Farhan Akhtar has shared his thoughts about casting Ranveer Singh as the new Don for the first time since the film Don 3 was announced. Speaking to The BBC Asian Network, Akhtar said, “I’m just really looking forward to get it going. I mean Ranveer is amazing. He’s great for the part. He’s also as you can imagine, really excited and really nervous, about the thing you’re filling some big shoes before you. But we went through the same emotional process when Shah Rukh did it and everyone was like ‘Oh my God, how can you replace Mr Bachchan?.’ That whole thing happened then.”
Akhtar also spoke about why he feels that Singh is the perfect choice to carry forward the legacy of this iconic character. He added, “It really is about an actor coming in and owning the part and making it really like, giving it their style and their flair. And he has that, he has that in spades. So, he’s going to do a great job. I think the responsibility is more mine now to make sure that the script and the film works out the way I imagine.”
The filmmaker also revealed what he feels are the most important characteristics of Don, “Self-confidence, flamboyance and the ability to do anything that your mind is set on,” Akhtar said.
The film’s release date has not been announced yet but Akhtar said in his interview to The BBC Asian Network that filming is scheduled to begin in January 2025. Don 3 begins a new era of films featuring the iconic character of Don. The series began with Don (1978) starring Amitabh Bachchan, followed by Don (2006), and Don 2 (2011), both starring Shah Rukh Khan.