The Ajay Devgn-led thriller Drishyam 3 is staring at a steep fall on its first Monday, with early trends pointing to a drop of roughly 70 per cent compared to its opening day. The film, which arrived in theatres on October 2, had a strong extended weekend behind it, but the weekday crash has now raised a familiar question for trade watchers: can it still push past the Rs 200 crore mark?
A 70 per cent slide on day four is not unusual for a mass-appeal title, yet it stings more for a film that was expected to hold firmer thanks to its franchise loyalty and the holiday period. Monday collections are typically the first honest test of a film's staying power, and for Drishyam 3, that test has come back mixed.
A Weekend Boost That Now Needs Legs
Released on October 2, 2026, Drishyam 3 opened to healthy occupancy across multiplexes and single screens, riding on the goodwill of its two predecessors and the return of Devgn as Vijay Salgaonkar. The weekend numbers, while not disclosed here, were strong enough to place the film among the bigger openers of the year. The real concern now is whether the weekday audience will show up at a level that keeps the film alive through its second weekend.
The 70 per cent dip on Monday suggests that a chunk of the opening crowd was made up of franchise fans and holiday viewers who have already watched the film. For Drishyam 3 to cross Rs 200 crore, it will need to stabilise on Tuesday and Wednesday, then post a solid second-weekend hold. That is possible, but far from guaranteed.
What the Film Offers
Directed by Abhishek Pathak, Drishyam 3 picks up years after Vijay Salgaonkar outsmarted the police. A fresh piece of evidence threatens to expose the secret he has guarded for so long, forcing him to once again outthink the system to protect his family. The film runs 148 minutes and blends thriller, drama, mystery and crime elements, staying true to the tone of the earlier instalments.
The cast is a major draw. Ajay Devgn returns as Vijay, with Tabu as Meera Deshmukh and Jaideep Ahlawat as SP Rajveer Singh Tomar. Shriya Saran plays Nandini Salgaonkar, while Rajat Kapoor appears as Mahesh Deshmukh and Prakash Raj as Public Prosecutor Indrajith Shetty. Ishita Dutta and Mrunal Jadhav reprise their roles as Anju and Anu Salgaonkar.
The film currently holds a TMDb rating of 8 out of 10, indicating that those who have watched it are responding well. Strong word of mouth is often the difference between a steep weekday fall and a manageable one, and here the rating offers some reason for optimism.
The Road to Rs 200 Crore
Crossing Rs 200 crore is not impossible, but the math is tight. If Monday lands anywhere near 30 per cent of opening day, the film will need to rely heavily on evening and night shows through the week and a strong second weekend. A further drop on Tuesday would make the target harder. A flat or slightly improved Tuesday would keep the dream alive.
The Hindi film market has seen films recover from steep Monday falls before, usually when the content connects with family audiences and the film holds better in the mass belts. Drishyam 3 has the advantage of a recognisable brand and a cast that draws viewers across age groups. What it lacks, at least on current trends, is the kind of opening-week momentum that guarantees a Rs 200 crore finish without a fight.
What to Watch
The next two days will be decisive. If Drishyam 3 holds at or above Monday's level on Tuesday, the Rs 200 crore question becomes a genuine possibility. If it slips further, the film may settle for a respectable total below that mark. For now, the trade is watching Tuesday's numbers closely, and so is everyone who backed this franchise to deliver another big win for Ajay Devgn.
Source: Filmibeat
