MUMBAI — Filmmaker-actor Farhan Akhtar appears to have taken a subtle, tongue-in-cheek swipe at actor Ranveer Singh while recalling a tense moment from early in his career, reigniting conversations around the high-profile Don 3 casting fallout.
Reflecting on the 25th anniversary of his landmark directorial debut Dil Chahta Hai, Akhtar recounted how actor Saif Ali Khan almost walked away from the 2001 classic just days before principal photography was scheduled to begin. Saif had hit a major scheduling conflict after timelines shifted on another production, leaving Akhtar devastated as he tried desperately to hold the project together.
"My head was destroyed," Akhtar recalled during a newswire interaction, describing the threat of losing his ideal cast member as a moment of "true heartbreak."
However, while drawing parallels to how unpredictable movie productions can be, the director casually noted another instance where an actor dropped out "a month away from filming," adding with a smile that last-minute exits "seem to be a pattern nowadays."
The interviewer immediately caught the reference, drawing a laugh from Akhtar, who quickly clarified that such sudden departures are an industry-wide hazard rather than a personal anomaly. Despite no names being explicitly dropped, industry insiders and fans instantly linked the remark to Ranveer Singh’s abrupt exit from Don 3.
Singh had been officially announced as the new lead of the iconic action franchise, taking over the mantle previously held by Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan. However, trouble brewed behind the scenes when Singh opted out shortly before cameras were set to roll, setting off a storm of legal and financial disputes between the star and Excel Entertainment.
Reports surrounding the fallout revealed that production losses incurred during pre-production totaled approximately ₹45 crore. While Singh was reportedly willing to refund his initial signing amount, the makers sought compensation for damages tied to set designs, pre-filming logistics, and scheduling setbacks.
The controversy deepened when the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) briefly issued a non-cooperation directive against the actor. FWICE later rescinded the order, clarifying that Singh was never banned, though legal notices were exchanged between the parties involved.
Singh has largely maintained public silence on the controversy, letting his legal representatives and public relations team handle official statements. Meanwhile, Excel Entertainment continues pre-production restructuring as they look to re-anchor the Don franchise.
