Cinema aficionados are on the edge of their seats as the run-up to the much-awaited crime thriller Don 3 gathers momentum. This August, acclaimed filmmaker Farhan Akhtar revealed his plans to helm the third installment of the iconic Don franchise, with none other than Bollywood’s powerhouse Ranveer Singh taking over the reins from the legendary Shah Rukh Khan – a move that sparked fervent discussion amongst the fans. Now, nearly half a year after the announcement – which gave way to a spectrum of reactions concerning the casting – the project appears to be edging towards the beginning of its production phase.
Insiders have divulged that Akhtar is charting out the pre-production phase of Don 3, which is set to kickstart as early as March. Upon the initial savour of the news, there seemed to be a haze surrounding the project’s timelines, chiefly due to Ranveer Singh’s prior commitment to another tentpole project by a titan of Indian cinema, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Baiju Bawra. However, with Bhansali now steering his creative prowess towards another feature titled Love & War, the path has cleared for Akhtar and his team to focus all their attention on bringing the Don 3 to the cinematic fore in the current year.
An industry source, privy to the developments, shared with the media, “The filmmakers are raring to roll up their sleeves and dive headfirst into pre-production come next month. They’ve tentatively marked the first week of August to flag off the actual filming process. Mumbai is slated to be the launching pad for this grand operation, before the production unit uproots and plants itself across various picturesque locales in Europe.”
Yet the question incessantly tugging at the minds of the franchise’s fans is: what novel twist will Ranveer Singh’s interpretation of the ‘Don’ character wield, especially in the wake of Shah Rukh Khan’s magnetic performances that have sealed the character’s place in cinematic legend? The 2006 eponymous film and its 2011 sequel, both under Farhan Akhtar’s meticulous direction, carved a niche for themselves as highly stylised portraits of the criminal underworld. Sources intimate that while Akhtar is resolute in conserving the slick essence synonymous with the series, he is also fervent about injecting a fresh visual flair into Ranveer Singh’s advent in the role.
Amidst the buzz of what’s to come, the unshakable dedication to maintaining the franchise’s hallmarks of glitzy set pieces, intense performances, and gripping narratives doesn’t go unnoticed. Ranveer Singh, renowned for his chameleon-like ability to immerse himself into his characters, from historical figures to contemporary mavericks, carries the expectations of aficionados on his capable shoulders.
Classification of roles and the finalization of production details are now taking place behind tightly shut doors, with additional casting choices being finessed to flawlessness. While details about the film’s wider narrative and character arcs are being closely guarded, the creative team’s effort to create a seamless blend of the franchise’s cherished elements with novel creative insights is palpable.
As the countdown to August begins, fans and cinephiles worldwide hold their breath, anticipating the emergence of a new Don, an evolution of an enthralling story, and the continuation of a legacy that had left an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of movie-goers.
With a vision so compelling and a team determined to transcend benchmarks, Don 3 stands poised on the brink of not just reviving the adored ethos of its predecessors but redefining the landscape of action cinema within the subcontinent. As the saying goes in the world of Don – “Don ke duniya mein aap jaise logon ki zaroorat hai,” which transpires to the enthrallment that awaits the audience – for in Don’s world, there is a need for people like the audience to partake in the sheer audacity of its spectacle.