Love Mocktail 3 is a 2026 Indian Kannada-language drama film written by Darling Krishna, Milana Nagaraj, and Yadunandan. Darling Krishna directed the film. It is the third and last movie in the Love Mocktail series. The film features actors Darling Krishna, Milana Nagaraj, Samvrutha, Amrutha Iyengar, Dileep Raj, Shwetha Prasad, and others. Darling Krishna and Milana Nagaraj produced the film under the KrissMi Films banner. Nakul Abhyankar composed the music, and Sri CrazyMindz handled cinematography and editing. The film was released in theaters on 19 March 2026.
Plot
The film takes place several years after the events of Love Mocktail 2. It follows Adi, who is now a single father to Nidhi, the girl he adopted at the end of the previous movie. Their lives include simple routines, bedtime stories, school events, and the comfort of a stable home, supported by their caretaker, "Jagga Mummy," and regular visits from Adi’s close friend, Viju.
As the story progresses, a surprising claim is made when an elderly woman, Dr. Shanta, says that Nidhi is her biological granddaughter. This leads to a difficult legal battle over custody, forcing Adi to face parts of his past that he has not yet resolved while trying to protect the daughter he loves deeply. Legal and emotional challenges arise, testing Adi’s strength and the bond between him and Nidhi. The film continues the franchise’s focus on healing, responsibility, and emotional connection.
Cast
- Darling Krishna plays the role of Aditya "Adi"
- Milana Nagaraj plays the role of Nidhima "Nidhi"
- Samvrutha plays the role of Nidhi
- Rachel David plays the role of Sihi
- Amrutha Iyengar plays the role of Joshitha "Jo"
- Abhilash Dalapathi plays the role of Viju
- Dileep Raj
- Rekha Kudligi plays the role of Dr. Shanta
- Rajani Bharadwaj
- Shwetha Prasad plays the role of Renu
- Vaishali Deepak
- Jagadeesh MB plays the role of Jagga Mummy
- Giri Shivanna plays the role of Police Inspector
Production
After the success of Love Mocktail (2020) and Love Mocktail 2 (2022), Darling Krishna created the third movie to explore themes of fatherhood, family, and emotional growth instead of focusing on traditional romance. The story was written together by Darling Krishna, Milana Nagaraj, and Yadunandan.
Many of the main actors from the second film returned, including Darling Krishna and Milana Nagaraj. A new child actor, Samvrutha, joined the cast to play the role of Nidhi. The supporting cast includes actors who have worked together before, such as Amrutha Iyengar, Dileep Raj, and Shwetha Prasad.
Music
The soundtrack album includes four songs. Nakul Abhyankar composed the songs. The lyrics were written by Raghavendra Kamath, Arun Naik, and Shashank.
Controversies
In March 2026, the movie Love Mocktail 3 became involved in a plagiarism dispute. Filmmaker Guru Deshpande and writer Raghavendra M. Naik claimed that parts of the film, especially the scenes about a custody battle and courtroom events involving an adopted child, were copied from a script they had shared with Darling Krishna in August 2023. They said Krishna heard their story during a meeting and later used its main ideas in Love Mocktail 3 without giving credit. Deshpande noted that while the film was presented as a continuation of the franchise, its second half closely resembled the central conflict and key plot twist of their script.
Darling Krishna denied the claims, explaining that Love Mocktail 3 was developed over several years as a direct follow-up to Love Mocktail 2, which already included the adoption storyline. He argued that the similarities were common in stories about adoption and custody disputes and stated that the other script was based on a different real-life event. Krishna called the accusations defamatory and said he would file a defamation case against Deshpande and Naik, claiming the allegations harmed his reputation and the film’s credibility.