RickWoods111 at 13:40, 7 May 2026

2026-05-07T13:40:54Z

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{{short description|2026 Indian film}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Love Mocktail 3
| image = Love Mocktail 3.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[Krishna (Kannada actor)|Darling Krishna]]
| writer = Darling Krishna<br>[[Milana Nagaraj]]<br>Yadunandan
| producer = Darling Krishna<br >Milana Nagaraj
| starring = {{ubl|Darling Krishna|Milana Nagaraj|Samvrutha|[[Rachel David]]|[[Amrutha Iyengar]]}}
| cinematography = Sri Crazy Mindz
| editing = Sri Crazy Mindz
| music = [[Nakul Abhyankar]]
| studio = KrissMi Films
| distributor = [[KVN Productions]]
| released = {{Film date|2026|03|19|df=yes}}
| runtime = 134 minutes<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 March 2026 |title=''Love Mocktail 3'' (PG) |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/love-mocktail-3-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0xmteznda3 |access-date=27 March 2026 |website=[[British Board of Film Classification]] |language=en}}</ref>
| country = India
| language = Kannada
| budget = 
| gross = 
}}

'''''Love Mocktail 3''''' is a 2026 Indian [[Kannada]]‑language drama film directed by [[Krishna (Kannada actor)|Darling Krishna]] and written by Darling Krishna, Milana Nagraj and Yadunandan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/love-mocktail-3-is-made-for-families-says-krishna/amp_articleshow/129628803.cms|title=Love Mocktail 3 is made for families, says Krishna|work=The Times of India|date=18 March 2026}}</ref> It serves as the third and final installment in the ''Love Mocktail'' film series.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/kannada/news/2026/Mar/08/love-mocktail-3-trailer-out-the-final-chapter-adis-journey|title=Love Mocktail 3 trailer out, the final chapter Adi's journey|work=Cinema Express|date=8 March 2026}}</ref> The film stars Darling Krishna, [[Milana Nagaraj]], Samvrutha, [[Amrutha Iyengar]], [[Dileep Raj]], Amrutha Iyengar, Shwetha Prasad, and others. It is produced by Darling Krishna and Milana Nagaraj.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/kannada/2026/Mar/14/kannadainterviews2026mar13behind-the-frames-and-notes-of-love-mocktail-3|title=Behind the frames and notes of Love Mocktail 3|work=The New Indian Express|date=14 March 2026}}</ref> The music was composed by [[Nakul Abhyankar]].

The film was theatrically released on 19 March 2026.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/toxic-yash-postponed-kvn-productions-love-mocktail-3-darling-krishna-milana-nagaraj-release-date/article70703008.ece|title=Kannada film 'Love Mocktail 3' preponed after 'Toxic' delay|work=The Hindu|date=4 March 2026}}</ref>

==Plot==
Set several years after the events of ''Love Mocktail 2'', the film follows Adi, who is now a single father to Nidhi, the girl he adopted at the end of the previous film. Their life is built around simple routines, bedtime stories, school incidents, and the warmth of domestic stability, supported by their caretaker “Jagga Mummy” and frequent visits from Adi’s close friend Viju.

As the story unfolds, an unexpected claim emerges when an elderly woman, Dr. Shanta, asserts that Nidhi is her biological granddaughter. This sparks an emotionally intense custody battle, pushing Adi to confront unresolved parts of his past while trying to keep the daughter he deeply loves. Legal and emotional challenges follow, testing the limits of Adi’s resilience and the strength of their father‑daughter bond. The film continues the franchise’s themes of healing, responsibility, and emotional connection.

== Cast ==
* [[Krishna (Kannada actor)|Darling Krishna]] as Aditya "Adi"
* [[Milana Nagaraj]] as Nidhima "Nidhi"
* Samvrutha as Nidhi
* [[Rachel David]] as Sihi
* [[Amrutha Iyengar]] as Joshitha "Jo"
* Abhilash Dalapathi as Viju
* [[Dileep Raj]]
* Rekha Kudligi as Dr. Shanta
* Rajani Bharadwaj
* Shwetha Prasad as Renu
* Vaishali Deepak
* Jagadish
* Giri Shivanna as Police Inspector

== Production ==
=== Development ===
Following the success of ''Love Mocktail'' (2020) and ''Love Mocktail 2'' (2022), Darling Krishna conceived the third chapter as an exploration of fatherhood, family, and emotional evolution rather than conventional romance. The story was co‑written by Darling Krishna, Milana Nagaraj, and Yadunandan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/kannada/2025/Dec/11/kannadainterviews2025dec10krishna-love-mocktail-franchise-explores-love-in-all-its-forms|title=Krishna: Love Mocktail franchise explores love in all its forms|work=The New Indian Express|date=11 December 2025}}</ref>

=== Casting ===
Most of the key cast from the second film returned, including Darling Krishna and Milana Nagaraj. Child actor Samvrutha joined as Nidhi. The supporting cast includes frequent collaborators like [[Amrutha Iyengar]], [[Dileep Raj]], and Shwetha Prasad.{{Citation needed|date=April 2026}}

== Music ==
The soundtrack album consists of four singles composed by [[Nakul Abhyankar]] with lyrics written by Raghavendra Kamath, Arun Naik and [[Shashank (director)|Shashank]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Love Mocktail 3 by Nakul Abhyankar|url=https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2LXNBvkpYytWtLtTRAyHwb|website=[[Spotify]]|date=14 February 2026}}</ref>
{{Tracklist
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| total_length =
| length4 = 3:28
| lyrics4 = Arun Naik
| extra4 = Vijay Prakash
| title4 = Muddu Magale
| length3 = 3:26
| lyrics3 = Raghavendra Kamath
| extra3 = [[Vijay Prakash]]
| title3 = Beladingalu
| length2 = 4:48
| extra2 = Nakul Abhayankar, Keerthan Holla
| title2 = Obbantiyaade Naa
| lyrics2 = Raghavendra Kamath
| length1 = 3:37
| extra1 = [[Nakul Abhyankar]]
| lyrics1 = [[Shashank (director)|Shashank]]
| title1 = Neene Neenene Nannella Aase
| headline = Love Mocktail 3 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
}}

== Controversies ==
In March 2026, ''Love Mocktail 3'' became embroiled in a plagiarism dispute after filmmaker [[Guru Deshpande]] and writer Raghavendra M. Naik publicly alleged that the film’s post‑intermission portions particularly, the custody battle and courtroom proceedings involving an adopted child, were lifted from a script they had previously narrated to Darling Krishna. They claimed that Krishna had heard their story during a narration meeting in August 2023 and later incorporated its core elements into ''Love Mocktail 3'' without credit. Deshpande asserted that while the film was presented as a continuation of the franchise, its second half mirrored the central conflict and narrative turn of their script.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/love-mocktail-3-row-pits-writer-against-filmmaker/articleshow/129749773.cms|title=Love Mocktail 3 row pits writer against filmmaker|work=The Times of India|date=24 March 2026}}</ref>

Darling Krishna denied the allegations, stating that ''Love Mocktail 3'' had been developed over several years as a direct continuation of Love Mocktail 2, whose climax already established the adoption arc. He argued that the similarities cited were generic to stories about adoption and custody disputes and maintained that the opposing script was based on a separate, real‑life incident. Calling the accusations defamatory, Krishna announced his intention to file a defamation case against Guru Deshpande and Raghavendra Naik, asserting that the claims harmed his reputation and the film’s standing.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.prajavani.net/entertainment/cinema/love-mocktail-three-story-theft-controversy-darling-krishna-milana-nagaraj-3857547|title=ಲವ್‌ ಮಾಕ್ಟೇಲ್‌ ಕದ್ದಕಥೆ ಎಂದ ರಾಘವೇಂದ್ರಗೆ ಕೃಷ್ಣ–ಮಿಲನಾ ...|work=Prajavani|date=25 March 2026|lang=kn}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|tt29470608}}

[[Category:2026 films]]
[[Category:Films shot in Bengaluru]]
[[Category:Films shot in Ladakh]]
[[Category:Films set in Bengaluru]]
[[Category:Indian sequel films]]
[[Category:Indian romantic drama films]]
[[Category:2026 romantic drama films]]
[[Category:2026 Kannada-language films]]
[[Category:2026 Indian films]]

Love Mocktail 3 - Revision history

RickWoods111 at 13:40, 7 May 2026