Mumbai: Farhan Akhtar has sparked fresh speculation amid the ongoing ‘Don 3’ controversy after recalling a past incident involving Saif Ali Khan and a last-minute exit from a film.
His remark that actors walking away from projects close to the shoot has become a “pattern nowadays” has caught attention, with many wondering if he was indirectly referring to Ranveer Singh’s reported exit from ‘Don 3’.
‘Don 3’ has been embroiled in controversy since Ranveer reportedly walked away from the project just weeks before filming was scheduled to begin.
His sudden exit allegedly resulted in a dispute with the makers, with the matter later reaching industry bodies amid reported disagreements over the film.
Against this backdrop, Farhan has opened up about a similar experience from the making of ‘Dil Chahta Hai’.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter India, the actor-filmmaker recalled how an unexpected scheduling conflict put Saif in a difficult position and made him consider leaving the film.
Farhan said the thought of losing Saif was “devastating” for him, as he could not imagine anyone else playing the role.
“Saif suddenly had some date issue with another film that he was gonna do. The dates shifted, and he was kind of half in, half out on that. So he was in a bit of a spot, and he had to leave the film. And everybody tried to convince him, like, ‘Yaar, please.’ And for me, I was just like, my head was, like, destroyed. Because when we got, when I met him, when we got into it, there was nobody else who could have played that part. It was just impossible,” Farhan shared.
He went on to joke that such last-minute changes and exits appear to have become a recurring “pattern” these days.
“That was too heartbreaking for me. Not, maybe ten days, I think it was maybe about a month away from filming, which seems to be a pattern nowadays,” he said.
He added, “Not just with me. Aisa bhi hota hai. Huh?”
Although Farhan did not mention Ranveer by name, his remarks have inevitably drawn comparisons with the ‘Don 3’ controversy, particularly as the ‘Dhurandhar’ actor’s reported exit came just weeks before the film was scheduled to go on floors.
Earlier, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) had announced a non-cooperation directive against Ranveer over his decision to walk out of ‘Don 3’. However, the directive was revoked a few days later.
Meanwhile, the reported financial dispute over losses incurred by the production remains unresolved, leaving the future of ‘Don 3’ uncertain.
