‘Don 3’: Kriti Sanon to step in as female lead after Kiara Advani’s exit

The buzz around Don 3 has only gotten louder with each passing day, and now, fresh reports suggest that Kriti Sanon is all set to join the high-octane action franchise as the female lead, stepping in for Kiara Advani, who had to opt out due to her pregnancy.

Don 3 marks the much-awaited return of Farhan Akhtar to direction after over a decade and features Ranveer Singh as the new face of Don, taking forward the iconic legacy once held by Shah Rukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan before him. Fans were ecstatic when the film was officially announced, with Ranveer’s powerful presence hinting at a whole new energy being infused into the franchise.

Initially, Kiara Advani was locked in to play the leading lady in this mega-budget action thriller. However, due to her pregnancy, the actress had to gracefully bow out of the project. According to Pinkvilla reports, Kriti Sanon has now emerged as the top choice for the role. She has reportedly agreed in principle to come on board and is expected to officially sign the film in the next couple of weeks.

Sources close to the development reveal that the team at Excel Entertainment was keen on casting someone with experience, charm, and a strong screen presence to play Roma, the iconic character with roots in the earlier Don films. Kriti, with her growing stature in the industry and proven versatility, seems to have impressed Farhan and the creative team with just that.

Before stepping into the action-packed world of Don 3, Kriti will be wrapping up her ongoing commitments including Aanand L Rai’s Tere Ishk Mein and the Dinesh Vijan-produced Cocktail 2. She’s also in discussions for a horror thriller titled Nai Naveli, planned for 2026.

As for Don 3, Farhan Akhtar has already locked most of the filming locations, with a major chunk of the shoot planned across Europe. Pre-production is currently in full swing, with international stunt teams on board for designing high-intensity action sequences. The film is expected to go on floors by October or November 2025.