The Don 3 saga just got a whole lot juicier. Industry insiders are scratching their heads over Ranveer Singh’s sudden exit from the much-anticipated franchise, especially after it’s been revealed that the film was built around him for a staggering 32 months.
Sources close to the production have shared a detailed timeline that raises more questions than answers. Excel Entertainment reportedly began working on introducing Ranveer as the new Don as early as April 2023, shooting a first-look announcement video at their own expense. The teaser dropped in August that year, officially passing the baton from Shah Rukh Khan to Ranveer — a move that came with significant reputational risk given the fan backlash.
32 Months of Backing Despite Flops
One industry insider pointed out, “People forget what Excel did for this project. They didn’t merely cast Ranveer. They re-launched one of Hindi cinema’s most iconic franchises around him. The entire campaign, positioning and long-term planning revolved around Ranveer Singh despite his back-to-back flops.”
The collaboration moved ahead substantially over two years. Sources claim a term sheet recording key terms of Ranveer’s engagement was signed on August 7, 2024, while the latest script draft was shared with his team on March 25, 2025. Excel Entertainment then shared a detailed schedule on August 25, 2025, covering action training, costume trials, look tests and principal photography. The shoot was planned to start on January 9, 2026 and run through July 2026.
Action Training and Script Readings Just Days Before Exit
What has stunned many is that preparations continued right up to the final stretch. According to sources, Ranveer underwent action training between November 3 and November 12, 2025, with Excel footing the bill. Costume trials and look tests were also lined up.
“By that stage, this was not a film waiting for approvals. This was a film preparing to go on floors. Multiple departments had been activated, schedules blocked, and substantial money already spent,” revealed an industry source. Even more telling, Ranveer participated in script-reading sessions with Farhan Akhtar and the key cast on December 15 and 16, 2025 — just days before everything fell apart.
The Sudden Phone Call That Ended It All
A look test scheduled for December 17 was cancelled at the last minute. Three days later, on December 20, Ranveer allegedly informed the producers over a phone call that he was out. One trade veteran summed up the confusion: “That is the question everyone is asking. If there were fundamental problems with the script, budget or the project itself, why continue with action training, costume trials, rehearsals and script readings? Ranveer or his team have not convincingly answered that yet.”
While Ranveer’s camp has maintained there were concerns about the project, the chronology has left many in the trade uncomfortable. As one producer put it, “Actors have every right to reject a film. But if preparations continue till the final stretch and a producer keeps investing money based on those commitments, then naturally questions will be asked to the actor.” The silence from Ranveer’s side is growing louder by the day, yaar.