Suniel Shetty has come out in support of Ranveer Singh in the Don 3 controversy, saying that “no one has the right to ban an actor or art.”
Shetty spoke with journalist Navika Kumar on her show Baatein Dil Se about the heated debate over Ranveer Singh’s casting in the iconic franchise. He suggested both Ranveer and director Farhan Akhtar talk to each other face‑to‑face as they could still “create magic” together if they chose dialogue over discord.
Shetty’s comments come at a time when industry and fan groups have called for boycotts and bans on Ranveer’s replacement of Shah Rukh Khan in the franchise. But it’s not so, according to the veteran actor, and he feels that Ranveer’s contributions to cinema and that attempts to ban him “will not stand in court.”
In addition to his support, Shetty also stressed the need for Bollywood to be united. A common ecosystem for all actors, producers, and directors in the industry; and disputes must be resolved together and not through public outcry, he said. His request for Ranveer and Farhan to meet is evidence of his belief in dialogue as the way to reconciliation.
But industry observers note that Shetty’s intervention adds weight to the debate, as he is a respected figure in Indian cinema. He is balanced—as he is right to work in Ranveer’s production and not to be a controversy in our movie—and his approach may help the film to be more creative and thus focus on potential instead of drama.
Suniel Shetty’s support for Ranveer Singh is part of a larger argument that art and artists should not be subject to bans or boycotts. So much hope is in the words of Ranveer and Farhan Akhtar to get along, as it is that Don 3 still has magic in it. The movie continues to receive news coverage like this, and Shetty has to do everything in order to show us that cinema is all about collaboration, not conflict.
