Kamal Haasan's highly anticipated Indian 2, directed by Shankar, underperformed at the box office upon its release in July this year, which may now lead the makers to opt for a direct OTT release for its sequel, Indian 3. According to recent reports, the decision comes after the lukewarm reception and financial losses incurred by the production company, Lyca Productions, following Indian 2’s underwhelming performance.

A report from the Deccan Herald suggests that the team behind Indian 3 has chosen a direct release on Netflix, aiming to recover losses and reignite interest in the franchise. The second and third parts of the Indian series were shot together, but the production faced significant hurdles, including an on-set accident and rumored creative differences between Kamal Haasan and director Shankar.

Despite Haasan's immense fan base and his status as a cinema icon, Indian 2 did not generate the buzz expected for a film of its scale and pedigree. The film's release on July 12 was met with a lackluster response, both critically and commercially, and its OTT performance has been similarly underwhelming.

Although there has been no official confirmation from the filmmakers or the cast regarding Indian 3's direct-to-OTT release, this could mark a significant shift in how big-budget Tamil films are distributed, particularly when faced with box-office challenges.

In addition to Indian 3, Kamal Haasan has several other projects in the pipeline, including Thug Life with Mani Ratnam and KH 237, helmed by Anbariv, the stunt choreographer duo turned director.

Fans now eagerly await updates on Indian 3’s release and whether it will mark a turning point for both Haasan and the franchise.