'Considered Jeethu Joseph to direct Drishyam 2 but did not want a replica': Abhishek Pathak

Ajay Devgn-Tabu starrer Drishyam 2 has been reaping great reviews from all corners which have also translated well into box office figures. The remake of the 2021 Malayalam film of the same name collected more than Rs. 15 crores on day #1 alone and is expected to earn Rs. 20 crores (net) on the first Saturday to set up a superb opening weekend. Many have already reckoned that Drishyam 2 is the much-needed respite for Bollywood which has reeled under the pressures of multiple box office failures over the past few years.

For Abhishek Pathak, who only makes his second film as a director, the success would be extra special because not only does he fill the shoes of a filmmaker of Nishikanth Kamat's repute but also ensure that the Hindi remake is worthy of a comparison with the Malayalam original. Although Abhishek, a reputed film producer himself, wasn't the most obvious choice for the task, he always boasted a lot of creative zest for both the Drishyam instalments.

"We did think of getting Jeethu Joseph to direct the Hindi version but we did not want a carbon copy of the Malayalam film," said Abhishek Pathak in a recent interview with a Hindi daily, suggesting that the makers of the Hindi film were always keen on a unique perspective for the sequel. Apparently, Abhishek and his team had begun conceiving Drishyam 2 well before the Malayalam sequel released (straight on OTT) and since their vision and storyline were different to what Jeethu Joseph did, they were able to somehow merge the two narratives.

"When my father, Kumar Mangat Pathak, did urge me to direct Drishyam 2, I told him that if I did take on the role, I would want to make it my own way. I began working on the first draft and wasn't particularly happy with how it shaped so brought screenwriter Aamil Keeyan Khan after that and we spent six to 10 months on scripting along. When the main cast of the film read the second draft, they were blown away," adds Abhishek Pathak.

The tragic demise of director Nishikant Kamat, who directed the 2015 Hindi film, left a big void in the Drishyam camp. The success of the Malayalam original Drishyam 2 meant that a Hindi version too was on the cards but the producers were compelled to find a unique voice for the remake. And while they were on the lookout, a stroke of inspiration led Kumar Mangat Pathak, one of the main producers, to urge his son and fellow producer, Abhishek Pathak, to take on the mantle. 

Drishyam 2 is produced by Kumar Mangat and Abhishek Pathak along with Bhushan Kumar and Krishan Kumar. The film stars Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shriya Saran, Akshaye Khanna, Ishita Dutta, and others. Devi Sri Prasad scores the music.