Mumbai: Ajay Devgn’s much-awaited Drishyam 3 is heading for a major theatrical release on October 2, and early trade estimates suggest the film could register one of the biggest openings of the actor’s career.
The third chapter of the popular Drishyam franchise is benefiting from strong advance bookings, high audience anticipation and the Gandhi Jayanti holiday. With the holiday falling on Friday, the film will also get the advantage of a three-day opening weekend.
Strong Advance Booking Before Release
According to trade analyst Ramesh Bala, Drishyam 3 had already generated around ₹10 crore through advance sales ahead of its release.
Bala said the franchise’s strong recall value has played a major role in driving early bookings. He expects ticket sales to increase further as more shows and screens become available closer to release.
Trade analyst Sumit Kadel has also reported strong advance demand, particularly at major national cinema chains.
Kadel expects the film to cross the advance-booking benchmark previously set by Ajay Devgn’s Singham Again, which sold around 2.27 lakh tickets for Day 1 across PVR INOX and Cinepolis. According to his estimate, Drishyam 3 could reach between 2.5 lakh and 3 lakh tickets at these chains.
How Much Can Drishyam 3 Earn on Day 1?
The trade estimates currently place the film’s opening day collection in a broad range.
Ramesh Bala expects Drishyam 3 to collect around ₹50-55 crore net in India on its first day. He believes the Gandhi Jayanti holiday, franchise popularity and strong advance bookings could provide a significant boost.
Sumit Kadel has given a slightly wider estimate of ₹45-50 crore net, while suggesting that the film could potentially reach the ₹55-60 crore mark because of higher ticket prices and the national holiday.
If these estimates materialise, Drishyam 3 would be positioned for a major opening at the domestic box office.
Opening Weekend Could Cross ₹150 Crore
The film is also expected to benefit from the timing of its release. With Friday being a national holiday, followed by Saturday and Sunday, the movie has a favourable three-day opening window.
Bala has estimated an opening weekend of around ₹140-160 crore net, provided the film receives a positive response from audiences.
Kadel has projected a slightly higher range of ₹160-170 crore net if the film gets strong word of mouth.
These figures remain trade predictions and will ultimately depend on actual ticket sales, occupancy and audience response after release.
Drishyam 3 vs Malayalam Franchise
The Hindi Drishyam films are part of the wider franchise associated with Mohanlal’s Malayalam movies. However, Kadel has pointed out that the upcoming Hindi film is expected to follow a different story rather than directly remake the Malayalam version.
The Hindi film will also have a considerably wider theatrical release and access to a larger Hindi-speaking audience.
The final box-office performance will depend on factors including the screenplay, performances, audience response and reviews once the movie reaches cinemas.
Ajay Devgn, Tabu and Shriya Saran Return
Ajay Devgn, Shriya Saran and Tabu are returning to their respective roles in Drishyam 3.
The film also features Jaideep Ahlawat, who plays SP Crime Branch Rajveer Singh Tomar. His character is expected to pursue Ajay Devgn’s character and his family.
With advance bookings showing strong momentum and the October 2 holiday providing an additional boost, Drishyam 3 is entering theatres with substantial box-office expectations.
