The Don franchise has been one of Bollywood’s most popular action-thrillers for decades. When the third part of the franchise was announced with Ranveer Singh in the lead, fans were left super excited.
However, in the last few months, Don 3 has found itself surrounded by controversies, casting debates and production setbacks. The fallout between Ranveer Singh and Farhan Akhtar has become one of Bollywood’s biggest controversies. Here’s a look at why the film is facing so many hurdles:
From Shah Rukh Khan’s Era To Ranveer Singh’s Don
One of the first challenges that Don 3 faced was the transition from Shah Rukh Khan to Ranveer Singh. Shah Rukh headlined Don 2, which released in 2006, making the character one of the most iconic roles of his career. When filmmaker Farhan Akhtar announced Ranveer Singh as the new Don in 2023, netizens were left divided. While some welcomed a fresh face, many fans felt that replacing Shah Rukh Khan would be difficult because of his strong association with the franchise.
In one of his previous interviews with journalist Faye D’Souza, Farhan defended casting Ranveer as Don and said, “So I was like, let me just kind of rethink what I want to do with the film and kind of go back. Kind of go a little bit more into like a ‘what made Don, Don’ kind of story, and that’s when I started writing that. Then, that took on a life of its own, and that obviously needed for there to be a younger actor. Ranveer (Singh) just felt like absolutely the right guy to go to for it.”
Production Delays Added To Problems
Another major issue has been repeated production delays. Several media reports claimed that the film’s shoot kept getting pushed back, while there were also reports about script-related concerns and creative differences. Over time, these delays fuelled rumours that the project might be postponed indefinitely or even shelved.
Ranveer Singh’s Shocking Exit From Don 3
However, the biggest setback for the film came when Ranveer Singh exited the project after being attached to it for nearly two years. According to multiple online reports, Singh exited the film due to creative differences with the makers. Several reports also suggested that Ranveer was unhappy with repeated delays in production and the absence of a locked final script.
What initially appeared to be a routine casting change later escalated into a legal matter, with Akhtar’s Excel Entertainment demanding Rs 45 crore in compensation and the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) issuing a non-cooperation directive against the actor.
What Is The Current Status Of Don 3?
For now, the future of Don 3 remains uncertain. While Farhan Akhtar has continued to express interest in taking the franchise forward, the film has been caught in the middle of legal disputes, compensation claims and ongoing discussions surrounding Ranveer Singh’s exit. No official announcement regarding a new lead actor has been made so far. However, several media reports also claim that Farhan might just go back to SRK for the iconic role.
