Actor-director-producer Farhan Akhtar finally has finally broken the silence on replacing Shah Rukh Khan with Ranveer Singh for Don 3. In 2006, Farhan directed the remake of Amitabh Bachchan’s 1978 classic Don with Shah Rukh Khan. In 2011, Farhan and Shah Rukh returned for Don 2. 12 years after Don 2, the third instalment of the actioner was finally announced, but with Ranveer Singh as the dreaded, cool gangster. 

Ever since Don 3 was announced, SRK fans expressed their discontent over the replacement. Now, Farhan has reacted to the replacement. While speaking to Variety, Farhan clarified that he hadn’t replaced Shah Rukh, and they parted ways ambically, as they couldn’t find agree on the same page. Farhan said, “I’m not in the position of replacing anybody. These are things that we discussed over the years, I wanted to take a certain direction with the story, but somehow we just couldn’t find common ground. We just parted mutually knowing that it’s probably for the best. So that’s where it is.”  

Speaking about Ranveer’s addition to the franchise, Farhan asserted, “I’m really excited Ranveer’s on board. He’s so charged and so ready to go. It’s a big film, just purely from the point of view of an actor, it’s a big thing to do, and we’re really excited to have him on board. His energy is energizing us, so to speak.” 
Before Don 3 announcement promo was released, Farhan Akhtar took to his Instagram and issued a statement regarding Don 3. The statement read, “In 1978, a character created by Salim-Javed and portrayed by Mr. Amitabh Bachchan with effortless elan, captured the imagination of theatregoers across the country. That enigmatic character was Don. In 2006, Don was reimagined and brought to life by Shah Rukh Khan in his own irresistibly charming way.” The statement further read, “The time has now come to take the legacy of Don forward and joining us in this new interpretation will be an actor whose talent and versatility I have long admired. We hope that you will show him the love you have so graciously and generously shown to Mr Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan. A new era of Don begins in 2025.” Don 3 is slated for 2025 release.