on the production timeline of Drishyam 3, saying that the Malayalam version will roll before any other adaptation. His comments came amid rumours that the Hindi version, starring Ajay Devgn, might begin filming ahead of Mohanlal’s original.

In an interview with Mathrubhumi, Jeethu addressed the issue directly. He said, “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.”

This response seems to have been triggered by recent reports suggesting that Ajay Devgn’s Drishyam 3 could soon go on floors. Jeethu, however, clarified that he is still working on the script. “I finished writing the climax of Drishyam 3 last night. I’ve been under immense pressure for a long time,” he admitted during a recent event.

As per his update, the Malayalam version is likely to begin production around October 2025. The Hindi version will start only after that. The director made it clear that any premature production of the Hindi version would be against the plan, especially as the original story is still being finalised.

Drishyam 3 continues the legacy of the franchise that began in 2013 with Mohanlal in the lead. The story revolves around Georgekutty, a cable operator, and his family as they navigate the aftermath of a missing person’s case involving a top police official’s son.

The first part was remade in several languages, including Kannada (with V Ravichandran), Telugu (Venkatesh), Tamil (Kamal Haasan), and Hindi (Ajay Devgn). It was even adapted in Sinhala and Chinese, and upcoming versions are planned in Indonesian and Korean.

The second part of Drishyam released in Malayalam, Kannada, and Telugu in 2021, followed by the Hindi version in 2022. The third instalment was officially announced earlier this year.

For now, Jeethu Joseph’s message is clear: the original Malayalam version will set the tone, and all others will follow.