Farhan Akhtar Reveals Why Shah Rukh Khan Was the Perfect Choice For Don: 'No One Else...'
Farhan Akhtar reveals why Shah Rukh Khan was always his first and only choice to play Don in the 2006 remake, calling SRK's mix of charm and menace 'tailor-made' for the role.
When Shah Rukh Khan stepped into the iconic role of Don in Farhan Akhtar's 2006 remake of the 1978 classic, comparisons with Amitabh Bachchan were inevitable. But as Farhan recently revealed, SRK not only embraced the challenge — he was always the first and only choice for the part.
Speaking at the Waves Summit, the filmmaker opened up about his decision to cast Shah Rukh in the high-stakes remake. 'Shah Rukh's personality was tailor-made for that part," Farhan said, recalling how their friendship blossomed after Dil Chahta Hai. 'From 2001 to 2005, we spent a lot of evenings together. When I started writing Don, I was convinced it had to be him. His sense of humour, his self-deprecating style, his ability to be both charming and menacing — it was all inherently Don."
Farhan also spoke about how Shah Rukh, a lifelong fan of both the original film and Amitabh Bachchan, saw the role as a personal milestone. 'For him, Don is massive. He's a huge fan of the film and Mr Bachchan. So stepping into those shoes was very exciting for him."
When asked if there was a backup plan in case Shah Rukh turned down the role due to inevitable comparisons, Farhan quickly dismissed the idea. 'I don't think Shah Rukh is scared of things like that. He's very confident in his abilities." In fact, he added that SRK had sensed the offer was coming. 'We'd been spending so much time together, and I had told him I was writing it. He was ready. Before I even offered it, I think he knew I was going to."
SRK went on to reprise the role in Don 2 (2011), also directed by Farhan, further cementing his unique interpretation of the character.
In 2023, Farhan announced Don 3 with Ranveer Singh stepping into the titular role. However, the film has yet to go on floors and has faced multiple delays. Rumours of another postponement circulated recently, but the production house denied them in November 2024. Notably, Farhan hasn't directed a film since Don 2, and at the Waves Summit, he remained tight-lipped about the progress of Don 3.
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