Kamal Ghorui
Over a decade after Farhan Akhtar’s last directorial Don 2 with Shah Rukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra, Don 3 continues to make headlines — this time over Ranveer Singh’s reported exit and the fallout that followed. Breaking his silence, Farhan Akhtar admitted that the past few years have been unpredictable.In a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter India, he said, “A lot has happened over the last couple of years. You learn to expect the unexpected. Nothing can be taken for granted till you actually have it on film.”He added that this phase has been more challenging than earlier, hinting at the hurdles the project has faced.
Rs 40 crore loss claim after Ranveer’s exit
After Ranveer Singh’s much-publicised walkout, Farhan’s banner Excel Entertainment reportedly approached the The Producers Guild of India, claiming losses of nearly Rs 40 crore due to the actor’s last-minute exit.On the other hand, Ranveer is said to have accused the makers of “unprofessionalism”, alleging that Farhan Akhtar was occupied with other commitments instead of focusing on Don 3. It was also reported that the actor was re-approached only after the success of his recent film Dhurandhar.Amid the back-and-forth, it was also claimed that Farhan submitted documents to the Guild countering Ranveer’s concerns about the script. The filmmaker reportedly highlighted that the actor was keen to step into the iconic franchise, following in the footsteps of Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan.
Don 3 still close to Farhan
Despite the uncertainty, Farhan made it clear that Don 3 is far from being shelved.Describing it as one of the “incredible stories” he wants to tell, he indicated that the film still holds strong creative value for him and remains very much in consideration.
‘That’s what will sail me through’
The filmmaker also addressed challenges around his other directorial Jee Le Zaraa, which has seen multiple delays.“I have worked with enough people who know what kind of person I am and what I bring to the table every single time I go into work — and that’s what is going to sail me through,” he said.
