New Delhi: Farhan Akhtar made what seemed to be a snide reference to actor Ranveer Singh for exiting his upcoming film Don 3. Speaking at the Nilaya Monsoon Film Festival, Akhtar appeared to take a swipe at him, complaining that actors pulling out of films shortly before shooting has become a “pattern nowadays”.
The comment came while Akhtar was speaking to The Hollywood Reporter India about 25 years of Dil Chahta Hai and how Saif Ali Khan had nearly exited the film. It was while recounting that episode that he made the remark about a “pattern”.
“[Saif saying he might have to leave Dil Chahta Hai] was true heartbreak for me. I think it was maybe about a month away from filming, which seems to be a pattern nowadays,” he said, drawing peals of laughter from interviewer Anupama Chopra.
“Aisa bhi hota hai (This also happens),” he added with a smile.
Saif ultimately stayed on and starred in Dil Chahta Hai. Ranveer, however, exited Don 3 before filming began. Akhtar’s Excel Entertainment later claimed it had suffered losses of around Rs 45 crore on the project and sought compensation from the actor.
Akhtar did not name Ranveer in the interview, but he spoke about how wrenching it can be when an actor drops out at the eleventh hour. He recalled that Saif was juggling other films at the time and his dates were clashing, and so he said he was pulling out of the film.
“And for me, I was just like, my head was destroyed… because when we met him, when we got into it, there was nobody else who could have played that part. It was just impossible, right?” he said. “What I’ve learnt is just to expect the unexpected. Nothing can be taken for granted until you have it on film.”
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The Ranveer Singh controversy
The Ranveer Singh-Don 3 controversy escalated on 25 May when the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) issued a non-cooperation directive against the actor following his exit from Don 3. The directive was not a formal ban, as FWICE’s Ashoke Pandit later clarified.
The film was announced in August 2023, with Ranveer Singh introduced as the new Don. Amitabh Bachchan had originally played the character in the 1978 Don, while Shah Rukh Khan took on the role in Farhan Akhtar’s 2006 Don and its sequel, Don 2.
Ranveer later exited the project, reportedly over creative differences with the makers. His exit led to speculation over what had gone wrong and prompted FWICE to step in. Kiara Advani and Vikrant Massey had also previously exited the project.
At a press conference, FWICE chief adviser and filmmaker Ashoke Pandit said Farhan Akhtar’s production house had suffered losses of nearly Rs 45 crore because of the development.
Eight days after issuing the non-cooperation directive against Ranveer, FWICE withdrew it on 3 June. Earlier that day, the Producers Guild of India released a statement urging all parties to resolve their differences. The development also came after Ranveer reportedly sent a legal notice to FWICE over the directive.
Announcing the withdrawal at a press conference that day, FWICE President BN Tiwari struck a conciliatory note, saying there was no question of anyone having “won or lost” and that the entire film industry stood with Ranveer Singh.
The actor himself has largely been tight-lipped, barring a statement in which he said he had “consciously chosen to maintain silence, believing that professional discussions and personal equations are best handled with dignity, maturity and mutual respect”. He did not explain why he had exited Don 3.
(Edited by Asavari Singh)