Farhan Akhtar Breaks Silence On ‘Don 3’ Row After Ranveer Singh’s Exit
Farhan Akhtar recently opened up about the ‘Don 3’ fallout with Ranveer Singh, recalling the experiences he has had while making films in his career.
The dust is finally beginning to settle – or perhaps just starting to swirl in a different direction – over the high-stakes drama surrounding ‘Don 3’. After months of speculation, industry rumours, and reports of a staggering financial rift, filmmaker-actor Farhan Akhtar has officially broken his silence regarding the “messy” exit of Ranveer Singh from the iconic franchise. In a candid conversation with The Hollywood Reporter India, Farhan Akhtar reflected on the turbulent developments that have dominated Bollywood headlines since late 2025.
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For the first time, the director-actor admitted that the situation became complicated, but he is choosing to view the setback through the lens of a 25-year career built on both sudden triumphs and crushing lows.
“What I’ve learned is to expect the unexpected. Nothing can be taken for granted until you actually have it on film. That’s really what it is,” Farhan Akhtar stated, addressing the long-delayed third installment. The filmmaker seemed remarkably composed, despite reports suggesting that Ranveer's sudden walkout following the release of ‘Dhurandhar’ in December 2025 cost Excel Entertainment approximately Rs 40 crore in pre-production expenses.
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The fallout reportedly escalated to the Producers Guild of India, where Farhan and his partner Ritesh Sidhwani alleged that the script had been approved by Ranveer at every stage. Conversely, reports suggested Ranveer felt the project had been put on the backburner due to a perceived slump in his career at the time. While rumours swirled that Ranveer offered to return a Rs 10 crore signing amount and a stake in his next film ‘Pralay’ to compensate for the losses, sources close to Excel Entertainment have recently denied that any such agreement has been finalised.
Farhan Akhtar drew parallels between the current ‘Don 3’ crisis and his earlier directorial ventures. He recalled the “incredible ride” he had starting with ‘Dil Chahta Hai’, where stars like Aamir Khan and Saif Ali Khan said yes almost instantly. However, he was quick to contrast that success with the “crushing failure” of his 2004 sophomore effort ‘Lakshya’.
Farhan continued, “I also feel that from the time that I began – from that moment when Aamir Khan, Akshaye Khanna, Preity Zinta, Dimple Kapadia, Saif Ali Khan, and Ritesh Sidhwani, as my partner, till they came on and said yes, ‘let’s make this film’ – from that moment on I've had the most incredible ride. It has just been (about) working with the people I want to work with, whether directing them or acting in films that I want to act in with directors. And it has been amazing. You realise that at some point, there will be a period that’s going to be a little bit more challenging. You have had it good, so it’s okay… Just take it in your stride.”
“This time, I could process it a lot faster,” Farhan noted. “I’ve been through times in my life where I really wanted things to work, but they didn’t. And it’s really depressing. Like Lakshya, for example. It didn’t do what I imagined a film like that would do. And it took me a long time out of it and really feel, is this something that is for me?”
He emphasised that the film industry is inherently brutal, with people being "written off" only to return, and others "flying high" only to disappear. “Maybe the dream didn’t work out. But you can wake up and do something else,” he added.
The director also touched upon his history of casting hurdles, reminding fans that ‘Luck By Chance’ took seven years to put together because his sister, Zoya Akhtar, struggled to find a lead. He even recalled how Aamir Khan famously switched roles with Akshaye Khanna in ‘Dil Chahta Hai’, a move that ultimately defined the film’s success.
“Sometimes, when roadblocks happen, I feel I should just go back to acting. I wouldn’t have to deal with all this stuff,” Farhan joked, acknowledging the logistical nightmares of producing and directing.
Despite the messy chapter with Ranveer, Farhan Akhtar remains committed to his vision for both ‘Don 3’ and the equally anticipated ‘Jee Le Zaraa’. He hinted that the "synergy with whoever’s going to eventually come in and play those parts is going to be right for the film," indirectly confirming that the search for a new Don is likely underway.
For now, Farhan Akhtar is pivoting his creative energy elsewhere, including his upcoming role as legendary sitarist Pandit Ravi Shankar in Sam Mendes’ ambitious ‘Beatles’ biopics. While the ‘Don 3’ saga remains in a state of status quo regarding legal and financial settlements, Farhan’s message is clear: the show must, and will, go on.
