Drishyam The Conclusion collects ₹176.50 crore net in India in its opening weekend

Ajay Devgn is back as Vijay Salgaonkar, and the box office has answered loudly. Drishyam The Conclusion, the third and final chapter of the crime thriller franchise, collected ₹176.50 crore net in India across its first three days. The film reached cinemas on Friday, October 2, and the Gandhi Jayanti holiday gave it a strong push from the very first show.

The film opened at ₹62 crore net on Friday, dipped to ₹53.50 crore on Saturday and climbed back to ₹61 crore on Sunday. Sunday's growth over Saturday is put at between 10 and 15 percent. The India gross for the weekend stands at ₹211.80 crore. One estimate puts the three-day total a little lower, at ₹172 crore net, and reportedly ranks it as the third-biggest first weekend of all time, behind only Dhurandar: The Revenge and Jawan.

Overseas, the story is just as big. Estimates for the international weekend range from USD 6.1 million to USD 6.5 million, and either figure is the biggest overseas opening of Ajay Devgn's career. It reportedly beats the USD 4.5 million that Singham Again collected abroad. Estimates of the worldwide gross sit between ₹266 crore and ₹272.80 crore, reportedly a record for the star as well.

Directed by Abhishek Pathak, the film brings back Ajay Devgn, Tabu and Shriya Saran, and adds Jaideep Ahlawat to the franchise. Reports say the final chapter has already gone past the lifetime net collection of the first Drishyam from 2015, which is a remarkable feat after just one weekend.

The first Monday brought the expected drop, but early numbers reportedly showed about ₹6.81 crore net by 5 pm, pushing the India net total past ₹183 crore. Key overseas locations were reportedly running at capacity over the weekend, which could carry demand into the weekdays. How the film holds from here will decide how big a hit it finally becomes, with reports suggesting it could target a ₹450 to 500 crore India net range.