Farhan Akhtar’s spy action franchise Don has a cult following for various reasons. From stunning action to the charismatic star cast, Don has won the hearts of fans over time. Recently, the third installment, Don 3, came under the radar for the major shuffling in its cast. Shah Rukh Khan played the lead role in both Don and Don 2. But fans were left reeling in shock when a sudden announcement about his replacement by Ranveer Singh swirled on the internet. Since then, fans have been trying to figure out the reason for this replacement as Ranveer Singh becomes the new Don. Recently, director Farhan Akhtar disclosed the real reason behind this decision. Read on...

Farhan Akhtar on why he chose Ranveer Singh for Don 3

The decision to replace Shah Rukh Khan with Ranveer Singh in Don 3 has been a topic of discussion over the past few months. Don 3’s new male lead received massive attention when fans expressed their unhappiness over the change. While some were more acceptable, there were many who questioned the decision. Recently in a podcast, Farhan Akhtar, who is spearheading the franchise as the director, shared why he took this decision.

The Dil Chahta Hai director explained that he wanted to cast a next-gen actor in Don 3, while refraining from disclosing any details about the script.

“The kind of script that we were writing, what I wanted to do with it… it’s too early to speak about it so I can’t unfortunately get into detail. But it needed this next-generation actor in it,” Akhtar told interviewer Raj Shamani.

The acclaimed director also shared his observations on Ranveer Singh’s untapped talent. Calling Ranveer a charming guy with inherited craft, he added, “He’s charming; he’s mischievous. He’s just full of energy, which is what this needs. I feel that when it comes to this aspect of his performance, it’s still untapped. I don’t think he’s done a role like this. He has always played, predominantly, characters, which are, to an extent, with the exception of Lootera.”

When the host asked why he didn’t cast Shah Rukh Khan for reprising his character, Farhan revealed that a synergy on a script didn’t happen. Despite the exchange of ideas and stuff, both Shah Rukh Khan and Farhan Akhtar mutually decided not to pursue it forward due to a conflict of interests and a lack of similar energy.

Ranveer Singh as the new Don

Don 3, which will be hitting the floors in 2025, is one of the most highly anticipated films and has been making headlines ever since the project was announced. When fans started questioning the decision to cast Ranveer instead of SRK, our Bollywood powerhouse gave the ultimate reply. 

Ranveer Singh had earlier urged fans to give him a chance to take the legacy forward, while citing how SRK had done the same while replacing Amitabh Bachchan for the remake. Singh also promised not to let down the franchise fans. Don 3 also features Kiara Advani in a promising role.

Don is an action-packed spy thriller that revolves around the titular notorious fugitive, who is entangled in a gritty cat-and-mouse chase with the police.

Read Also: Niharika Konidela: Committee Kurrollu is a festival of friendship