'Raid 3', 'Shaitaan 2' UPDATE: Abhishek Pathak says projects will move ahead only with strong scripts

Abhishek Pathak has provided fresh insights into the future of several major projects, including 'Raid 3' and 'Shaitaan 2', along with the production house’s expanding focus on Malayalam cinema.In a conversation with Pinkvilla, Abhishek and his father Kumar Mangat Pathak spoke about franchise development, storytelling priorities, and upcoming announcements.Discussing the next chapter in the Raid franchise, Abhishek confirmed that work is underway but still at a conceptual stage. "We are developing something. Until we have something really great on paper for Aamir Patnaik’s next journey, we want to wait. There are discussions happening around the content, which direction we should take, and how we can move the story forward." The team is currently exploring narrative directions before moving ahead with production planning.Abhishek also highlighted the production house’s growing investment in Malayalam cinema, calling it a strategic creative expansion. "A couple of discussions are going on right now and I think we will soon announce a few things. The reason we entered Malayalam cinema is because their storytelling aligns with the kind of films we want to make as a studio. From films like Omkara, Shaitaan to Drishyam, we have always believed in high-concept, high-quality storytelling. Ever since I watched 'Drishyam', I have admired the way Malayalam films are written. With OTT platforms, we got to consume even more Malayalam content and realised how strong they are at finding fresh stories. For the last two years, we have been actively building our slate there, meeting writers, directors, and developing projects. We now have a proper office setup in Kerala and are majorly expanding into that division as well."Talking about the sequel to the supernatural hit, Abhishek stressed that content quality remains the top priority. 'Shaitaan', directed by Vikas Bahl, featured Ajay Devgn, Jyothika, and R. Madhavan. "It is currently being written. I don’t want to create a franchise just for the sake of continuing a brand. I don’t want to make any random horror film and call it 'Shaitaan 2'. I want the story to move forward organically the way 'Drishyam' evolved over 10 years...That’s exactly what I want with the 'Shaitaan' franchise too. We are discussing certain ideas right now and once the screenplay is fully ready, the film will go on floors."The discussion also touched upon speculation regarding Venkatesh Daggubati and his possible involvement in a future Telugu installment of the Drishyam series. Responding to the rumours, Kumar Mangat said, "I don’t have any idea about that right now. We won’t be able to comment because we genuinely haven't heard about it yet."Meanwhile, the original Malayalam 'Drishyam 3' starring Mohanlal in the lead, with release on May 21.