Farhan Akhtar opens up about Shah Rukh Khan's exit and Ranveer Singh's entry in 'Don 3'

Filmmaker Farhan Akhtar finally opened up about the casting change in the upcoming movie 'Don 3' and shed light on the reasons behind his and Shah Rukh Khan's decision to part ways on the project.

Last month, Farhan Akhtar created a buzz by announcing the third instalment of his iconic 'Don' franchise, introducing Ranveer Singh as the new face of the character.

This announcement left many Shah Rukh Khan fans disappointed, as they had eagerly anticipated his return to the role. Ranveer's first look as the new Don generated a frenzy on the internet. In a recent interview with Variety, Farhan delved into the casting change and unveiled the reasons behind their decision, while expressing his enthusiasm for having Ranveer on board for the project.

Farhan said that he and Shah Rukh couldn't reach an agreement on the direction of the story, ultimately leading to their mutual decision to go their separate ways. He stated, "I’m not in the position of replacing anybody. These are things that we discussed over the years, I wanted to take a certain direction with the story, somehow we just couldn’t find common ground. We just parted mutually knowing that it’s probably for the best. So that’s where it is."

He expressed his excitement about Ranveer Singh taking on the lead role in 'Don 3', highlighting Ranveer's enthusiasm for the project. He remarked, "I’m really excited Ranveer’s on board. He’s so charged and so ready to go. It’s a big film, just purely from the point of view of an actor, it’s a big thing to do, and we’re really excited to have him on board. His energy is energising us, so to speak."

The teaser for the film's first look introduced Ranveer in a charismatic and striking avatar, delivering impactful dialogues. Ranveer has expressed his determination to uphold the legacy of Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan, who received immense love for their respective portrayals of Don.

The production of 'Don 3' is scheduled to commence in 2025, and there have been reports suggesting that Kiara Advani is being considered for the female lead role.