The ongoing controversy surrounding Don 3 has taken yet another twist. Contrary to recent reports suggesting that Bollywood superstar Salman Khan had stepped in to resolve differences between actor Ranveer Singh and filmmaker Farhan Akhtar, fresh information indicates that no such intervention ever took place.
According to sources close to the development, Salman Khan has not played any role in mediating the dispute that has emerged between Ranveer Singh and the makers of Don 3. The clarification comes after speculation gained momentum on social media and entertainment portals claiming that Salman was attempting to broker peace between the two sides.
A source told HT City, “The speculations of Salman Khan calling and acting as a mediator are not true. No such intervention has taken place.”
How Did the Don 3 Controversy Begin?
Ranveer Singh was officially announced as the new face of the Don franchise in 2023 through a stylish teaser that generated significant buzz among fans. The film was expected to mark a new chapter for the iconic action franchise previously headlined by Shah Rukh Khan.
However, despite the grand announcement, the project faced repeated delays over the following years.
Sources close to the production maintain that the delays were not caused by director Farhan Akhtar or producer Ritesh Sidhwani. Instead, scheduling conflicts reportedly emerged from Ranveer Singh’s side.
According to insiders, Farhan Akhtar was keen to begin filming soon after the release of Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani in 2023. However, Ranveer had already committed dates to Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ambitious project Baiju Bawra and had begun extensive preparations for the film.
As a result, Don 3 was pushed further down the actor’s schedule.
Dhurandhar Became a Priority
The situation reportedly became more complicated when other projects started gaining momentum.
Sources claim that after Baiju Bawra, filmmaker Prasanth Varma’s project entered active development, leading to another postponement of Don 3. Later, Ranveer allegedly informed the production house that he wanted to prioritize Aditya Dhar’s action drama Dhurandhar.
Industry insiders suggest that the actor believed Dhurandhar had the potential to reconnect him with audiences following a series of underperforming films.
“He felt that after a string of non-successful films, this particular project had the potential to elevate his standing with audiences. Taking on Don after that would have positioned both him and the franchise better,” the source revealed.
Last-Minute Exit Shocked Makers
The biggest setback reportedly came in December 2025.
According to sources, Ranveer Singh withdrew from Don 3 on December 20, 2025, merely three weeks before the project was scheduled to go on floors.
The unexpected exit allegedly left the production house scrambling after months of planning, pre-production work and financial investments.
What initially appeared to be a scheduling disagreement soon evolved into a much larger industry dispute.
Excel Entertainment Seeks Compensation
Reports later emerged suggesting that Excel Entertainment, headed by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani, sought compensation of nearly ₹40-45 crore from Ranveer Singh for alleged losses incurred during pre-production.
The matter was reportedly first taken to the Producers Guild of India before reaching the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE).
FWICE chief advisor Ashoke Pandit stated that the producers had informed the organization about substantial expenditures already made for the film.
According to him, these investments included overseas location recce trips, hotel reservations, logistical arrangements and preparations involving more than 200 crew members.
Pandit also claimed that Ranveer had signed a three-film agreement with Excel Entertainment and had actively participated in script discussions and the film’s announcement shoot.
Industry Divided Over Non-Cooperation Call
The controversy sparked widespread debate within the film industry.
While some industry members supported the producers’ concerns regarding financial losses, others questioned the idea of issuing a non-cooperation call against a leading actor.
Veteran actor and CINTAA president Poonam Dhillon expressed reservations about the move.
“Banning is a strong word for a hardworking actor,” she reportedly stated, adding that the actors’ association should have been consulted before any such decision was discussed.
Her comments highlighted growing concerns about how disputes between actors and production houses should be resolved without escalating into industry-wide conflicts.
What’s Next?
While the Don 3 dispute continues to generate headlines, neither Ranveer Singh nor the makers have publicly detailed the full extent of the disagreement.
Meanwhile, Ranveer remains focused on his upcoming projects. The actor is currently preparing to begin filming for Pralay after completing work on Dhurandhar.
As fans wait for clarity on the future of Don 3, one thing is now clear despite widespread speculation, Salman Khan has not stepped into the controversy, and the dispute remains a matter between Ranveer Singh, Farhan Akhtar and the concerned production stakeholders.
