It is no longer a secret that Ranveer Singh has walked away from Don 3, which was directed by Farhan Akhtar. While previous conversations have pointed to general creative differences, a new report sheds more light on what may have led to the split.According to the Free Press Journal, Ranveer, who is currently riding the success of his ‘Dhurandhar’ film series, was keen to give Don a more powerful edge. He reportedly pushed for the inclusion of “strong language”, believing that the character should “change his DNA to fit the current violent tone” that audiences seem to prefer today.But Farhan was not on the same page. The director stood firm against incorporating “harsh language” into the narrative, stressing that previous iterations of Don had never relied on such elements. He is said to have pointed out that even the Amitabh Bachchan-led versions
Shah Rukh Khan
Avoid excessive profanity. Insiders suggest he was not willing to bow to any outside pressure, with a source saying: “Farhan desperately wanted to make the film he originally intended to make.”Recently, Farhan broke his silence on the ‘Don 3’ controversy amid the legal battle. He said in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, “What I’ve learned is to expect the unexpected. You can’t take anything for granted until it’s actually captured in the film. Honestly, I also feel that from the time I started – from that moment when Aamir, Akshay, Preity, Dimple, Saif and Ritesh were my partners – until they came and said yes ‘let’s make this film’ – from that point onwards, actually all the way up to 2022, which is when I’m 22-23.” Overall, I’ve had an incredible journey.
“He added, “I’ve been working with people I want to work with, both directing them and acting in films I want to act in with directors. So it’s been great. And you realize that at some point, there’s going to be a period that will come and it’s going to be a little bit more difficult at that time. It’s been good. So it’s okay, you just have to take it seriously.” Ranveer eventually exited the project in 2025, and the dispute became public amid reports of script-related issues and delays. It was also reported that Excel Entertainment has sought compensation of Rs 40 crore, citing costs incurred during pre-production, scheduling disruptions, and other associated losses. The production house confirmed that much of the groundwork has been completed with Ranveer’s approval, and the actor has reportedly agreed to pay a portion of the amount.
