You won’t be getting any sound bites from Ranveer Singh any time soon. The star of Dhurandhar: The Revenge has put interviews on the back burner as the noise about his Don 3 departure builds. One in the trade says he’s going to be off the record for 18 months or so. You can bet that has people talking.
Why the sudden hush?
His side has put out a very polite no-comment. But if you ask a journalist who has had a face-to-face with the actor, he’ll tell you Ranveer is not in the mood to discuss the Don 3 situation. In fact, he’s not in the mood for any kind of interview for the foreseeable future.
It’s a blanket policy. We are told that any and all media requests are being put in a holding pattern. When everyone else is in an overshare mode, sometimes a well-timed silence makes more of an impression than a press junket.
The roots of the Don 3 split
If you follow the story, it goes back to his exit from the film. There are a number of reasons for the parting of ways – creative differences, some delays, and questions over the script. It’s a recipe we’ve seen in Bollywood before, and it seldom ends with a whimper.
There’s word that he hasn’t been in much contact with producers Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani of late. But don’t count them out; some say Zoya Akhtar, with her history with the actor, could be the one to make things right.
Behind the scenes
Money is at play here. Excel is said to have put in a claim for some 45 crore in losses after the news of his exit. For a while, FWICE even put a non-cooperation order on the table, though they retracted it after some talks.
Of course, neither the actor nor the studio has put any of that in writing. Which is why every little thing is being magnified.
When will he start talking again?
Insiders will have it that the quiet is tied to what’s coming up. He’s not saying anything until Jai Mehta’s Pralay is out. If you put two and two together, the interview drought could go on for quite some time, and let the speculation run its course.
In short:
– A 18-month no-interview rule
– Don 3 is not to be mentioned
– All media on ice
– The silence holds until Pralay
– Ties with the producers are thin at the moment
– Zoya may be called in to smooth things over
Why it has fans in a lather
This isn’t your average tiff between a star and a studio. You have a top-tier name and a franchise like Don. When they come apart, you get opinions. His not saying a word is as much a statement as it is a strategy.
For the fans, it’s personal. Some are looking for answers on Don 3. Others are watching to see how he makes a clean break and comes back for Pralay. Either way, the lack of a quote is making as much of an impact as one would have.
And then what?
We are waiting on an official line on Don 3 and to see where Ranveer stands. Till then, the theories will keep coming and we will be left to wonder what he is not telling us.
One thing for sure: by staying off the mic, Ranveer has let the controversy cool and the anticipation build. In this game, that is often the best play you can make.
