Venkatesh Sidelined: Will Audience Accept Mohanlal?

Mohanlal’s Drishyam series is one of the most celebrated crime thrillers in Indian cinema. The first installment, directed by Jeethu Joseph, was released in 2013 and became a massive success across all sections of the audience.

Following its blockbuster run, the film was remade in multiple languages, including Telugu, where Venkatesh led the 2014 adaptation.

Drishyam 2 continued the franchise’s winning streak, earning praise for its gripping storytelling and Mohanlal’s stellar performance.

While the original Malayalam version premiered directly on OTT due to the pandemic, the Telugu remake also opted for a digital release, with Jeethu Joseph himself directing it.

Now, Drishyam 3 is officially confirmed. Mohanlal shared the announcement with the caption, “The past never remains silent… Drishyam 3 confirmed,” along with a picture featuring Jeethu Joseph and producer Antony Perumbavoor.

Meanwhile, Telugu audiences are keen to know whether Venkatesh will reprise his role in the remake. Having headlined the first two installments, fans believe he should continue in Drishyam 3 as well.

Some even feel Venkatesh should have been involved in the film’s initial announcement, given that Mohanlal alone doesn’t have the pan-India pull to represent the franchise. In Telugu, Drishyam is synonymous with Venkatesh, just as Ajay Devgn leads the Hindi version.

However, Venkatesh is currently focused on his upcoming projects, including a collaboration with Anil Ravipudi. With his recent blockbuster Sankranthiki Vasthunnam, it remains to be seen when he will bring Drishyam 3 to Telugu screens.