Don 3 twist: Why did Ranveer Singh exit and was Hrithik Roshan being considered instead?

Farhan Akhtar’s ambitious Don 3 was envisioned as the next evolution of the iconic action franchise. But instead of moving into production, the film has once again stalled, weighed down by delays, exits and disagreements.

The biggest shock came when Ranveer Singh stepped away from the project. Initially described as a creative split, the situation has now escalated into financial claims and serious allegations.

Related Story: Don 3: Ranveer Singh’s exit after Dhurandhar success could land him in big trouble?

The ₹40 Crore Question

Industry chatter suggests Excel Entertainment had already invested heavily in the film’s groundwork, reportedly spending close to ₹40 crore on pre-production. With the lead actor exiting, the banner is now said to be seeking compensation to recover those costs. To resolve the standoff, two formal meetings were reportedly held under the Producers Guild of India’s mediation.

Behind Closed Doors

As per Bollywood Hungama, the first meeting was conducted about a week ago to understand both perspectives. However, it was the second, more detailed round of discussions last weekend that reportedly grew tense, with both sides presenting conflicting narratives.

Ranveer’s Allegations Against Excel

A producer present at the meeting shared what Ranveer reportedly conveyed. He was quoted saying, “Ranveer blamed Excel Entertainment for unprofessionalism and not being serious about taking Don 3 on floors. He stated that Farhan Akhtar never had a bound script in place and that, as an actor, he prefers to work only with fully developed material. Ranveer also pointed out that Farhan was never open to feedback on the script and had issues incorporating certain subplots."

The actor allegedly felt the project lacked clarity and urgency, which influenced his decision to leave.

Hrithik Roshan’s Name Surfaces

The discussions took an interesting turn when another claim surfaced. The source also stated that Ranveer further alleged that Excel was exploring the possibility of getting Hrithik Roshan on board and only re-approached him after the success of Dhurandhar, to capitalise on his momentum.

For fans, the mention is notable since Hrithik previously made a memorable cameo appearance in Don 2 alongside Shah Rukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra.

Excel Entertainment’s Counterclaim

However, Excel reportedly disputes these allegations and maintains that Ranveer had always been in the loop creatively.

The source further claimed, “Farhan maintained that Ranveer never flagged any script issues. In fact, he was enthusiastic about portraying the third generation of Don after Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan. He claimed the script was shared at regular intervals and approved by Ranveer at every stage.” 

Their version suggests the actor’s departure came unexpectedly.

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What Lies Ahead for Don 3

Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani are said to be pushing for reimbursement and clearer safeguards moving forward. Meanwhile, Ranveer reportedly chose to walk away to avoid further uncertainty, disappointed with how the long-awaited film was handled.

For now, Don 3 remains stuck in development, with its leading man - and future direction - still unresolved.