Ranveer Singh Compares Don 3 Backlash To Daniel Craig's James Bond Casting: 'This Is Natural…' – News18

Back in August, Farhan Akhtar spilled the beans that Shah Rukh Khan won’t be making a comeback as Don in the third part of the franchise. This was followed by a teaser release of Don, starring Ranveer Singh. The announcement received a mixed reaction from fans. While some were happy about the franchise’s return, others thought Shah Rukh Khan should still play the stylish criminal being chased by police from 11 countries. This led to some criticism for Shah Rukh Khan and the creators of the movie, Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani.

At the third edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival in Saudi Arabia, Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh received an honour. After participating in a panel discussion in Jeddah and interacting with fans, he engaged in a conversation covering various topics, including his portrayal of Don in the Farhan Akhtar-directed film. Acknowledging the skepticism surrounding the role previously played by megastars Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan, Ranveer said he is aware of the challenges ahead.

Speaking to Deadline, Ranveer Singh said, “I’m hoping to make Don my own and give it my spin, my interpretation. It is the handing over of the baton of one of the most loved and revered franchises of Hindi cinema. The significance of that is not lost on me. When the announcement was made, as expected, it came with its share of scepticism. But throughout the history of cinema, this has happened. Even as recently as perhaps when the Bond franchise changed hands and they announced Daniel Craig as the new Bond, it came with its fair share of scepticism. So, this is only natural.”

Amitabh Bachchan played the dual roles of Don and Vijay in the 1978 version of the film Don, written by Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar and directed by Chandra Barot. In 2007, Farhan Akhtar directed a new version of Don with Shah Rukh Khan portraying the double role, and a sequel followed in 2011. Talking about the third installment, Ranveer said “Taking the baton forward in this franchise and continuing the legacy of two of our greatest superstars – the significance of that is not lost on me. So, I will give it my best shot and you will see the very best of me and I will put my best foot forward for Don undoubtedly.”