Asha Sharath says playing IG in 'Drishyam' remakes never felt repetitive: 'All the actors opposite me were different'

'Drishyam' remains one of Malayalam cinema’s most celebrated thrillers. Led by Mohanlal and directed by Jeethu Joseph, the film created a ripple effect across industries. Among its strongest pillars is Asha Sharath, who played IG Geetha Prabhakar. Despite reprising her role in multiple remakes, the actress says she never felt like she was repeating herself.

Different stars, different energy

The film travelled beyond Malayalam and was remade in Tamil as Papanasam, with

Kamal Haasan

in the lead. The Kannada version, 'Drishya', followed soon after. Asha Sharath returned as the determined cop in all three versions. Yet, she insists the experience remained fresh each time. “Never felt that I was doing the same thing over and over again. All the actors opposite me were different, and these were in different languages. Especially because how Mohanlal conceived the character was not how Kamal Haasan did, and Ravi Kumar also approached it differently.

They did it like three different characters. So it does not feel like it is the same scene, same film,” she said.Each actor brought a unique rhythm to the role, which naturally influenced her performance in every version.

Subtle versus emotional portrayals

Asha pointed out clear differences in the actors’ approaches. She observed that Kamal Haasan played Suyambulingam with heightened emotional intensity. In contrast, Mohanlal portrayed Georgekutty with restraint and quiet confidence.

Referring to the climax, she noted that Mohanlal kept his performance controlled and understated, while Kamal leaned into the emotional arc. The shift in tone directly affected her reactions as a co-actor. She admitted that she almost felt overwhelmed by the emotional intensity during the Tamil version.

Legacy continues with 'Drishyam 3'

The story follows Georgekutty, an ordinary man who goes to any length to protect his family. Asha’s character, a grieving mother and senior police officer, seeks justice. This layered conflict turned the film into a benchmark thriller.'Drishyam 2' expanded the narrative in 2021. Now, 'Drishyam 3' is set to release on April 2, 2026.