Farhan Akhtar remarks on actors leaving projects near shoot dates

Filmmaker and actor Farhan Akhtar has made a pointed remark about actors leaving projects close to their shooting dates, a comment widely interpreted as a reference to Ranveer Singh's recent exit from the film Don 3. The remark came during an interview discussing the 25th anniversary of Akhtar's directorial debut, Dil Chahta Hai.

While reflecting on the challenges of making Dil Chahta Hai, Akhtar recalled how actor Saif Ali Khan nearly left the film due to a scheduling conflict with another project. Akhtar described the experience as heartbreaking, noting that Khan's potential departure came about a month before filming was set to begin. "It was a month away from filming, which seems to be a pattern nowadays," Akhtar said, adding with a smile, "But, not just with me... things like this happen too."

Although Akhtar did not name Ranveer Singh, the comment immediately drew connections to the ongoing controversy surrounding Don 3. Singh, who was announced as the new lead for the franchise, reportedly exited the project in December 2025, just weeks before filming was scheduled to commence. The departure led to a significant dispute between the actor and the production house, Excel...