Salman Khan’s name cleared in Don 3 drama
Earlier this week, whispers swept through Bollywood that Salman Khan was playing peacemaker in the growing rift between Ranveer Singh and the makers of Don 3. Turns out, those whispers were just that — whispers.
According to sources close to the situation, Salman Khan hasn’t actually gotten involved in the messy fallout between Ranveer Singh, director Farhan Akhtar, and producer Ritesh Sidhwani. A source told HT City, “The rumors about Salman Khan calling up and mediating just aren’t true. He hasn’t gotten involved.” That pretty much shuts down earlier reports that suggested Khan, who shares warm equations with both Ranveer and the Akhtars, had been making calls to both sides urging them to settle things quietly.
Industry insiders insist no one approached Salman to intervene, and he’s staying completely out of it. So if you were hoping Bhai would swoop in with some sage advice — nahi hoga.
How the Don 3 conflict actually started
Let’s rewind a bit. Ranveer Singh was announced as the new Don back in 2023 with a slick teaser that had fans losing their minds. Farhan Akhtar wanted to kick off production right after Ranveer wrapped up Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani. But things kept getting delayed — and not because of Excel Entertainment.
Sources reveal that Ranveer had already committed to Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Baiju Bawra and began prepping for that role. Once Baiju Bawra was done, he moved straight into Prasanth Varma’s project, pushing Don 3 further down the calendar. Then came Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar, which Ranveer prioritized — hoping the film could revive his box office fortunes after a string of underperformers.
The actor reportedly thought he’d return to Don after Dhurandhar to give the franchise a boost. But that plan never materialized.
Ranveer’s exit and the standoff that followed
The real trouble started when Ranveer officially exited Don 3 on December 20, 2025 — just weeks before shooting was supposed to begin. “Once Dhurandhar started gaining steam, Ranveer pulled out of Don 3 on December 20, 2025,” a source said. That last-minute move badly strained his relationship with Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani.
Now the two sides are locked in a standoff. Even the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) got involved, but Ranveer hasn’t responded to their invitation to sort things out. As of now, Don 3 remains in limbo, and the dispute between Ranveer and Excel Entertainment is far from resolved.
And Salman Khan? Completely out of the picture. So much for the peacemaker theory.