The long-running cat-and-mouse game between Vijay Salgaonkar and the police takes a darker turn in the trailer of Drishyam: The Conclusion. Ajay Devgn returns as Vijay, while Tabu reprises her role as Meera Deshmukh and Jaideep Ahlawat enters the franchise as a new Crime Branch officer determined to uncover the truth.

Released on September 9, the trailer sets up the third film as the concluding chapter of Vijay's decade-long struggle to protect his family from the consequences of the murder at the centre of the franchise. The film, directed by Abhishek Pathak, will arrive in theatres on October 2, 2026. 

Jaideep Ahlawat Enters as a New Threat

The biggest addition to the franchise is Jaideep Ahlawat, who plays SP Crime Branch Rajveer Singh Tomar. Unlike the earlier investigations, Rajveer appears determined to approach Vijay's case from a fresh angle and challenge the carefully constructed story that has protected the Salgaonkar family for years.

The trailer presents him as a sharp and persistent investigator, adding a new dimension to the familiar battle between Vijay and law enforcement.

Ahlawat's character is not simply presented as a replacement for Akshaye Khanna's police officer from Drishyam 2. At the film's trailer launch, Ahlawat himself clarified that his character is a new addition to the story rather than a replacement for Khanna's character. 

Tabu's Meera Wants Revenge

Tabu returns as IG Meera Deshmukh, whose son Sameer was killed in the events that triggered the original Drishyamstory.

The new trailer shows Meera's pursuit becoming more personal. The character is no longer presented as being satisfied merely with establishing Vijay's involvement. Her anger has reached a point where revenge appears to have become her motivation.

The trailer also brings back Rajat Kapoor as Mahesh Deshmukh, while Shriya Saran returns as Nandini Salgaonkar. 

Vijay Salgaonkar Faces His Toughest Test

Vijay has repeatedly relied on preparation, timing and carefully constructed explanations to keep his family safe. But Drishyam: The Conclusion appears to challenge the very strategy that made him so difficult to defeat.

The trailer suggests that Vijay understands the threat has changed. Instead of another straightforward police investigation, he now faces a combination of experienced investigators and people personally invested in exposing him.

Prakash Raj also joins the cast as a lawyer who recognises that Vijay cannot be underestimated simply because he lacks formal education. 

The result is a familiar Drishyam setup with a significantly larger challenge: can Vijay stay ahead when the people pursuing him have begun anticipating his methods?

Why October 2 Matters to the Franchise

The release date carries particular significance for Drishyam fans. The film will open in cinemas on October 2, 2026, continuing the franchise's association with the date that became an important part of Vijay's original alibi and the series' recurring pop-culture reference. 

The makers have positioned the film as the final chapter of the Hindi franchise, promising to bring the long-running mystery surrounding the Salgaonkar family to its decisive stage.

Akshaye Khanna's Absence

One of the notable changes in the cast is the absence of Akshaye Khanna, who played a police officer in Drishyam 2.

His departure was reported before production began, and Jaideep Ahlawat's arrival initially led to speculation that he would effectively take over the earlier character's position. However, Ahlawat has said his role is a new character rather than a replacement. 

The distinction is significant because it suggests the filmmakers are expanding the investigation rather than simply repeating the previous film's police-versus-Vijay dynamic.

The Final Game Begins on October 2

Directed by Abhishek Pathak, Drishyam: The Conclusion also stars Ishita Dutta, Mrunal Jadhav and Kamlesh Sawant, alongside Devgn, Tabu, Shriya Saran, Ahlawat and Prakash Raj. (Bollywood Hungama)

The trailer deliberately keeps the central mystery unresolved: whether Vijay can once again protect his family or whether the accumulated pressure will finally expose what happened.

After two films built around deception, evidence and psychological games, the third instalment is promising a final confrontation in which Vijay may have fewer options than ever before.

The trailer of Drishyam The Conclusion introduces a bigger challenge for Ajay Devgn’s Vijay Salgaonkar as he faces pressure from Tabu’s Meera Deshmukh along with new opponents played by Jaideep Ahlawat and Prakash Raj.

The makers of Drishyam The Conclusion have released the trailer of the much-awaited third instalment of the franchise, bringing back Ajay Devgn as Vijay Salgaonkar in another intense battle of strategy, secrets and survival.The film’s trailer shows Vijay facing a new set of challenges as he tries to protect his family while dealing with powerful opponents. Along with the returning character of Meera Deshmukh, played by Tabu, Vijay now finds himself up against new threats portrayed by Jaideep Ahlawat and Prakash Raj.The film is scheduled to release in theatres on October 2.

Vijay Salgaonkar’s biggest challenge yet

The trailer continues the story of Vijay Salgaonkar, a family man known for using his intelligence to protect his loved ones.This time, the character faces a three-way challenge involving a crime branch officer played by Jaideep Ahlawat, lawyer Prakash Raj and Tabu’s Meera Deshmukh, who returns with her pursuit for answers.The central question remains — how far will Vijay go to save his family and protect the truth he believes in?

Ajay Devgn returns as the mastermind

The makers had earlier revealed the first poster of the film featuring a close-up of Ajay Devgn’s eye, along with the line reflecting Vijay’s belief that his family remains his ultimate priority.The teaser released earlier also hinted at Vijay’s mindset and his complicated relationship with truth, justice and morality.The franchise revolves around Vijay Salgaonkar, who uses his presence of mind and planning to protect his family after they become involved in a criminal investigation.

New faces join returning cast

Along with Ajay Devgn and Tabu, Shriya Saran will reprise her role from the earlier films.The third part introduces Prakash Raj and Jaideep Ahlawat in new roles, adding another layer of conflict to Vijay’s story.Drishyam The Conclusion is directed by Abhishek Pathak and backed by Star Studio18 and Panorama Studios.

Among the first celebrities to react was Alia Bhatt, who shared a brief message on Instagram, writing, “Gen Z showed up. The rest is history.” Her post quickly gained traction online and echoed the broader sentiment that young people had played a decisive role in the movement.

Actor Priyanka Chopra also acknowledged the development through a series of Instagram Stories. She shared posts highlighting the month-long student protests and activist Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike, adding applause, heart and emotional emojis. In another story, she reposted a message describing the outcome as “a victory for the new generation” before sharing a photograph of Wangchuk without any caption.

Veteran actor Shabana Azmi congratulated the students but stressed that the resignation should not be viewed as the end of the campaign. Speaking to PTI, she said the development was only the first step and argued that the movement should continue until broader reforms are introduced in the education system and students' demands are addressed.

Actor Prakash Raj, who has frequently commented on public issues, praised the protesters and those who supported the movement. In a social media post, he congratulated the students and activist Sonam Wangchuk, writing that they had demonstrated how determined public action could compel governments to respond.

Comedian Vir Das described the outcome as a victory for students, encouraging them to celebrate what they had achieved. Fellow comedian Samay Raina also extended his support with a short message wishing the student community more strength.

Actor Abhishek Banerjee updated his profile picture and congratulated the younger generation, urging people to remain united. His post emphasised that solidarity makes communities stronger, while division weakens collective efforts.

Filmmakers Reema Kagti and Zoya Akhtar also reacted online. Kagti described Generation Z as a source of hope, while Zoya Akhtar highlighted democracy by stating that political power ultimately belongs to the people.

Actors Bhumi Pednekar, Huma Qureshi and Ishaan Khatter echoed similar sentiments. Bhumi said the movement had inspired people across the country and expressed hope that it would lead to meaningful reforms in educational institutions. Huma saluted the country's youth, while Ishaan called the development a victory for both India and democracy, saying the collective voice of millions had overcome years of indifference.

Support also came from actors Swara Bhasker and Tillotama Shome. Swara, who had publicly backed the protests from the beginning, shared videos of students celebrating at Jantar Mantar and described the resignation as a major victory for the movement. Tillotama thanked India's youth for their determination and perseverance.

Actor Vijay Varma posted two cryptic Instagram Stories that were widely interpreted as criticism of the government. One referred to the resignation in a satirical tone, while another quoted a popular Bollywood song lyric, prompting widespread discussion on social media.

Actors Sanya Malhotra, Riddhi Dogra, Ayesha Khan and several digital creators also expressed solidarity with students, calling for greater transparency, accountability and reforms in the education sector. Riddhi Dogra shared a detailed note on democracy, saying it had been built over time by people who continued to care and participate, and urged young citizens to use their voices with empathy and responsibility.

Dharmendra Pradhan resigned after weeks of nationwide protests over alleged examination paper leaks and education-related issues. The government subsequently accepted his resignation, while protest organisers announced the suspension of demonstrations after key demands, including leadership changes and reform commitments, were accepted.

The widespread response from the entertainment industry reflected how the student movement resonated beyond politics, with several public figures describing it as an example of youth participation and democratic engagement.