Drishyam 3 has started like a true event film. The Ajay Devgn and Tabu crime thriller, directed by Abhishek Pathak, crossed Rs 175 crore in its domestic opening weekend. Now the first Monday is showing how much of that opening was pure event rush and how much is word of mouth.
The team driving this final stretch
Drishyam 3, the new chapter in the Drishyam franchise, brings Ajay Devgn and Tabu together for their 11th collaboration. The cast also includes Rajat Kapoor, Prakash Raj, Jaideep Ahlawat, Shriya Saran and Ishita Dutt. The film moves the franchise closer to its final chapter, and that finale buzz has been visible in the advance sales.
How the opening weekend unfolded
The film delivered one of 2026’s strongest starts, with a Rs 62 crore opening day. It then moved in the way big franchise releases often do: a dip on Saturday, a Sunday rebound, and a Monday test.
- Day 1: Rs 62 crore
- Day 2: Rs 53.5 crore
- Day 3 (Sunday): Rs 61 crore
- Opening weekend: crossed Rs 175 crore
That makes it the second-highest opening weekend of 2026 at the domestic box office, according to trade reports cited by Filmibeat.
Monday’s first reading
Morning shows on day 4 recorded 12.92% occupancy, a fall of over 69% from the weekend’s footfalls. Trade estimates therefore point to a 70% drop for the full day, with a projected collection of Rs 15-20 crore. By 1 pm, the film had added Rs 4.26 crore in India.
Advance booking for the first Monday stood at Rs 9.1 crore from 3.28 lakh tickets. So far, Drishyam 3 has accumulated Rs 111.61 crore in total advance bookings for its run. The Monday advance shows that part of the day was locked in advance, while the rest depends on spot bookings.
Why Monday matters more than the weekend
A Rs 15-20 crore Monday would take Drishyam 3 close to the Rs 200 crore mark in just four days. It may stay a step short, but the number is still the film’s first real hold test. The weekend showed the franchise’s pulling power; the Monday tells us whether audiences are recommending it beyond opening day.
For fans tracking the box office, the next checkpoint is whether the film crosses the Rs 200 crore line today or needs one more weekday push.
Source: Filmibeat