Don 3: Did Farhan Akhtar Drop Ranveer Singh After Dhurandhar's Success? Here's What We Know

Ever since the report about Ranveer Singh exiting Don 3 came out, Bollywood has been buzzing with whispers that he was “fired” from the spy movie series following the blockbuster success of Dhurandhar. The Aditya Dhar-directed film, which took theatres by storm, has been dominating headlines for its stellar cast and record-breaking box office collection. But with Ranveer’s walking out of Don 3, fans are questioning whether director Farhan Akhtar had second thoughts about casting the actor in the iconic franchise. 

Why did Ranveer Singh walk out of Don 3? Was it because of date clashes?

Ever since reports revealed that Ranveer Singh was no longer associated with the Don franchise, multiple rumours were swirling around, with some suggesting date clashes, and others hinting at ego trips following Dhurandhar’s success. Now, a source close to the development has revealed that Ranveer’s exit happened for neither reason.

When asked about the scheduling rumours, the source dismissed the claim, revealing that the Dhurandhar star and Don’s producers mutually agreed that their creative visions for the film no longer aligned. The insider was quoted as saying:

“Ranveer Singh hasn’t walked out of Don 3 like the rumour mills claim. It’s actually an entirely different story. His exit was due to creative differences with the makers. To start with, Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar offered him Don 3 after he had delivered three colossal flops. They stood by him even after Sanjay Leela Bhansali shelved Baiju Bawra because he was considered not saleable at the time.”

The source also pointed out that Farhan Akhtar and producer Ritesh Sidhwani had backed Ranveer at a time when his career was facing turbulence, offering him Don 3 even after a string of underperforming films and before Dhurandhar hit theatres.

Leaving the Don legacy

Ranveer walking out of Don 3 could mark a huge step down for the actor, given the franchise’s legacy that he was set to inherit from Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan. Insider reports revealed that director Farhan Akhtar had strong faith in the Gully Boy actor’s talent and versatility, which also made him a bold and unconventional choice for the role. The reason Dhurandhar’s success came under scrutiny following Ranveer’s exit was that the Aditya Dhar directorial had barely been in talks when Don 3 was offered to him. 

What’s next for Ranveer Singh and Don 3?

Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar hit the theatres on December 5, 2025, and became an overnight sensation, crossing the Rs. 100 crore mark in just four days. The film, starring Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, and Sara Arjun, has been going strong even in its third week in the theatres. So far, it has minted a staggering Rs. 606 crore in India (Rs. 900 crore worldwide) and is expected to cross the Rs. 1000 crore milestone pretty soon.

With his exit from the Don franchise, Ranveer Singh has a busy new year ahead. After his mega success with Dhurandhar, he is next preparing for Pralay, a zombie thriller directed by Jay Mehta. Ranveer is also gearing up for the much-awaited Dhurandhar 2, set for a March 2026 release. 

Meanwhile, Don 3 remains in pre-production. Although neither Ranveer nor Excel Productions has officially commented on the exit situation yet, makers are reportedly already scouting for a new lead and planning a 2026 release. To note, Kriti Sanon is still associated with the project as the female lead. 

What are your thoughts about Ranveer Singh’s exit from Don 3?

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