Meet Drishyam's Gaitonde, the meme, the mood and a cop bigger than Singham

Actor Kamlesh Sawant has returned as Inspector Laxmikant Gaitonde in Drishyam 3, facing Vijay Salgaonkar again. Across the three films in the franchise, Gaitonde remains one of the most interesting and entertaining characters - even an icon, if you see.

In Short

• Kamlesh Sawant praised for role as Inspector Gaitonde in Drishyam 3
• Sawant known for authentic cop roles since Bollywood debut in 2004
• Drishyam 3 collected Rs 21 crore nett on Day 4, total Rs 197.50 crore in India

Actor Kamlesh Sawant is winning hearts once again with his performance as Inspector Laxmikant Gaitonde in Drishyam 3: The Conclusion. As the franchise’s relentless cop and Vijay Salgaonkar’s (Ajay Devgn) persistent nemesis, Sawant has made Gaitonde one of the most recognisable characters in the Drishyam universe. His latest performance has once again reminded audiences why he has become one of the most convincing actors to play a police officer on screen.

While Drishyam (2015) brought him widespread recognition, playing a cop is hardly new territory for Sawant. Over the years, the actor has built a distinct identity by portraying police officers across films, often bringing an understated intensity and authenticity to his characters. He reprised his role as Gaitonde in Drishyam 2 (2022) and has returned for the franchise’s final chapter, Drishyam 3: The Conclusion.

In the first Drishyam, Gaitonde is introduced as a determined police officer who becomes convinced that Vijay and his family are hiding something after the disappearance of IG Meera Deshmukh’s son, Sameer. His relentless questioning and suspicion put the Salgaonkars under pressure, but Vijay manages to stay several steps ahead of him.

In Drishyam 2, Gaitonde returns with the same suspicion, refusing to let the case go even after the family appears to have escaped scrutiny. His pursuit becomes more personal as he remains convinced that Vijay has managed to manipulate the evidence and evade justice.

But Gaitonde is unlike the larger-than-life cop characters often associated with Bollywood. Ajay Devgn may be the quintessential star cop of the Singham series, but there is no comparison with Gaitonde. Relentless in his pursuit, Gaitonde may get knocked down every time, but he always returns with an even stronger resolve to prove both the crime and the criminal. He is not driven by dramatic action sequences, but by his determination to crack the case and put Vijay Salgaonkar guilty of the crime.

An actor craves appreciation, but when playing a negative character earns them hatred from the audience, it can be the ultimate compliment. For Kamlesh Sawant, the audience’s anger was proof that he had done his job well. However, there was a phase when the reactions became so extreme that they genuinely scared him.

Earlier, in a conversation with DNA, Kamlesh recalled how audiences reacted to his performance while watching Drishyam (2015). During one screening, he noticed a woman sitting beside him move to another seat midway through the film. It was only later, while speaking to a crew member, that he realised just how strongly his character had affected the audience.

Sawant’s association with cop roles goes back to his Bollywood debut in Khakee (2004), where he played a constable in the action thriller. He went on to feature in films such as Mumbai Meri Jaan (2008), Right Yaaa Wrong (2010), Force (2011) and Bhoothnath Returns (2014), among others, taking on different shades and ranks of law enforcement characters.

Kamlesh recalled, “Main humare editor ke saath baat kar raha tha. Unhone kaha ki waha ek group hai aurton ka, unhone kaha ki iss neech insaan ke saamne nahi aana hai, but usne kaam acha kiya.” (I was talking to our editor. He said there was a group of women who said they didn’t want to come in front of this despicable man, but he has done a good job.)

He went on to share how some women even approached him to express their anger. “Then ek aurat daring kar ke aayi, kaha, ‘mooh pe thukna chahti hoon, lekin acha kaam kiya.’ Maine kaha thank you. Ek aur aayi, ‘jee karta hai chappal se maaru, lekin acha kaam kiya.’ Maine reply mein kaha, ‘Thank you.’” (Then one woman mustered the courage to come up to me and said, ‘I feel like spitting in your face, but you’ve done a good job.’ I said, ‘Thank you.’ Another woman came up to me and said, ‘I feel like hitting you with my slipper, but you’ve done a good job.’ I replied, ‘Thank you.’)

While the reactions left him startled, Kamlesh took them as a compliment.

Kamlesh Sawant's career in Marathi cinema

However, there is much more to Sawant’s career than his recurring cop image. The actor has also been an established name in Marathi cinema and television. He made his Marathi film debut with Ek Krantiveer: Vasudev Balwant Phadke (2007) and subsequently appeared in films including Ringa Ringa (2010), Lalbaug Parel (2010) and Daagdi Chaawl (2015).

Sawant has also been associated with Marathi television, most notably through the series Lakshya, besides working extensively in theatre. Yet, it is his portrayal of Inspector Gaitonde that has become one of the defining performances of his career — a character that has stayed with audiences across three Drishyam films.

Kamlesh Sawant was born on June 12, 1974, in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Growing up in the city, he was introduced to discipline and physical fitness from an early age, largely influenced by his father, Tukaram Sawant. Tukaram worked as a clerk and sports secretary with the Indian Railways and encouraged Kamlesh and his brother to take up bodybuilding. The rigorous training instilled in him a strong sense of discipline and fitness, which later became an advantage in his acting career. His athletic build and commanding presence eventually complemented the intense police characters he frequently portrayed on screen.

About Drishyam 3

Meanwhile, Drishyam 3 is performing extremely well at the box office. On Monday (Day 4), the thriller earned Rs 21 crore nett in India. With this, the film’s India nett collection has climbed to Rs 197.50 crore, while its India gross stands at Rs 237 crore. The film also continued its strong run overseas. It added Rs 5 crore on Day 4, taking its overseas gross total to Rs 66 crore. With an India gross of Rs 237 crore and overseas gross of Rs 66 crore, Drishyam 3 has amassed Rs 303 crore worldwide.

Drishyam 3 takes forward the story of Vijay Salgaonkar, whose attempts to protect his family once again draw him into a dangerous battle involving crime, evidence and the law. The third instalment retains the franchise’s familiar blend of family drama and mystery while introducing a fresh conflict.

The film released in theatres on October 2.

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