Panorama Studios’ Kumar Mangat Pathak and Abhishek Pathak are steadily building their cinematic universe with ambitious plans for franchises like Raid 2, Shaitaan, and Drishyam 3. In an exclusive interaction, the father-son duo spoke about upcoming sequels, their growing interest in Malayalam cinema, and their focus on content-driven storytelling.
On the possibility of Raid 3
Speaking about the future of the Raid franchise, Abhishek Pathak revealed that work is already underway on new ideas. However, he stressed that the team does not want to rush into another installment unless the script truly justifies the return of Aamir Patnaik.
According to him, discussions are currently ongoing regarding the storyline, the direction of the narrative, and how the next chapter can organically evolve.
Expanding into Malayalam cinema
When asked about the studio’s Malayalam film slate and possible collaborations with Mohanlal, Abhishek Pathak shared that several conversations are presently in progress and official announcements are expected soon.
He explained that the studio’s decision to expand into Malayalam cinema comes from their admiration for the region’s storytelling style, which aligns closely with the kind of high-concept and quality-driven films Panorama Studios aims to create. He mentioned films like Omkara, Shaitaan, and Drishyam as examples of their storytelling philosophy.
Abhishek further noted that after watching Drishyam, he developed deep admiration for Malayalam screenwriting. He added that OTT platforms gave them access to even more Malayalam content, making them realize how consistently the industry discovers fresh and original stories.
Over the last two years, the production house has actively worked on building a Malayalam division by meeting writers and directors while developing multiple projects. He also revealed that Panorama Studios now has a dedicated office setup in Kerala as part of its expansion plans.
Why Malayalam cinema stands out
Discussing the efficiency of Malayalam filmmaking, Abhishek Pathak praised the industry’s organized production system. He highlighted that unions there function effectively and production costs remain significantly lower compared to Hindi cinema.
He explained that Malayalam films are often completed within around 50 days, whereas Bollywood productions can stretch to over 120 days. Even shooting locations are comparatively more affordable, yet the films never appear visually compromised.
Adding to this, Kumar Mangat Pathak humorously remarked that the budget spent on a single Bollywood song sequence can sometimes equal the cost of an entire Malayalam film. He specifically referenced the Tamannaah Bhatia song from Raid, saying the same amount could finance a complete Malayalam movie.
Update on Shaitaan 2
Sharing details about Shaitaan 2 starring Ajay Devgn, Abhishek confirmed that the sequel is currently in the writing stage. He emphasized that he has no intention of extending the franchise merely for commercial reasons.
According to him, the team wants the story to progress naturally instead of creating a random horror film under the Shaitaan brand. He compared the approach to the evolution of the Drishyam franchise, which developed gradually over a decade.
He added that multiple ideas are presently being discussed and the film will move into production only after the screenplay is completely finalized.
On the Telugu Drishyam franchise speculation
Addressing rumors surrounding Venkatesh Daggubati allegedly stepping away from the Telugu Drishyam series, Kumar Mangat Pathak stated that he currently has no information regarding the matter and therefore cannot comment on the speculation.
