Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh reportedly admitted during a mediation meeting that he would not have exited Don 3 if Dhurandhar had not become a blockbuster. The revelation, reported by Variety India, has
emerged as one of the most talked-about details from the closed-door discussions that followed the actor’s controversial exit from Farhan Akhtar’s film.
The report sheds new light on the dispute between Ranveer Singh and Excel Entertainment, which eventually escalated to industry bodies and led to a non-cooperation directive against the actor, even though the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has now decided to withdraw that directive.
According to Variety India, one of the most important moments during the discussions involved a direct exchange between Excel Entertainment producer Ritesh Sidhwani and Ranveer Singh. People present at the meeting told the publication that Sidhwani asked the actor whether he would have walked away from Don 3 if Dhurandhar had not turned into a blockbuster. The report states that Ranveer replied that he would not have left the project under those circumstances.
The exchange reportedly took place during a series of mediation sessions that were organised after Ranveer exited Don 3 in December 2025, just weeks before the film was scheduled to begin shooting. The publication reported that Excel Entertainment first approached the Producers Guild of India after the actor’s exit. What followed were multiple informal discussions attended by some of Bollywood’s biggest names, including Salman Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Karan Johar and Alia Bhatt.
The report also details Excel Entertainment’s response to several concerns raised by Ranveer Singh during the dispute. Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani arrived at one of the meetings carrying printed records of WhatsApp conversations exchanged with the actor over several years. Sources present at the discussions told the publication that the messages showed Ranveer reacting positively to multiple script drafts shared with him during the development of Don 3.
Excel Entertainment also reportedly challenged claims that Ranveer’s fees had been reduced after terms had already been agreed upon. According to the producers’ position, discussions around compensation took place during negotiations before the term sheet was signed and did not amount to a post-contract reduction. The production house similarly disputed concerns relating to budget reductions and Farhan Akhtar’s availability. Sources quoted by the publication said several people present at the meetings felt the documentary evidence addressed a substantial portion of the actor’s concerns.
As of now, FWICE has decided to take back its non-cooperation movement following discussions with producer bodies and senior members of the film industry. With the directive being withdrawn, workers are once again free to work on Ranveer Singh’s projects.
