08 October,2026 03:29 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Indian 3 poster. Pic via Instagram
Kamal Haasan and S Shankar's Indian 3 is officially moving ahead after months of uncertainty surrounding the project. The third chapter of the vigilante franchise, which was feared to have been shelved following the disappointing response to Indian 2, has now entered post-production.
The makers confirmed the development on social media with a poster featuring what appears to be multiple characters played by Kamal Haasan. The caption read, "Senapathy is back with zero tolerance. The resurgence begins in Indian 3: War Mode." A release date for the film has not yet been announced.
Indian 3 was planned as a continuation of Indian 2, with portions of both films shot together. The second instalment ended by teasing the next chapter, particularly the story of Senapathy's father, Veerasekaran Balram.
The project's future had come under a cloud after Indian 2 failed to meet expectations following its July 2024 release. Despite opening with Rs 25.6 crore nett in India, the film witnessed a steep drop in collections. Its first Monday reportedly brought in only Rs 3.15 crore nett. The film was also criticised for its screenplay and execution, with its worldwide collection reported at around Rs 148-151 crore against a reported budget of approximately Rs 250 crore.
The new film will take the franchise further into the past, with Haasan playing Veerasekaran Balram, Senapathy's father and a freedom fighter. This historical storyline will add another layer to the character's origins while expanding the world established in the earlier films.
Haasan will reprise his role as Senapathy, the vigilante introduced in the 1996 original. The first Indian saw the veteran actor play both Senapathy and his corrupt son Chandru, with the former taking an uncompromising stand against corruption. The film went on to win several National Film Awards, including Best Actor for Haasan.
Indian 2 brought Senapathy back nearly three decades later, placing the character in a contemporary setting shaped by social media and public anger over corruption. The sequel also featured Siddharth, Kajal Aggarwal, Priya Bhavani Shankar, Bobby Simha and SJ Suryah.
The ensemble will return for Indian 3, with Shankar once again writing and directing. Anirudh Ravichander serves as composer, Ravi Varman is the cinematographer and Muthuraj Thangavel is the production designer. Subaskaran and GKM Tamil Kumaran are producing the film under Lyca Productions.
