Shah Rukh Khan reportedly opts out of Rakesh Sharma biopic Saare Jahan Se Achha to accommodate Don 3

Shah Rukh Khan, who was supposed to slip into the shoes of Indian astronaut Rakesh Sharma in Saare Jahan Se Achha, has reportedly opted out of the biopic, according to a DNA report. While no official announcement has been made yet, speculation is rife that the actor has dropped out of the film to accommodate Farhan Akhtar's Don 3.

Shah Rukh Khan. File image

A source informed Bollywood Hungama that the commercial failure of Shah Rukh's latest venture, Zero, has also been instrumental in his decision to withdraw from the film, which was scheduled to go on floors in February.

While Farhan had earlier said that a third film in the Don franchise is in the pipeline, during the trailer launch of Zoya Akhtar's Gully Boy, he mentioned that he would be making a special announcement, leaving people to speculate if he was referring to Don 3.

Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar's banner Excel Entertainment produced Don (2006) and Don 2 (2011) starring Shah Rukh Khan in the lead role. In late 2017, Sidhwani said the team had started working on the script and the story.

The Rakesh Sharma biopic was earlier offered to Aamir Khan, but the actor suggested Shah Rukh's name instead, since he gathered that Shah Rukh would be appropriate for the role. Produced by Sidharth Roy Kapur, Saare Jahan Se Achha was scheduled to be shot in Goregaon Film City in Mumbai from next month.