Ranveer Singh's first look unveiled in Don 3 teaser, declaring '11 mulkon ki police dhoondti hai mujhe’

In a long-awaited revelation, Ranveer Singh has been officially declared as the lead actor for the forthcoming installment, "Don 3." This significant role sees him succeeding Shah Rukh Khan, who previously portrayed the titular character in the initial two Don films released in 2006 and 2011. The inception of this character traces back to the 1978 blockbuster "Don," originally portrayed by the legendary Amitabh Bachchan.

The announcement from Excel Entertainment came through an intriguing online video. The clip commences with a figure seated on the floor within a spacious room that offers a panoramic view of a cityscape illuminated by neon lights. This urban vista, intriguingly, appears to amalgamate elements from various metropolises. The enigmatic character gradually rises, unveils his face by removing his hood, and nonchalantly ignites a cigarette.

Throughout this visually compelling sequence, an ominous and captivating Hindi voiceover accompanies the unfolding drama. The voice intones, "Sher jo so raha hai woh jaagega kab? Poochte hain yeh sab. Unse keh do ki phir jaag utha hoon main, aur phir saamne jald aane ko" (When will the sleeping lion awaken? Everyone's inquiring. Inform them that I shall rise again and appear before them soon).

The enigma persists, with the voice declaring, "Kya hai taakat meri, kya hai himmat meri, phir dikhane ko. Maut se khelna zindagi hai meri, jeetna hi mera kaam hai" (I'm back to display my power and courage once again, for my essence is intertwined with the game of death, and my purpose is triumph).

The crescendo culminates with the iconic dialogue that was etched into cinematic history by Amitabh and subsequently by Shah Rukh: "Tum toh hai jaante jo mera naam hai. 11 mulkon ki police dhoondti hai mujhe, par pakad paaya hai mujhko kaun? Main hoon Don" (You know my name well. The police of 11 nations hunt me, but who has truly captured me? I am Don).

Initially conceived with Shah Rukh Khan's return, "Don 3" had lingered in anticipation, capturing the imagination of fans for years. With a slated release in 2025, the directorial reins will once again be held by Farhan Akhtar, who successfully helmed the previous two Shah Rukh Khan-starrer films. While it remains to be seen if this development will impact the production schedule of the already announced "Jee Le Zaraa," starring Alia Bhatt, Priyanka Chopra, and Katrina Kaif, "Don 3" emerges as Ranveer Singh's first post-"Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani" project. This choice follows a series of less successful ventures for the actor. Furthermore, there are whispers of Ranveer's potential involvement in the much-anticipated reboot of "Shaktimaan."