Feb 23, 2026 5:27pm IST
Ranveer vs ‘Don 3’ producers: Take legal recourse, advises Producers Guild of India (EXCLUSIVE)
Earlier this month, Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani approached the Producers Guild of India, seeking Rs 40 crore in compensation from Ranveer Singh for suddenly exiting “Don 3.” In response, Ranveer also pushed back, accusing the banner of unprofessional conduct and a lack of commitment that stalled the project for years.
The dispute between Singh and Excel Entertainment seems to be only escalating, as the Producers Guild of India, which was approached to mediate, has advised both parties to pursue legal recourse, citing they cannot resolve disputes when neither side is willing to compromise.
A fortnight ago, Bollywood producers and studio heads, including Karan Johar, Sajid Nadiadwala, Ektaa Kapoor, Zoya Akhtar and Punit Goenka, met at Aamir Khan's Mumbai residence to explore possible solutions. Emails were sent to all prominent producers, but only a handful chose to be present. Both sides presented a strong case. Ranveer arrived armed with a dossier of emails and WhatsApp texts to present his side, while Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani of Excel Entertainment presented their side. As per sources, Farhan and Ritesh remained firm in their demand for compensation, while Ranveer also stood his ground, further complicating efforts toward an amicable settlement.
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“As an organization, the Producers Guild of India can intervene only to a certain extent. With both parties standing firm, the guild members advised them to involve their legal teams and resolve the matter through the proper legal route,” a source close to the development told Variety India.
According to sources, Ranveer was in talks with Farhan, till about two weeks before Dhurandhar's release. Then, he decided to walk out. He offered to pay a certain amount for the losses incurred during "Don 3"'s pre-production and development stages, but seeing the massive number that Excel Entertainment came up with for compensation, he withdrew his offer. “Ranveer is not agreeing to pay that amount because he bears no financial liability for the losses. He was willing to pay a certain amount just as a gesture of goodwill, which Farhan didn't agree to,” the source added.
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Ranveer stepped away from “Don 3” in December 2025, but the matter resurfaced in February, when Farhan and Ritesh escalated it to the Producers Guild of India, formally requesting that Ranveer reimburse them for the alleged losses incurred due to his sudden departure. Multiple meetings have been held between Farhan, Ritesh, Ranveer and prominent producers to resolve the dispute, but their unwillingness to compromise has only worsened the situation.
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