Given the massive legacy of the Don franchise, its third chapter demands an actor with commanding screen presence and long-term commitment.
However, recent reports as per Pinkvilla, suggest that Don 3 will have to wait much longer than expected.
Ranveer Singh Exits Don 3
Ranveer Singh is currently riding one of the biggest highs of his career. His latest release, Dhurandhar, directed by Aditya Dhar, has turned into a box office phenomenon.
The film is steadily closing in on the Rs 600 crore nett mark and is expected to cross it within days.
With the New Year holiday season driving footfalls, trade experts believe the film could end its run close to Rs 700 crore nett.
The momentum remains strong even in its fourth week, making Dhurandhar one of the most successful films of the year.
Amid this unprecedented success, it has been exclusively learnt that Ranveer Singh has decided to step away from Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani’s highly anticipated Don 3.
The decision appears to be part of a larger career strategy rather than a sudden exit.
Why Ranveer Singh reprioritised his upcoming slate
A source close to the actor shared that Dhurandhar’s success has given Ranveer clarity about his future choices.
He is keen to explore varied genres and collaborate with filmmakers such as Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Lokesh Kanagaraj, and Atlee.
At the same time, he wants to avoid being typecast in similar roles.
Since Dhurandhar already places him firmly in the gangster space, Ranveer is reportedly not interested in following it up with another film from the same genre immediately.
This thought process is also the reason why he has asked director Jai Mehta to advance the shooting schedule of Pralay.
The actor is said to be eager to bring the project on floors much earlier than initially planned.
Pralay moves ahead, Don 3 put on hold
Tentatively titled Pralay, the Applause Entertainment-backed project is a zombie-based thriller with a strong emotional core.
The story focuses on a man’s extreme journey to protect his family under impossible circumstances.
According to insiders, Ranveer is personally working on aligning dates and schedules to ensure the film moves at a fast pace.
Some fans want SRK back in Don 3.
THERE IS ONLY ONE DON – #ShahRukhKhan #Don3 #King
— Ronit (@SRKsNxtDirector) December 23, 2025
One of the user says, Ranveer did right with Farhan Akhtar.
I heard that #FarhanAkhtar was doubtful abt #RanveerSingh stardom so he was postponing #Don3 to work on #JeeLeZaraa and was also waiting to see the response of #Dhurandhar to decide if he's worth it
Guess what, #RanveerSingh showed him his place just like #SRK did after #Pathaan https://t.co/mm104M3VXQ
— Rishabh Jain (@RTRishabhJain) December 23, 2025
Who can be next Don?
Reports suggest Ranveer Singh may not be part of #Don3, and now the big question is who should step into the iconic role?
🔥 #ShahRukhKhan𓀠 – the original Don with unmatched charisma
🔥 #Yash – raw power, swag, and pan-India appeal
🔥 #RanbirKapoor – intensity, style, and… pic.twitter.com/xOk84eqVOd— Cineholic (@Cineholic_india) December 23, 2025
As for Don 3, an industry insider confirmed that Ranveer was originally supposed to begin preparations soon after Dhurandhar’s release.
However, given the current shift in priorities, the film has now been pushed indefinitely.
The makers of Don 3 have already locked Kriti Sanon as the female lead.
The action thriller was planned as a large-scale production with extensive shoots across Europe.
For now, fans will have to wait longer to see the iconic franchise return to the big screen.
Lead Image: Instagram/RanveerSingh
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