Actor Ranveer Singh and Excel Entertainment are reportedly locked in a serious dispute following Singh’s exit from the much-anticipated film ‘Don 3’, with the disagreement escalating into a financial standoff running into several crores, entertainment news outlet Variety has reported.

According to a UNI, which quoted the Variety report, the production house has claimed that Singh’s departure from the project resulted in significant financial losses, estimated to be around Rs 40 crore. These losses are said to include development costs already incurred, along with expenses linked to scheduling, planning and other pre-production activities that were set in motion based on the actor’s involvement.

Sources familiar with the matter told Variety India that Excel Entertainment believes the actor should compensate the banner for the losses it has suffered due to the sudden exit.

A letter accessed by the publication reportedly shows that the production house has also asked heads of various departments attached to the film to look for work outside the project, indicating that work on ‘Don 3’ has been effectively stalled.

Singh, however, is said to be strongly contesting the claim. People close to the actor maintain that he does not believe he is liable to pay any compensation and has argued that he has exited projects in the past without facing similar financial demands.