The dispute between Ranveer Singh and Excel Entertainment over Don 3 is heating up, with mediation efforts now stalled. Earlier this month, Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani officially filed a petition with the Producers Guild of India, demanding compensation of Rs 40 crore from Ranveer for allegedly backing out of the project without proper notice.However, Ranveer has strongly refuted the allegations, alleging unprofessionalism on the part of the banner and pointing out the long delays which kept the film in limbo for years.The Producers Guild, which was asked to intervene as a mediator, reportedly advised both sides to seek a solution through legal channels. According to informed sources, the authority stated that it could not facilitate the settlement when neither party was willing to give up the land.In a bid to defuse tensions, several top producers and studio heads, including Karan Johar, Sajid Nadiadwala, Ekta Kapoor, Zoya Akhtar and Puneet Goenka, met at Aamir Khan’s residence in Mumbai a fortnight ago. Although many prominent producers were invited, only a limited number attended.During the meeting, both camps presented detailed arguments. Ranveer reportedly came with a host of emails and WhatsApp messages to prove his stand, while Farhan and Ritesh defended Excel Entertainment’s stand.
Sources claim that while Farhan and Riteish stood their ground on their compensation claim, Ranveer remained equally firm, leaving little room for compromise.“As an organisation, the Producers Guild of India can only intervene to a certain extent. With both parties holding firm, the guild members advised them to involve their legal teams and resolve the issue through the appropriate legal route,” a source close to the development told Variety India.Insiders also reveal that discussions between Ranveer and Farhan continued until almost two weeks before Dhurandhar’s release. Shortly thereafter, Ranveer opted out of the project. He is said to have initially offered to cover a portion of the losses incurred during the pre-production and development phases of Don 3. However, upon learning of the large compensation figure requested by Excel Entertainment, he reportedly withdrew this offer.The source added, “Ranveer did not agree to pay this amount because he does not bear any financial responsibility for the losses. He was willing to pay a certain amount as a goodwill gesture, which Farhan did not agree to.”Ranveer officially quit Don 3 in December 2025, but the dispute resurfaced in February when Farhan and Riteish took the matter to the producers’ union, officially seeking compensation for the alleged financial setbacks caused by his departure. Despite multiple rounds of discussions involving key stakeholders and several industry heavyweights, an impasse remains, with both sides unwilling to soften their positions.
