Mumbai: Ajay Devgn’s Drishyam: The Conclusion is heading towards a strong theatrical opening, with advance bookings surging a day before the film’s release. Early trade estimates indicate that the third instalment of the popular franchise could register a Rs 50 crore nett opening day in India.
The film, directed by Abhishek Pathak, is scheduled to release on October 2. Strong pre-release demand has already placed Drishyam 3 among the biggest Hindi film openers of 2026, with its projected opening currently trailing only Dhurandhar 2, according to the trade figures cited in the source.
The advance booking performance has also put the film ahead of several other major Hindi releases of the year, including Mirzapur: The Movie and Border 2, based on their reported opening-day figures.
Drishyam 3 advance booking crosses Rs 19 crore
By 10 am on Thursday, Drishyam 3 had recorded Rs 19.75 crore in advance sales in India, according to trade website Sacnilk.
The film had sold more than 5.35 lakh tickets across over 12,000 shows scheduled for Friday, its opening day. The figures indicate substantial interest among audiences before the film has even reached theatres.
The three-day weekend advance booking numbers were stronger still. The film had accumulated Rs 36.25 crore in gross advance sales in India, including block seats, by the same point.
With bookings remaining open through the final hours before release, the film has the opportunity to add significantly to its pre-release total.
Film targets Rs 50 crore opening
The strong advance sales have fuelled expectations of a Rs 50 crore nett opening day for Drishyam 3 in India.
If the estimate materialises, the film would become one of the biggest Hindi openers of 2026. The current advance-booking momentum has placed it behind only Dhurandhar 2 among the year’s Hindi releases, according to the trade estimates cited.
For comparison, Mirzapur: The Movie reportedly opened at Rs 28.11 crore, while Border 2 recorded Rs 32.10 crore on its opening day.
The numbers underline the scale of anticipation surrounding the conclusion to the Drishyam story. The franchise has developed a substantial audience over the years, with Ajay Devgn’s portrayal of Vijay Salgaonkar at its centre.
Overseas bookings add to momentum
The film’s pre-release performance is not limited to the domestic market.
Drishyam 3 has reportedly crossed Rs 3 crore in overseas advance sales for its opening day. Its overseas weekend advance gross has also crossed Rs 5 crore.
When domestic and international pre-sales are considered together, the film is on course to approach Rs 50 crore in worldwide advance bookings before its theatrical release.
The overseas figures provide another indication of the franchise’s reach, while the domestic numbers remain the biggest contributor to expectations surrounding the opening day.
Drishyam 3 surpasses predecessor’s advance sales
One of the notable aspects of the early booking trend is that Drishyam 3 has already moved well ahead of the advance sales recorded by its predecessor, Drishyam 2.
The earlier film benefited from strong audience interest when it arrived in theatres, eventually becoming a major commercial success. The third instalment is now entering cinemas with an even larger pre-release booking cushion.
The advance response also suggests that audiences are keen to see how the story of Vijay Salgaonkar and his family concludes.
However, advance booking figures are not the same as final box office collections. The eventual opening will depend on walk-in audiences, occupancy, show availability and ticket sales on the release day.
Ajay Devgn returns as Vijay Salgaonkar
Drishyam: The Conclusion brings Ajay Devgn back as Vijay Salgaonkar, the central character of the franchise.
Vijay is portrayed as a family man who goes to extraordinary lengths to protect his family and keep its secrets hidden. The character has become one of the defining roles in Devgn’s recent filmography.
The third film continues the story established in the earlier instalments and is positioned as the conclusion to the Hindi Drishyam franchise.
Alongside Devgn, the film features Shriya Saran, Ishita Dutta, Tabu, Jaideep Ahlawat and Mrunal Jadhav.
The return of several familiar characters, combined with the promise of a final chapter, has contributed to the anticipation surrounding the release.
October 2 release puts focus on opening weekend
Drishyam: The Conclusion will arrive in cinemas on October 2, giving the film an extended opening period around the holiday calendar.
The release timing is expected to provide the film with an opportunity to attract audiences over the opening weekend. Strong advance bookings have already created a sizeable base before the first show begins.
The film’s reported domestic opening-day advance gross is nearing Rs 20 crore, while the three-day advance gross has crossed Rs 36 crore. With final-day bookings still to be counted, the pre-release numbers could rise further.
The crucial question now is whether the strong advance demand will translate into the projected Rs 50 crore nett opening.
Strong start expected for Drishyam 3
The early numbers have established Drishyam: The Conclusion as one of the most anticipated Hindi releases of 2026.
With more than 5.35 lakh tickets already sold for Friday and advance sales approaching Rs 20 crore in India, the film has entered its release day with a substantial pre-sales base. Overseas bookings have added further momentum, while the film has already surpassed its predecessor’s advance-sales performance.
The final opening-day figure will depend on ticket sales on October 2, including last-minute bookings and walk-ins.
For now, the advance response points towards a major opening for Ajay Devgn’s Drishyam 3, with the film targeting the Rs 50 crore nett mark and aiming to establish itself among the year’s biggest Hindi releases.