Final round of Don vs director

Ranveer Singh and Farhan Akhtar. Pics/Instagram, AFP

Almost five months after Ranveer Singh exited ‘Don 3' leading to a row with producers Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani, the matter is expected to reach its resolution on May 25. The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), whom filmmaker Akhtar had approached when the dispute reached a head, will announce its decision at 4 pm on Monday after its final meeting at 2.30 pm. Industry insiders have told mid-day that the body conducted two meetings with Singh and the makers over the past week.

An insider present at the discussions revealed that the conversations focused on the larger issue of stars walking out of projects at the last minute. "Everybody agreed that this cannot become a pattern. Not every film will become a blockbuster like ‘Dhurandhar' [2025]. If actors begin exiting projects days before schedules begin, smaller producers will collapse under the pressure," shared the insider.

Singh, who was attached to ‘Don 3' since its announcement in 2024, walked out the film in January. Akhtar reportedly filed a legal suit against the actor and approached the Indian Film & Television Directors' Association (IFTDA) in April, alleging that nearly R46 crore had been spent on ‘Don 3' prep. A source revealed, "After three reminders, Ranveer's team eventually responded over e-mail saying the matter was not within the association's purview."

According to sources, FWICE's decision on May 25 could also see the body announcing the introduction of a formal framework to discourage abrupt exits by talent.

. In 2019, Salman Khan left Sanjay Leela Bhansali's ‘Inshallah', leading to the film being shelved

. In 2017, Abhishek Bachchan exited JP Dutta's ‘Paltan' shortly before the shoot was to begin

. In 2014, Hrithik Roshan bowed out of Karan Malhotra's ‘Shuddhi' after years of development and delays