Amidst the ongoing buzz surrounding Don 3, and following Ranveer Singh's exit from the project, filmmaker Farhan Akhtar is reportedly turning his attention to his long-awaited film, Jee Le Zaraa. The road-trip drama, which was initially announced with Priyanka Chopra, Katrina Kaif, and Alia Bhatt in the lead roles, has been eagerly anticipated by fans.
According to sources, Akhtar is in no rush to finalize the casting for Don 3 and wants to ensure that the iconic franchise gets the right face to carry its legacy forward. He believes that the casting of Don is crucial and requires considerable time and deliberation.
With the casting stage for Don 3 expected to take longer than anticipated, Akhtar has reportedly reopened discussions around Jee Le Zaraa. Sources indicate that Jee Le Zaraa has always been a special project for Akhtar, and with the Don 3 casting process facing delays, he felt it was the right moment to revive discussions with the original team and push the film forward.
The script for Jee Le Zaraa is already locked. The primary reason for the delay thus far has been logistical challenges and the difficulty of aligning the dates of the three leading actresses. An insider revealed that if the dates align, the film could finally commence shooting in the second half of 2026. Creatively, everything is in place, and the focus is now on managing schedules.
Akhtar has reportedly begun fresh conversations with Priyanka Chopra, Katrina Kaif, and Alia Bhatt, expressing hope that their timelines can align. While everyone is keen to proceed, the challenge lies in finding a common window of availability.
Jee Le Zaraa is particularly significant as it aims to bring together three major stars for a rare all-female Hindi road movie. It also intends to complete Akhtar's friendship trilogy, following the success of Dil Chahta Hai and Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. The project has faced constant scheduling difficulties, which Akhtar has described as "stressful". To prioritize Jee Le Zaraa, he has temporarily set aside Don 3.
Meanwhile, there has been speculation and various casting rumors surrounding Don 3. Recent reports have dismissed rumors of director Atlee being involved or Hrithik Roshan taking on the lead role. It has also been reported that Kiara Advani, who was initially announced as the female lead, has exited the film. Names like Kriti Sanon and Rajat Bedi have been mentioned as potential replacements or additions to the cast, though there has been no official announcement. Actors Vikrant Massey and Vijay Deverakonda were allegedly approached for the antagonist's role but declined due to concerns about the character's depth. There were also reports that Shah Rukh Khan might return to the franchise if Atlee were to direct. However, production insiders maintain that the focus is currently on finalizing the script before making any casting decisions.
