'My character was gone in the first part': Roshan Basheer reflects on ‘Drishyam’ fame and viral memes before ‘Drishyam 3’

As anticipation builds around ‘Drishyam 3’, actor Roshan Basheer took a nostalgic trip down memory lane and shared his emotions about being associated with one of Malayalam cinema’s most iconic thrillers. Thirteen years after the release of ‘Drishyam’, Roshan expressed gratitude for the immense love audiences continue to shower on his character Varun, despite the character’s shocking fate in the very first film.Sharing throwback pictures from the sets of the 2013 blockbuster, Roshan looked back fondly at the unforgettable journey of the franchise created by Jeethu Joseph. “A bunch of memories from my ‘Drishyam’ shoot days back in 2013. A movie that became legendary, a character that still gets remembered even after all these years, and now ‘Drishyam 3’ arrives tomorrow,” he wrote.The actor also acknowledged how Varun has remained relevant in pop culture through memes, jokes and online discussions over the years. “My character was gone in the very first part, yet somehow stayed alive in people’s minds through the years, through the love, the trolls, and the endless memes. And honestly, I enjoy every bit of it,” he added.Over the years, Varun’s death in ‘Drishyam’ has inspired countless memes and fan-made theories across social media platforms. Some users even humorously linked the character to the horror comedy ‘Romancham’, pointing out similarities between the bag used to hide Varun’s remains in ‘Drishyam’ and the bag carried by Arjun Ashokan’s character in the later film.The franchise’s massive popularity has ensured that even supporting characters continue to remain part of audience conversations long after the original film’s release. Roshan further shared that being identified with Varun for so many years feels special to him, even though the role was only a part of the first installment.“That character and I are two different people, but being recognised for one role for so long is truly a blessing,” he wrote. “Forever grateful to the entire team for making me part of such an iconic film. All the very best to Team ‘Drishyam 3’. Can’t wait for tomorrow.”The upcoming third chapter of the thriller franchise will once again feature Mohanlal reprising his iconic role. Actors Meena, Ansiba Hassan, Esther Anil, Siddique, Asha Sharath and Murali Gopy are also returning for the highly awaited sequel.