Bollywood superstar Ranveer Singh, who is relishing the triumph of his recent movie Dhurandhar, has allegedly stepped down from Farhan Akhtar’s Don 3, according to sources close to NDTV. The role of Shah Rukh Khan was meant to be taken over by the actor in the much-awaited continuation, and the filming was set to commence in January.

Only a short time ago, Ranveer was seen at Mumbai’s airport along with his spouse Deepika Padukone, both clad in matching black dresses, as they left for New Year celebrations. His appointment as the new Don, declared in 2023 by Excel Entertainment, had created a virtual storm of dialogue across social media and was even considered as the dawn of a “new era” for the legendary franchise.

The Don series can be traced back to the 1978 classic featuring Amitabh Bachchan, with Farhan Akhtar’s 2006 remake and its 2011 sequel starring Shah Rukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra Jonas. Excel Entertainment had gained the rights to continue the legendary story that was penned by Javed Akhtar and Salim Khan.

Following the epic run of Dhurandhar, which has garnered Rs 619.30 crore in India, Ranveer took to Instagram to talk about faith and patience, which are also mental states associated with the spy thriller. The film also features Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, and Rakesh Bedi besides Singh.

This unexpected departure leaves Don 3 without a star and stirs up the discussion regarding the franchise’s future again.