Did you know Hrithik Roshan was Farhan Akhtar’s first choice for Don? Here’s how SRK came on board

Fans went crazy when Don 3's producers, Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar, hinted at a big surprise announcement yesterday. It's confirmed now that Kiara Advani has been cast to play the female lead in the third instalment of the Don franchise, opposite Ranveer Singh. However, there’s a bigger twist about the good old Don franchise that you need to know. Read on...  

Hrithik Roshan was set to be the original new-age Don  

Surprised reading this? So were we, dear readers. Yet, this is actually true. Bollywood’s own Greek God Hrithik Roshan was being considered for the male lead role of the modern Don film franchise, directed by Farhan Akhtar. Yes, King Khan SRK headlined the first two instalments of this superhit movie franchise – Don (2006) and Don 2 (2011) - taking inspiration from the Amitabh Bachchan-starrer 1978 movie of the same name. And, Ranveer Singh has been finalised for the upcoming third instalment called Don 3: The Chase Ends.   

Also Read: Don 3 - Is Ranveer Singh and Farhan Akhtar's actioner in pre-production already? Here's the latest scoop 

Farhan Akhtar’s take on Hrithik Roshan as new-age Don  

But, but... hold your horses, for we are taking you a bit down memory lane. It’s no secret that the old as well as the new versions of Don were highly popular at the box office during their time. Yet, it was our Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai hero Hrithik Roshan who was producer-director Farhan Akhtar’s first choice for the first instalmemt of the modern retelling of Don (2006). Delving more into it, in a previous interview, Farhan stated that he truly desired Hrithik to be Don, as reported by the India FM News Bureau. “I actually wanted Hrithik for Don. This was when I was just out of Lakshya, and we had hit it off fabulously,” Farhan said.  

So, what changed Farhan’s mind about casting Shah Rukh Khan instead of Hrithik Roshan? Well, he gave some time to that thought and slept over it. Later, Farhan concluded that Don’s character needed someone more mature, worldly wise and had been there, done that kind of feel to him. Explaining further, Farhan had quipped, “Hrithik’s innocence overstepped 2 points for the role.” And, that’s how Bollywood’s beloved superstar Shah Rukh Khan came on board this film.  

Also Read: Don 3 is here! Farhan Akhtar FINALLY announces the return of the hit franchise with Ranveer Singh after 12 years of waiting 

Kiara Advani to romance Ranveer Singh in Don 3  

Two years after declaring his comeback to direction with Jee Le Zaraa, Farhan Akhtar announced the return of his most-awaited Don 3 after a 12-year-long hiatus in August last year. While fans knew that Bollywood’s flamboyant Rocky Randhawa aka Ranveer Singh would replace Shah Rukh Khan in the titular role; confusion prevailed about the film’s leading lady. However, Kiara Advani has been roped in to play the female lead alongside Ranveer Singh in the film, which is expected to release in 2025. Farhan Akhtar believed Kiara was the best option, a source close to Bollywood Hungama said.  

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