Writing the final chapter of a popular franchise comes with its own set of challenges, especially when audiences are constantly trying to figure out what happens next. For Aamil Keeyan Khan, dialogue writer and co-screenplay writer of Drishyam: The Conclusion, getting the story right meant going back to the drawing board more times than he could count. In an exclusive interview with PeepingMoon, Aamil spoke about the extensive writing process behind the film, revealing that the team explored several different endings before settling on the final version. "Firstly, a hundred drafts doesn't mean we wrote a hundred different stories! Although, to be fair, we did have around 15 to 20 different endings. At one point, I think Vijay Salgaonkar had more possible futures than Doctor Strange."

The process involved changing character motivations, reworking conflicts and rewriting substantial portions of the screenplay. For Khan, however, the biggest challenge was retaining the original intention behind the story despite the constant changes. "But I think preserving your instinct is really about remembering why you wanted to tell that story in the first place. The emotion, the characters, the intention. Everything else is negotiable."

Khan's association with the franchise continued after Drishyam 2, giving him and director Abhishek Pathak an established creative understanding. Their collaboration allowed them to challenge each other's ideas without hesitation. "I think Drishyam 2 established a certain creative understanding between Abhishek and me. We knew how each other thought, what worked for the franchise, and more importantly, what didn't." For the writer, that trust does not mean agreeing on everything. It means being able to question ideas and return to the writing table with a better version of the story.

When it came to the dialogues, Aamil was equally particular about avoiding unnecessary punchlines. He wanted the words to emerge naturally from the characters and the situations rather than making every scene an opportunity for applause.

"I think the most important quality was that the dialogues had to feel earned. Aap har doosre scene mein ek punchline ya taali bajwaane wala dialogue nahin daal sakte. Drishyam is a thriller, not a kavi sammelan."

Khan's journey to this point began with Runway 34, directed by Ajay Devgn and featuring Amitabh Bachchan. The film gave him credibility and opened doors to further opportunities, including Drishyam 2, which released in the same year. "What Runway 34 really gave me was credibility. People knew I could write, and that opened doors to more films and opportunities."

With Drishyam: The Conclusion, Khan has returned to a franchise that demands careful storytelling and memorable writing. But he is not looking to remain within one genre forever. Having started out in stand-up comedy, he hopes to explore romance, science fiction and comedy in the future. "I think a writer should be able to tell any story that excites him, provided he has something interesting to say."