Farhan Akhtar reveals he suffered depression after the box office failure of Hrithik Roshan starrer 'Lakshya': 'I hadn't worked so hard the way I did for this film'

Farhan Akhtar recently revealed the deep personal toll that the box office failure of his film 'Lakshya' had on him. Despite pouring his heart into the project and crafting a compelling storyline, the film struggled to resonate with audiences and ultimately underperformed. This unexpected disappointment led Akhtar into a prolonged period of depression, lasting a year and a half, as he struggled to come to terms with the film's reception.

In an interview with Raj Shamani, Akhtar shared that growing up, he was always taught that hard work would eventually pay off. Following the success of 'Dil Chahta Hai', Farhan carefully considered his next project and chose to direct 'Lakshya'. He emphasized the immense effort he invested in the film, noting that it was the hardest he had ever worked in his life.


He further shared that they had high hopes for a special screening of 'Lakshya' with General Nirmal Chander Vij, aiming to impress the army with a unique cinematic experience. However, the film did not perform well at the box office, leading to deep disappointment for Farhan. He expressed his shock and sadness, explaining that despite his intense efforts on the movie, far greater than those he had put into 'Dil Chahta Hai', the film's failure plunged him into a depression that took him a year and a half to overcome.

Farhan revealed that during that period, when therapy options were limited, he would travel to Dehradun with friends to visit the Indian Military Academy, which inspired him to create 'Don'. He also announced that 'Don 3' will star Ranveer Singh and Kiara Advani, with filming scheduled to begin in 2025. Akhtar expressed excitement about the project and discussed his upcoming directorial venture, 'Jee Le Zaraa'.

While answering why he had chosen Ranveer as the lead in 'Don 3' instead of Shah Rukh Khan, he explained that Ranveer was selected for 'Don 3' because the role demanded a new-generation actor, highlighting Ranveer’s charm and energy, and noting that this role will showcase a side of Ranveer's acting that hasn’t been fully explored yet.