Ishita Dutta on Drishyam 3: 'Anju stays with you long after the film ends'
Synopsis
Ishita Dutta says reprising Anju Salgaonkar in Drishyam 3 — billed as the franchise's final chapter — feels both nostalgic and urgent. With Ajay Devgn, Tabu, and Shriya Saran back and the Salgaonkar family's buried secrets set to resurface seven years on, the 2 October 2026 release is shaping up as one of Bollywood's most anticipated conclusions.
Key Takeaways
Ishita Dutta returns as Anju Salgaonkar in Drishyam 3 , the concluding chapter of the franchise.
The film releases in theatres on 2 October 2026 .
The core cast — Ajay Devgn , Tabu , Shriya Saran , and Ishita Dutta — all reprise their roles.
The story is set seven years after the events of Drishyam 2, with new threats resurfacing for the Salgaonkar family.
The film is directed by Abhishek Pathak and produced by Panorama Studios and Star Studio18 .
Actress Ishita Dutta has revealed what draws her back to the world of the Drishyam franchise, ahead of the release of Drishyam 3 — the concluding chapter of one of Hindi cinema's most beloved thriller series. The film is set to hit theatres on 2 October 2026.
What Ishita Said About Returning
Speaking about reprising her role as Anju Salgaonkar, Ishita said the experience carries a unique emotional charge. "Every time I step back into the world of Drishyam, there is a strange mix of nostalgia and excitement. Some characters stay with you long after the film ends, and Anju is definitely one of them. But this time, knowing that we are bringing the final chapter to the audience makes it even more meaningful," she said.
She also spoke to what she believes makes the franchise endure with audiences. "What I love about Drishyam is that it never tells the audience everything upfront. There is always something to think about, something to question. That is what makes returning to this world so exciting," she added.
The Story So Far — and Where It Picks Up
The Drishyam franchise follows Vijay Salgaonkar and his family as they navigate a life-altering crisis after a police officer's son goes missing — and the family becomes implicated in the disappearance. The first two films traced Vijay's extraordinary lengths to shield his loved ones from a tightening investigation.
Drishyam 3 picks up seven years after the events of the second film. The Salgaonkar family has tried to move on and begin afresh, but new developments threaten to drag buried secrets back into the light and shatter the peace they have worked so hard to build.
The Cast and Crew
The third instalment brings back the franchise's core ensemble — Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shriya Saran, and Ishita Dutta — alongside new faces yet to be announced. The film is directed by Abhishek Pathak and written by Abhishek Pathak, Aamil Keeyan Khan, and Parveez Shaikh.
It is presented by Star Studio18 and produced by Panorama Studios, with producers Alok Jain, Ajit Andhare, Kumar Mangat Pathak, and Abhishek Pathak backing the project.
Why This Release Matters
The Drishyam series has been one of the rare Hindi franchise properties to sustain critical and commercial momentum across instalments, with its second chapter outperforming the original at the box office. A third film — billed explicitly as a conclusion — carries the weight of audience expectation built over more than a decade. Notably, the 2 October release slot is one of Bollywood's most competitive, historically favouring films with built-in recall.
With a confirmed release date and the full original cast returning, all eyes are now on whether Drishyam 3 can deliver a satisfying close to the Salgaonkar family's story.
Point of View
But it also raises the stakes considerably: audiences who have invested across two films will scrutinise the conclusion closely. The real question is whether a franchise built on ambiguity can deliver a satisfying, definitive ending without betraying the withholding quality that made it compelling in the first place. Billed conclusions tend to become either franchise highlights or franchise regrets — there is rarely a middle ground.
NationPress
29 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Drishyam 3 release in theatres?
Drishyam 3 is scheduled to release in theatres on 2 October 2026. It is billed as the concluding chapter of the Drishyam franchise.
Who is Ishita Dutta's character in Drishyam 3?
Ishita Dutta reprises her role as Anju Salgaonkar, daughter of the central character Vijay Salgaonkar. She has appeared in the role across all instalments of the franchise.
Which actors are returning for Drishyam 3?
The confirmed returning cast includes Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shriya Saran, and Ishita Dutta. The film also introduces new characters alongside the original ensemble.
What is the plot of Drishyam 3?
Set seven years after the events of Drishyam 2, the film follows the Salgaonkar family as they attempt to move on from their troubled past — only for new developments to threaten their peace and bring hidden secrets back into the open.
Who is directing Drishyam 3?
Drishyam 3 is directed by Abhishek Pathak, who also co-wrote the screenplay alongside Aamil Keeyan Khan and Parveez Shaikh. It is produced by Panorama Studios and presented by Star Studio18.
