The much-anticipated 'Don 3’ continues to face a rocky ride before even rolling cameras. After weeks of swirling rumours and shock exits, Excel Entertainment finally broke its silence with an official update that has only fueled more intrigue.

In a statement released on Wednesday, producers Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani confirmed that 'Don 3’ is gearing up to go on floors in January 2026. The action-packed thriller will star Ranveer Singh as the new 'Don' and Kriti Sanon as the leading lady, locking in the duo after Kiara Advani’s unexpected departure.

However, the makers’ troubles are far from over. Hot on the heels of Vikrant Massey’s exit, reports suggest South heartthrob Vijay Deverakonda also walked away from the project, reportedly unhappy with the lack of depth in the villain’s character. Excel Entertainment admitted that casting is still underway, revealing they are in talks with a top A-list actor to play the much-crucial antagonist.

Also, while fans of Shah Rukh Khan — who made the role of ‘'Don'’ iconic in the 2006 and 2011 installments — remain skeptical about Ranveer Singh stepping into his shoes, the filmmakers are cooking up something special. Buzz has it that SRK himself might make a cameo appearance in ''Don 3’, adding a nostalgic twist to the rebooted saga.

From star exits to script rewrites and a fanbase hard to please, 'Don' 3 is proving to be Bollywood’s most talked-about production — even before the first clapboard falls. Will the makers pull off this high-stakes gamble? The chase has only just begun.