Ammy Virk Fiercely Backs Ranveer Singh Amid Explosive ‘Don 3’ Fallout With Farhan Akhtar
Ammy Virk has come out in support of Ranveer Singh amid the ongoing ‘Don 3’ fallout, questioning Excel Entertainment’s compensation demand.
The ongoing controversy surrounding Ranveer Singh's sudden exit from Farhan Akhtar's highly anticipated ‘Don 3’ has taken a fresh turn. Punjabi actor and singer Ammy Virk has publicly stepped forward to defend his ‘83’ co-star against the staggering Rs 45 crore compensation demanded by Excel Entertainment. In a candid new interview, Ammy Virk questioned the timing of the production house's actions, suggesting they deliberately ignored the actor during his box-office slump and are only demanding money now that he has struck gold with the ‘Dhurandhar’ franchise.
Speaking to Connect Cine, Ammy Virk did not mince his words regarding the financial dispute between Ranveer and Excel Entertainment's Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani. While admitting he might not know all the intricate legal details of the fallout, Ammy Virk expressed unwavering faith in his friend.
“I feel, when he had a few flops, then you (Excel) could have started Don 3. Then they ignored him. Now that Dhurandhar is a hit, they are asking for their money back,” Ammy Virk stated bluntly. He further advised the producers to be realistic about their financial expectations: “They can do whatever they want. Whatever they are owed of Rs 2-4 crore, take that and move on. Who is going to give Rs 45 crore?”
Dismissing the legal threats from the production house, Ammy Virk insisted that the situation was “not Ranveer's fault” and openly mocked the idea of a prolonged court battle. “These kinds of cases go nowhere. They go on for 20 years,” he added with a laugh.
The massive Rs 3000 crore box office triumph of Aditya Dhar’s ‘Dhurandhar’ franchise proved to be a turning point for Ranveer. Ammy Virk shared a heartwarming behind-the-scenes exchange he had with the superstar following the release of the first film's trailer.
“I congratulated him after Dhurandhar's trailer came out. His daughter was born by then. He sent me a long message in English. He told me that I have invested everything in this film,” Ammy Virk recalled. “I told him to wait and see and said that his daughter has brought him good luck and God was going to be kind. And that's what happened. His daughter brought him such good luck.”
Ranveer and Deepika Padukone welcomed their daughter, Dua, in September 2024.
Following the massive success of the sequel, Ammy Virk reached out again. “I told him, 'See, your daughter brought such good luck'. Kids come with their own fortune. The second film also did so well. He was so happy,” Virk noted, proudly adding, “You feel so proud that India's most successful has my friend in it.”
The rift over ‘Don 3’ has been brewing for quite some time. Originally announced in 2023 as the next installment following Shah Rukh Khan's ‘Don’ (2006) and ‘Don 2’ (2011), the project suffered severe delays. According to a Variety report, over the three years since Ranveer agreed to the film, its production budget and his remuneration were heavily slashed by half.
In December 2025, citing script disputes and fresh off the momentum of the first ‘Dhurandhar’ film, Ranveer abruptly walked out. Excel Entertainment claimed to have already spent heavily on outdoor locations and pre-production, prompting the Rs 45 crore demand to cover losses. While Ranveer initially refused to pay, he later offered a Rs 10 crore settlement, which the producers rejected. Allegedly, Ranveer stated he wouldn't have exited the film if ‘Dhurandhar’ had not worked out.
The fallout quickly escalated to industry governing bodies. Farhan Akhtar approached the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), which initially issued a non-cooperation directive against Ranveer, effectively banning lakhs of associated members from working with him. However, the ban was quietly revoked just days later.
On the other hand, the Cine & TV Artistes' Association (CINTAA) stood firmly by the actor. CINTAA president Poonam Dhillon praised Ranveer's professionalism amidst the chaos, stating, “Kudos to him that he offered compensation for losses incurred and paid back the signing amount. Many don't even do that.”
As the dust refuses to settle on the ‘Don 3’ drama, Ranveer Singh is already looking ahead and is set to collaborate with director Jay Mehta on his next highly anticipated project, ‘Pralay’.
