Ranveer Singh Out, ₹40 Crore Dispute In: The “Don 3” Drama You Didn’t See Coming!
Mumbai, February 09, 2026 — Everyone is talking about Ranveer Singh being the “King of the Box Office” after his recent monster hits, but the real story is the massive explosion happening behind the scenes of Don 3. Forget the stylish posters and the “New Era” teasers; fundamentally, the franchise has hit a wall that costs exactly ₹40 crore.
According to reports from Variety India, the relationship between Ranveer Singh and Farhan Akhtar’s Excel Entertainment has officially soured. What was supposed to be a legendary torch-passing ceremony from Shah Rukh Khan to Ranveer has turned into a high-stakes legal and financial standoff.
As Times Now reported, this isn’t just a “creative exit”—it’s a full-blown financial dispute that has left the project on indefinite hold.
Creative Clash or Costly Mistake? The Full Breakdown
Did you notice how quiet things were about Don 3 lately? Well, here is why. The numbers and the timeline are finally leaking out, and they aren’t pretty:
- The Demand: Excel Entertainment is reportedly seeking ₹40 crore in compensation from Ranveer Singh for his sudden exit.
- The Reason for Claim: The production house claims they suffered “substantial financial losses,” including sunk development costs, pre-production expenses, and massive scheduling delays.
- Sunk Assets: Sets were already designed, and co-stars like Kriti Sanon had their schedules blocked based on Ranveer’s commitment.
- The Actor’s Defense: Ranveer Singh is firmly contesting the claim, arguing he isn’t liable to pay a single rupee. His team cites past precedents where actors left projects without such “penalty fees”.
- The “Script” Glitch: A source revealed that Ranveer wasn’t happy with the final draft of the script and kept asking for changes that never made it in. Conversely, Excel claims they only started spending money after he gave the “Go-Ahead”.
- Contentious Meeting: A two-hour meeting held last Friday between Ranveer’s team and Excel reportedly ended in a deadlock with zero resolution.
- Mediation: The Producers Guild of India (PGI) has now stepped in to try and stop this from turning into a messy court battle.
Why This Matters Now
This is a massive loss for the industry. Don 3 was the “Hottest Franchise” in Bollywood, and Ranveer was stepping into the shoes of Amitabh Bachchan and SRK—a dream role for any actor. But after the blockbuster success of his film “Dhurandhar,” Ranveer’s market value skyrocketed, making him more selective (or some might say, more demanding) about his scripts.
The immediate impact? Don 3 is dead in the water. Farhan Akhtar has reportedly put the film on indefinite hold and shifted his focus back to his long-delayed road-trip movie “Jee Le Zaraa” starring Priyanka Chopra, Katrina Kaif, and Alia Bhatt. For the fans, this means we might not see a Don on screen for another 3-4 years. For the industry, it’s a “Glitch in the System”—a reminder that even the biggest stars and the biggest banners can fall apart over a piece of paper (the script).
Author’s Opinion
In my expert view, this is a “Smart Move” for Ranveer’s brand but a “Financial Nightmare” for Excel. If you’ve just delivered a career-defining hit like Dhurandhar, why would you risk your “Don” debut on a script you don’t believe in?
Logic says you protect your legacy first. However, leaving a production house mid-way after sets are built? That’s a heavy blow to professional trust.
Excel Entertainment stood by Ranveer when he was coming off three flops, so the “betrayal” narrative is definitely being discussed in the inner circles of Bandra. Whether he pays the ₹40 crore or not, the “Don” franchise has lost its momentum.
Author’s Opinion
What do you think? Should an actor be forced to pay if they don’t like the final script, or should the production house take the risk as part of the business? Let me know in the comments!
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