Mumbai, January 25, 2026
Bollywood filmmaker Farhan Akhtar has reportedly decided to put Don 3 on hold and move forward with a new action film starring Sunny Deol, marking a major shift in one of the industry’s most talked-about projects.
According to industry sources, prolonged creative differences and conditions surrounding Shah Rukh Khan’s involvement led Farhan Akhtar to temporarily shelve Don 3. Instead, he has finalized a new high-octane action film with Sunny Deol, with shooting scheduled to begin in February 2026.
Sunny Deol’s First Collaboration With Excel Entertainment
The upcoming film will be produced under Excel Entertainment, the banner led by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani. This marks Sunny Deol’s first collaboration with Excel Entertainment, making the project one of the most anticipated action films of the year.
The announcement comes on the back of Sunny Deol’s massive box-office resurgence following the release of Border 2.
Sunny Deol and Jyotika Team Up for Film Titled ‘Antony’
Alongside the Excel project, Sunny Deol has also begun preparations for another film tentatively titled ‘Antony’, where he will star opposite Jyotika.
Director: Balaji Ganesh
Producers: Ritesh Sidhwani, Farhan Akhtar, and A.R. Murugadoss
Production Start: February 2026
The film’s team recently shared an official behind-the-scenes photo featuring Sunny Deol, Jyotika, Balaji Ganesh, and Ritesh Sidhwani. A clapboard visible in the image confirmed the working title Antony, signaling that pre-production is already underway.
Border 2 Box Office Performance
Released in January 2026, Border 2 has emerged as one of the biggest box-office successes of the year. Based on the 1971 India-Pakistan war, the film showcases the combined efforts of the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force.
Border 2 Box Office Collection:
Day 1: ₹30 crore
Day 2: ₹36.5 crore
Day 3: ₹28.93 crore (early estimates)
Total (so far): ₹95.43 crore
Directed by Anurag Singh, the film stars Sunny Deol, Ahan Shetty, Varun Dhawan, and Diljit Dosanjh, with Deol once again earning praise for his powerful on-screen presence in uniform.
Sunny Deol as Hanuman in Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana
Sunny Deol is also set to play a pivotal mythological role in Nitesh Tiwari’s ‘Ramayana: Part 1’, where he will portray Lord Hanuman.
Ramayana Cast:
Ranbir Kapoor – Lord Ram
Sai Pallavi – Goddess Sita
Ravi Dubey – Lakshman
Yash – Ravana
Sunny Deol – Hanuman
Produced by Namit Malhotra, Ramayana: Part 1 is scheduled for a Diwali 2026 release, while Part 2 is expected to arrive in Diwali 2027.
What This Means for Bollywood
With Don 3 currently on pause, Farhan Akhtar’s decision to move ahead with Sunny Deol reflects the actor’s renewed box-office pull and pan-India appeal. Trade analysts believe this collaboration could result in one of the biggest action films of 2026, especially given Deol’s strong connect with mass audiences.
