Inside Farhan Akhtar's Don 3 dilemma and legacy that won't fade away

Don 3 continues to dominate the buzz despite casting shake-ups and prolonged delays. From Hrithik Roshan denying involvement to the uncertainty around Ranveer Singh and Kiara Advani, the franchise remains in flux under Farhan Akhtar's direction.

Don 3 is not an easy film to make. There are logistical challenges, of course, but the bigger battle is with its legacy. Farhan Akhtar has already delivered two successful films in the franchise. Yet the third instalment appears to be stuck in an unprecedented delay. None of this, however, has dented audience anticipation.

After months of speculation, Akhtar officially announced Don 3 in 2023. The buzz was immediate. Anticipation was at an all-time high, and Akhtar did not have any other directorial project competing for attention. Cut to 2026, and the landscape looks different. The originally announced cast is no longer attached. Akhtar has since announced his Hollywood debut and is reportedly attempting to revive his long-delayed passion project, Jee Le Zara. The obvious question is: where does that leave Don 3?

The latest round of rumours suggested that Akhtar approached Hrithik Roshan to headline the film -- a claim the actor firmly denied in an interview with Variety India. Don 3 was initially announced with Ranveer Singh and Kiara Advani. At present, none of the actors are officially on board. What seems certain is that Akhtar has a story in place and that Excel Entertainment continues to back the project. Everything else remains fluid. Which brings the conversation back to one question: who will be the next Don of Bollywood?

Despite the uncertainty, the brand has not suffered. If anything, the delays and casting shake-ups have kept Don 3 in constant discussion. It remains a hot property. The intrigue has only amplified its value.

History suggests this is not new territory. In 2006, when Akhtar chose to remake the 1978 classic starring Amitabh Bachchan, the decision was met with scepticism. Even his father, veteran screenwriter Javed Akhtar, who co-wrote the original, had publicly said that Don did not require a remake. Yet the younger Akhtar went ahead, confident in his reinterpretation. The result was a reinvention that worked.

A similar resistance surfaced in 2023 when Ranveer Singh was announced as the new face of the franchise. Comparisons with Shah Rukh Khan were inevitable. Questions were raised. The debate was loud. But that, perhaps, is the nature of Don. Every transition comes with noise.