Malayalam cinema’s most popular suspense thriller franchise, ‘Drishyam,’ is once again ready to rock the big screen. Fans are excited about ‘Drishyam 3,’ directed by Jeetu Joseph, but before the film’s release, the star cast’s fees and movie budget have become a major topic of discussion. According to reports, the film’s cast has significantly increased their fees this time, with superstar Mohanlal leading the charge.
Drishyam 3 is reportedly the most expensive movie and has the highest budget in the franchise. Mohanlal is also said to have hiked his fees considerably when compared to the salary he charged for the first Drishyam movie. Mohanlal has been in the news for his film ‘Drishyam 3’.
Malayalam cinema superstar Mohanlal is bringing the third installment of his superhit franchise ‘Drishyam’. Audiences are eagerly awaiting this crime thriller. The film is scheduled to release in theaters on May 21, 2026. Let’s find out how much the star cast has received in fees before the film’s release.
Drishyam 3 is all set to storm the cinema halls on May 21. The Mohanlal starrer crime thriller is believed to be the concluding chapter of the franchise that began in 2013, with its sequel releasing in 2021 directly on OTT. The threequel has huge hype surrounding it, and the worldwide pre-sales have already crossed the ₹20 crore mark. Drishyam 3 is eyeing one of the biggest box office openings.
Drishyam 3 Movie Budget
Drishyam 3 is reportedly mounted on a massive budget of around ₹100 crore, making it one of the costliest Malayalam films ever and in recent times. The reported budget of the movie raises eyebrows as the first two Drishyam movies were made on a modest budget of under ₹5-6 crore.
Drishyam 3 Cast Fees
Many actors from the previous films will be reprising their roles in Drishyam 3. Meena, Ansiba Hassan, and Esther Anil will reprise their roles alongside Mohanlal. Siddique, Asha Sharath, and Murali Gopi will be seen in supporting roles. Jeetu Joseph is the director of the film. Apart from the main cast, the film will also feature Siddique, Veena Nandakumar, and others in key roles.
Mohanlal Is Charging INR 20 Crore
According to reports, Mohanlal is returning to the big screen once again as Georgekutty. He is charging 20 crore rupees from the makers for playing this role in ‘Drishyam 3’. It is being said that this fee is several times more than what he received for this role before.
Reports claim that the superstar received only 5 to 6 crore rupees for ‘Drishyam’. Meanwhile, he was paid 10 to 12 crore rupees for ‘Drishyam 2’.
How much did the actress Meena charge for her role?
Actress Meena, who played Georgekutty’s wife ‘Rani’ in the film, has also seen a significant increase in her fee. While she charged between 15 and 25 lakh rupees for the first part, she is now reportedly receiving around 75 lakh rupees for ‘Drishyam 3’.
How much are Georgekutty’s daughters charging?
The earnings of the actors playing Georgekutty’s daughters have also increased this time. Esther Anil, who played the younger daughter ‘Anu’, received approximately 25 lakh rupees. Ansiba Hassan, who played the elder daughter ‘Anju’, reportedly charged 1 crore rupees.
Drishyam 3 Gets U/A 13+ Certificate
The upcoming thriller has already received a U/A 13+ certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification ahead of its theatrical release. The story will once again follow Georgekutty and his family as they continue to live under suspicion surrounding the disappearance of a senior police officer’s son.
Both previous films in the franchise were praised for their gripping storytelling, suspense-driven screenplay, and unexpected twists. Along with critical acclaim, the films also emerged as major commercial successes.
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About The Drishyam Franchise
The original Malayalam film was released in 2013, while the sequel arrived in 2021. Over the years, the franchise has been adapted into several languages, including Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu.
The Hindi adaptation stars Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shriya Saran, Ishita Dutta, and Mrunal Jadhav. While the first Hindi film was directed by Nishikant Kamat, Abhishek Pathak later took over the franchise following the filmmaker’s death. The Hindi version of Drishyam 3 is scheduled to release on October 2, 2026.
What is the runtime of Drishyam 3?
Drishyam 3 has a runtime of 156 minutes. This duration ensures that the film can delve deeply into the complex narrative of Georgekutty’s life and the consequences of his past actions, making it a gripping experience for the audience.