Amidst speculation that Shah Rukh Khan has opted out of the Rakesh Sharma biopic, mid-day has learnt that the makers of Don - director Farhan Akhtar and producer Ritesh Sidhwani - have quietly begun work on the third instalment. It has been heard that the film will roll in Malaysia by year-end.

Says a trade source, "Farhan and Shah Rukh had been looking for a suitable story to take the franchise forward, and now, they have zeroed in on one. The developing of the script will take a few months. In the meantime, Farhan will shoot for his sports drama, Toofan, while SRK will be busy with the Indian Premier League.