Actor Rajat Kapoor is set to reprise his role as Mahesh Deshmukh in Drishyam 3, the third instalment of the popular thriller franchise. In the films, Rajat plays the civilian husband of Meera Deshmukh, a police officer portrayed by Tabu. Speaking in a recent interview, the actor shared that there has been little change in his character’s journey across the series.

Rajat Kapoor gets honest about his limited role in the Drishyam franchise: “There’s no arc, I’m still standing behind Tabu”

In an interview with SCREEN, Rajat reflected on his role in the Ajay Devgn and Shriya Saran-starrer and said that his character did not have a defined arc. Referring to himself as a “cop husband,” he explained that both his and Tabu’s characters portrayed parents who were grieving and trying to uncover the truth behind their son’s death.

When asked whether Drishyam 3 would finally give his character some development, Rajat responded nonchalantly and with humour. Laughing, he said, “There’s nothing to crack. I was standing behind Tabu, that’s it. There’s no arc. I’m still standing behind Tabu.” His remark came in response to questions about whether the third film would offer any new dimension to Mahesh Deshmukh.

The actor also spoke about frequently being cast in roles associated with government departments. From playing a senior Income Tax officer in Ajay Devgn’s Raid 2 to portraying the Director General of Police in Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders, Rajat acknowledged a recurring pattern in his filmography. Speaking about these roles, he said, “Oh man, income tax, CBI, that’s where I’m stuck at. It’s not just a cop role. You’re playing a character in the script. So, you’re just reacting to the situation. But the problem with playing a generic cop of this kind, and not like Nawaz’s, because he’s got a role, is that you’ve got nothing to do.”

The Drishyam franchise originated in Malayalam and was helmed by Jeetu Joseph, with Mohanlal and Meena in the lead roles. The films followed the story of a family whose life was turned upside down after an unexpected incident involving harassment and murder. The Hindi adaptation of the third instalment was directed by Abhishek Pathak.

The final film in the Hindi Drishyam series is slated for release on October 2, 2026. A release date for the Malayalam version had not been announced at the time of writing.

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