After months of speculation around Don 3, recent reports suggest Shah Rukh Khan could be set to reprise his iconic role as Don — but only under a specific condition tied to the film’s direction. This development comes after the earlier buzz around Don 3 underwent twists and turns following Ranveer Singh’s reported exit from the project.
What’s Happening With Don 3
The Don franchise — originally launched with Don (2006) and followed by Don 2 (2011), both starring Shah Rukh Khan — has been dormant for years before talk of a third film resurfaced under director Farhan Akhtar’s banner. After several casting shifts and creative discussions, Don 3 was announced with Ranveer Singh initially attached to the lead role, but his departure reignited conversation about Khan’s possible return.
Khan’s Condition to Return
According to recent reports in Hindi and English entertainment outlets, Shah Rukh Khan is open to returning as Don for the third installment — but he reportedly wants filmmaker Atlee associated with the project in a key creative position if he is to take on the role again (either as director or in a significant creative collaboration). This condition stems from Khan’s belief that Atlee’s contemporary, high-impact filmmaking style could bring fresh energy and commercial appeal to the franchise’s next chapter.
That said, industry sources have also pushed back on some of these specific claims, noting that there has been no official confirmation from Shah Rukh Khan, Farhan Akhtar, Atlee or the Don 3 producers about this particular arrangement. At least one fact-check on the rumour has labelled the Atlee-involvement claims as unverified and baseless, highlighting that script development and casting decisions are still fluid.
Why This Matters
Shah Rukh Khan’s return as Don would be a highly significant moment for Bollywood, given how closely his performance in the original two films has become tied to his star image and the franchise’s legacy. Don 3 has endured mixed updates since its announcement, and Khan’s potential involvement — coupled with creative conditions — suggests that both star and filmmakers want to get the project right before moving forward rather than rush into another big-budget sequel.
What’s clear is that Don 3 remains in the development stage, with casting, script, and directorial details continuing to evolve. Fans of the franchise, meanwhile, are watching closely to see whether Shah Rukh Khan’s condition — whatever its final form — could be the catalyst that brings the franchise full circle.
