(L-R) Parveez Shaikh, Abhishek Pathak, and Aamil Keeyan Khan. Pics/YouTube, By Special Arrangement

Big risk, big reward holds true for Drishyam The Conclusion. Writer-director Abhishek Pathak crafted an original story for the Ajay Devgn, Tabu, and Jaideep Ahlawat-starrer, departing from the Malayalam franchise on which the first two instalments were based. Now, the win is for all to see as the suspense thriller’s threequel has reportedly grossed over Rs 300 crore in India. Aamil Keeyan Khan, who co-wrote the screenplay and wrote the dialogues, attributes its success to Pathak’s vision and Devgn’s faith in it.   

“Ajay sir stood behind us like a rock, supporting us in whatever we did. We narrated the first draft to him in April 2025, he loved it. After that, we made a lot of revisions and he was on board with everything,” recalled Khan of how they closed the story that began eight years ago when Devgn’s Vijay Salgaonkar and his family covered up an accidental murder. 

Besides not relying on the Malayalam Drishyam 3, the Hindi counterpart had another challenge — Akshaye Khanna walked out of the film a week before it rolled. The writers quickly reworked the script, and Pathak roped in Ahlawat. Easier said than done.

Khan recounted, “We had to set Jaideep sir’s character dynamics with other players, and we had to deliver in seven days! We wrote 100 drafts for some scenes. We even had 15-20 versions of the ending. It was a humongous challenge as people had seen the first two parts and we had to surprise them. A lot of [the script] was scrapped and rewritten in those seven days.”

One question remained constant as they shaped and reshaped the story: how dark would Vijay Salgaonkar turn to save his family? “Vijay is doing the wrong thing for the right cause. There were so many drafts where he has gone much darker and then we pulled ourselves back, thinking, ‘Is that really Vijay?’ We toyed with the idea of him going completely dark.”

Shaitaan’s (2024) final moments teased a sequel as Ajay Devgn’s character locked up the antagonist, essayed by R Madhavan, in an underground chamber. Where can the story go from this point? The way Devgn sees it, in at least two dramatically different directions. Yesterday, it was reported that writer Aamil Keeyan Khan was scripting the horror drama’s second instalment (Back to black magic, June 18). 

Now, mid-day has learnt that while Khan’s script — an original — is ready, actor and producer Devgn is also contemplating making the sequel a straight adaptation of the upcoming Gujarati movie, Vash Level 2. With two possible stories for Shaitaan 2, sources say the actor will take a call after gauging the audience’s reaction to Vash Level 2, which will release in August. 

Also starring Jyotika and Janki Bodiwala, Shaitaan was an adaptation of Vash (2023), albeit with significant changes in the climax. So, Devgn’s interest in its sequel is natural.

A source reveals, “Vash Level 2 begins 12 years after the first part, with the protagonist realising that the evil force hasn’t entirely left his daughter. Unlike Vash, which saw the protagonist’s wife and son dying, Shaitaan had a happy ending with Ajay’s character saving his daughter and reuniting with the family. As the two endings were different, Shaitaan’s makers decided to pen an original story for the second instalment, while retaining the backstory. At the same time, Ajay and his team have been in talks with Vash Level 2’s writer-director Krishnadev Yagnik; they might acquire the Gujarati film’s rights if it’s a box-office success. In that case, Ameel will adapt it for the Hindi film audience.”

Besides Devgn and Madhavan, Jyotika and Bodiwala will reprise their roles in Shaitaan 2, which will be helmed by Vikas Bahl.

The source adds, “This time around, the plan is to give Ajay a more aggressive role compared to the passive one he played in the first edition.”

Some stories tend to inspire confidence from the beginning. That appears to be the case with Ajay Devgn’s Bholaa. In April, mid-day had reported that even before he wrapped up the shoot of Bholaa, the actor-director had greenlit its sequel (Ajay goes down the sequel street again, April 30). Now, as the action thriller progresses towards its March 2023 release, it is giving birth to bigger plans. Sources say that Devgn is planning to create a Bholaa universe comprising three instalments.

While the first part is an adaptation of Lokesh Kanagaraj’s Tamil hit, Kaithi (2019), the subsequent editions will be fresh stories with the titular character at the centre of the proceedings. That’s not all. We hear the leading man has approached Salman Khan to join him in the second instalment.

So, where exactly does Khan fit in, in the scheme of things? A source tells us, “In Bholaa, Ajay plays a released convict, who helps the police to catch gangsters, in exchange for seeing his daughter. While it is a remake of Kaithi (2019), significant changes have been made to the story by writers Aamil Keeyan Khan and Sandeep Kewlani to appeal to the north-Indian audience. Going forward, the second part will not be in the Lokesh Universe, instead taking its own route. This is where Ajay wants Salman to come in, playing a crucial role alongside his protagonist. The second and third parts will not necessarily be titled Bholaa, but will be set in the same universe.”

The source adds that Devgn has begun talks with the superstar, even showing him the teaser. “Salman liked it as Ajay has given a massy treatment to the actioner, which also stars Tabu. If Salman gives his nod to the sequel, the actor-director intends to give a sneak peek into his character in the first instalment itself. After the climax, the new character will be briefly introduced before the end credits roll.” 

Discussions are at the initial stage, and things will take a while to develop, depending on Khan’s interest, and the first part’s theatrical success.

Meanwhile, scripting of the second instalment has begun. The source adds, “Ajay also plans to make Bholaa 3 with one of Bollywood’s top stars. Each edition will have its own storyline, with more characters being added to it.”

mid-day reached out to Devgn, who didn’t respond till press time.

If 'U Me Aur Hum' (2008), 'Shivaay' (2016), and 'Runway 34' are any indication, then it’s not unfounded to believe that Ajay Devgn is much more than an actor and producer, especially when he sits in the director’s chair. With 'Drishyam 2' in post-production, the actor has trained all his attention on his next directorial venture 'Bholaa', a Hindi adaptation of Lokesh Kanagraj’s Tamil hit, 'Kaithi' (2019).

Over half the shoot has been wrapped up, and Devgn hopes to complete the principal photography by August 20. Co-writer Aamil Keeyan Khan, who also served as a writer on 'Drishyam 2' and 'Runway 34', says that the story of 'Bholaa' has been adapted to suit the palette of a pan-India audience and Devgn has been an integral part of the scripting process.

“Ajay has a crazy gut instinct as an artiste. He knows exactly what to tweak, add and subtract to elevate a scene. [Despite the pressure] he remains approachable, which is why working with him is fun,” says Khan.

He believes that Devgn’s love for the craft keeps him “energised and dedicated on set”. “I feel he is in his happiest element when he is wearing the director’s hat.” 'Bholaa' revolves around an ex-convict father, who strives to meet his daughter, after being released from prison.

A source from the unit informed that the adaptation would be different from the original. “While the heart and soul of 'Bholaa' remain the same as 'Kaithi', Ajay and his writers—Sandeep Kewlani and Aamil, have changed and added some characters. They have based the story out of a town in Uttar Pradesh to give it a more all-India appeal. A huge set of UP town has been constructed at the Ramoji studio, in Hyderabad. The lingo used by Ajay and the rest of the cast, including Tabu, is a mix of Hindi and local UP lingo.”

Crediting Devgn for bringing his own “taste and sensibility” to the script of 'Bholaa,' Khan says, “Shakespeare never imagined Othello set in Uttar Pradesh, but Vishal Bhardwaj did, even though the story in its essence remains the same. I could request the same dish from ten different chefs, and they will all taste different even if the recipe is the same. The same is true for stories.”

Ajay Devgn’s filmography is dotted with sequels — be it the successful Golmaal and Singham franchise, or the Drishyam series. Looks like the list may have an addition soon. Sources suggest that Devgn, who began shooting for Bholaa in February and is expected to wrap it up later this year, has already greenlit its sequel. Dharmendra Sharma’s directorial debut is an adaptation of filmmaker Lokesh Kanagaraj’s Tamil hit, Kaithi (2019). So, will the Bholaa sequel be based on Kaithi 2 that is in the works? From what we hear, nope.

The upcoming Bholaa sees Devgn as an ex-prisoner who helps the police catch gangsters, in exchange for seeing his daughter. While the plot is similar to Kaithi, significant changes have been made to the story to appeal to the north Indian audience. More importantly, two pivotal characters, of which one is essayed by Tabu, have been added to the narrative.

“While Bholaa comes with its own set of changes, the sequel will not be a remake of Kaithi 2. Ajay’s titular character will remain the driving force in the second instalment. Plus, the creative team will take forward the journeys of the two characters that they will introduce in the first film. The climax of Bholaa has been designed in a way that it sets the foundation for the next story. The scripting of the second part has begun,” reveals a source. 

When quizzed about the second instalment, Sandeep Kewlani — who has worked on the screenplay and dialogues of Bholaa with Aamil Keeyan Khan — offers a cryptic reply: “It’s too early to comment on the sequel. First, let Bholaa release.”

For now, his attention is on the recently released Runway 34 that he has co-written. “I am glad that Ajay sir liked our work in Runway 34, and gave us another opportunity with Bholaa. Kaithi is one of my favourite Tamil films. We are trying to give our audience something different with [the remake]; it will be a massy entertainer."