Drishyam: The Conclusion, the final Hindi chapter of the Drishyam franchise, released in theatres across India on Friday after record-breaking advance bookings.

The film, starring Ajay Devgn as Vijay Salgaonkar alongside Tabu, Shriya Saran and Jaideep Ahlawat, sold over 13 lakh tickets for its opening weekend in pre-sales, collecting close to Rs 50 crore in advances, trade trackers said.

National chains alone reported around 2.5 lakh tickets sold before release. Trade analysts expect a Rs 50 to 60 crore opening day, which would be the biggest ever for Ajay Devgn and among the biggest for a Hindi thriller.

The film has also secured an IMAX release just ahead of opening day, adding momentum to the release.

Early reviews have been positive. Critics praised Abhishek Pathak’s direction and the climax, with several calling it a gripping finale to the saga.

Unlike the first two parts, this instalment is based on a fresh script rather than the Malayalam original. Pathak has called it the darkest chapter yet for Vijay Salgaonkar.

The film has an open run with no major competition until Diwali, which analysts say could help its long-term box office legs.