Shah Rukh Khan to not be a part of Don 3, Farhan Akhtar to reboot the franchise with a new leading actor

Just a day after it was confirmed that action-drama film, Don 3, is in the making, reports now suggest that acting legend Shah Rukh Khan has opted out of the upcoming film. Though the exact reason is not known, sources close to news portal Pinkvilla, suggest that King Khan is not keen to work on the film at the moment.

Don 3 is scheduled to be directed by Farhan Akhtar and will be produced by Ritesh Sidhwani and Excel Entertainment.

“Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani have had multiple detailed discussions with Shah Rukh Khan on Don 3. Before the pandemic, a couple of ideas were also discussed, which took shape of a script through the pandemic. Meetings have happened recently too, but Shah Rukh is not too keen to get back as Don again at this point of time. He is willing to do commercial films that cater to universal section of audience, and Don certainly doesn’t fit the bracket of cinema that he is willing to do for the coming few years. He has conveyed his decision to the stakeholders at Excel,” revealed a source close to the development to Pinkvilla.

The source further told the news portal that talks are going on to decide who will be the fresh face in the leading role for this franchise. He said, “The talks at the moment are on with a hero who has done two films with Excel in the last decade. He is keen to step into the shoes of Don, but has his reservations too, as the legacy of the franchise and the actors who portrayed Don before can’t be replicated by anyone. Don will be rebooted once one of the younger actors takes up the challenge,” the source said to Pinkvilla.

The franchise originates from the 1978 action thriller film Don starring Amitabh Bachchan in the lead role. In 2006, a remake series began, with the release of Don: The Chase Begins Again which featured Shah Rukh Khan in key role. In 2011, the series got expanded with Don 2 hitting the theatres.