Archive · 11 Aug 2026
Farhan Akhtar Digs At Ranveer Singh Over Don 3 Exit
A filmmaker named Farhan Akhtar spoke to a news outlet about his first movie, Dil Chahta Hai, which is 25 years old.
Long ago, actor Saif Ali Khan almost quit that movie because his dates clashed with another film, about a month before shooting.
Farhan joked that actors leaving films so close to shooting 'seems to be a pattern nowadays.'
Many people think he was talking about Ranveer Singh, who quit Farhan's new movie Don 3 just weeks before filming was supposed to start.
Ranveer had been part of Don 3 for more than three years.
Ranveer says he left because he was unhappy with the script and because his pay and the movie's budget were being reduced.
Farhan's company, Excel Entertainment, disagrees and says it lost nearly Rs 45 crore because of the exit.
A film workers' group first said it would not cooperate with Ranveer, but it later took that back.
Ranveer offered to pay Rs 10 crore and give a discount on a future movie, but the company said no.
The dispute is still not over.
Farhan Akhtar joked that actors leaving films about a month before shooting 'seems to be a pattern nowadays,' a pointed remark widely read as a dig at Ranveer Singh's Don 3 exit.
The comment came during a The Hollywood Reporter India interview marking 25 years of Dil Chahta Hai, in which he recalled Saif Ali Khan nearly quitting that film over a date clash.
Ranveer Singh reportedly exited Don 3 in December 2025, weeks before filming was to begin, after being associated with the project for over three years.
At a Producers Guild of India meeting, Ranveer reportedly cited an unsatisfactory script, Farhan's availability, a renegotiated fee, a budget cut from Rs 300-350 crore to about Rs 150 crore, and no signing advance; Excel Entertainment disputed these claims.
FWICE issued a non-cooperation directive against Ranveer after the makers alleged losses of nearly Rs 45 crore, later withdrawing it, and the Don 3 dispute remains unresolved.
- Who
- Filmmaker Farhan Akhtar and his company Excel Entertainment, actor Ranveer Singh, and related figures including Saif Ali Khan, Ritesh Sidhwani, Kiara Advani, interviewer Anupama Chopra, and industry bodies FWICE and the Producers Guild of India.
- What
- Farhan Akhtar made a playful comment about actors leaving films shortly before shooting, widely seen as a dig at Ranveer Singh's Don 3 exit; the underlying dispute between the actor and the makers remains unresolved.
- When
- During an interview marking 25 years of Dil Chahta Hai in August 2026; Ranveer's reported exit from Don 3 was in December 2025, weeks before filming was to begin.
- Where
- The Indian film industry (Bollywood); the interview was conducted by The Hollywood Reporter India.
- Why
- Ranveer reportedly left over an unsatisfactory script, concerns about Farhan's availability, reduced remuneration and budget, and a missing signing advance, while Excel Entertainment disputes these claims and has sought compensation for alleged losses.
Ranveer Singh's Position
Excel Entertainment / Farhan Akhtar's Position
Reason for exit
Ranveer Singh's Position
Ranveer reportedly said the script was not up to his satisfaction, his remuneration was renegotiated downward, the budget was cut from Rs 300-350 crore to about Rs 150 crore, he had not received a signing advance, and creative collaboration was difficult due to Farhan's other commitments.
Excel Entertainment / Farhan Akhtar's Position
Excel disputed these claims, saying Ranveer had responded positively to multiple script drafts, his fee was discussed during negotiations before the term sheet was signed, and the budget and Farhan's availability assertions were challenged.
Settlement proposal
Ranveer Singh's Position
Ranveer offered Rs 10 crore in immediate compensation plus a 25% discount on his fee for any future Excel Entertainment project.
Excel Entertainment / Farhan Akhtar's Position
Excel rejected the offer, saying a discount on a future collaboration had little value because it no longer wished to work with the actor and instead wanted compensation for losses already incurred.
Influence of Dhurandhar's success
Ranveer Singh's Position
Ranveer reportedly said he would not have left Don 3 had Dhurandhar not become a blockbuster, in response to a question from Excel's Ritesh Sidhwani during mediation.
Excel Entertainment / Farhan Akhtar's Position
Ritesh Sidhwani posed the question during mediation, suggesting the massive success of Dhurandhar and Dhurandhar: The Revenge may have influenced Ranveer's decision to exit the project.
- Filmmaker / Production House
- Farhan Akhtar / Excel Entertainment
- Film
- Don 3 (announced August 2023; franchise previously headlined by Shah Rukh Khan, origin role by Amitabh Bachchan in 1978)
- Ranveer Singh's reported exit
- December 2025, weeks before filming was scheduled to begin
- Alleged losses
- Nearly Rs 45 crore, per FWICE chief adviser Ashoke Pandit
- FWICE directive
- Non-cooperation directive issued on 25 May, withdrawn on 3 June
- Reported budget reduction
- From Rs 300-350 crore to approximately Rs 150 crore (Ranveer's claim, disputed by Excel)
- Ranveer's rejected settlement offer
- Rs 10 crore immediate compensation plus a 25% discount on fees for a future Excel Entertainment project
- Dhurandhar box office
- Over Rs 1300 crore worldwide (December 2025); Dhurandhar: The Revenge (March 2026) earned over Rs 1800 crore, the biggest Hindi film series of all time
Sources
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Farhan Akhtar takes a dig at Ranveer Singh’s exit from Don 3: ‘A pattern nowadays’
Farhan Akhtar Takes Indirect Jibe At Ranveer Singh Over Don 3 Exit, Says 'Seems To Be A Pattern Nowadays’
Farhan Akhtar says actors leaving films is a “pattern nowadays” as he recalls Saif Ali Khan’s exit scare
