Can Bollywood’s Iconic Franchise Survive Fan Criticism

The Bollywood power dynamic has changed so much since 2017-2018 when Ranveer Singh and Ranbir Kapoor were neck and neck.

Ranbir’s Animal has propelled him ahead and Ranveer has had a string of underwhelming box office performances—Cirkus, 83 and Jayeshbhai Jordaar—and his stardom needs a revival. His next big hope is Dhurandhar directed by Aditya Dhar but all eyes are on Don 3 which is the most controversial project of his career.

Don 3 is a poisoned chalice. The character has iconic status thanks to Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan and social media is already filled with doubts about Ranveer’s suave-ness.

Ranveer’s casting has triggered massive trolling with fans demanding SRK’s return and calling Ranveer the wrong fit for the legendary anti-hero. The negativity is palpable even before the cameras start rolling.

The heroine shuffle has added fuel to the fire. Kiara Advani’s exit due to pregnancy has opened the door for Kriti Sanon whose career has been on shaky ground post-Adipurush.

Can Kriti and Ranveer recreate the magic of SRK and Priyanka Chopra? The odds are against them both are desperate for a hit and the franchise’s legacy is at stake.

Don 3 is a high-risk gamble: it can either revive two sinking careers or become the most trolled sequel of Bollywood. The excitement—and the risk—has never been higher.