Don (2006): Ending Explained

Quick Recap

Don: The Chase Begins Again, directed by Farhan Akhtar, is a stylish 2006 Hindi action thriller that reimagines the classic 1978 film Don. Starring Shah Rukh Khan in a riveting dual role, the story revolves around the shadowy world of international drug trafficking. The real Don is a ruthless, untouchable crime lord who runs a vast empire from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, under the nominal leadership of his boss, Singhania. Don's operations thrive on fear and betrayal, as seen when he eliminates Ramesh, a gang member trying to leave the business, and later Ramesh's fiancée Kamini, who attempts to aid the police.

Enter Vijay, a simple-minded stunt performer from Mumbai and Don's uncanny lookalike, recruited by determined Indian police officer DCP De Silva (or D'Silva). After a botched raid leaves the real Don gravely injured and in a coma—unknown to the gang—De Silva trains Vijay to impersonate Don, promising to care for Vijay's adopted orphan son, Deepu. Vijay infiltrates the cartel by faking amnesia, gradually feeding crucial intelligence to De Silva to dismantle the organization. Tensions rise with Roma, Ramesh's vengeful sister who joins the gang for revenge, clashing with Don's girlfriend Anita, and the ever-looming threat of betrayal from within.

As Vijay delves deeper, he regains his "memory" and uncovers the gang's secrets, but disaster strikes during a police raid: De Silva is killed, burying the truth that Vijay is an imposter. Now exposed to the cartel members—who suspect he's not the real Don—Vijay must navigate a deadly web of pursuit from both the criminals seeking revenge and the police, who see him as the escaped kingpin.

What Happens in the Ending

The film's climactic final scenes unfold in a whirlwind of chaos, betrayal, and narrow escapes, culminating in a twist that propels the narrative into uncertainty. During the fateful police raid on the cartel's operations, Vijay—still posing as Don—provides De Silva with the vital information needed to strike at the heart of the organization. However, the operation goes awry when De Silva is killed in the crossfire, taking the secret of Vijay's true identity to his grave. This leaves Vijay stranded in his impersonation, with no one in authority knowing he's a police asset.

As the dust settles, the cartel members, including key lieutenants like Singhania's inner circle, begin to piece together inconsistencies in "Don's" behavior—his uncharacteristic lapses and the raid's timing. They realize Vijay is an imposter and turn on him with lethal intent, demanding revenge for the near-collapse of their empire. Vijay barely escapes the immediate ambush, using his stunt-honed agility to flee the Malaysian hideout amid gunfire and pursuits through the neon-lit streets of Kuala Lumpur.

On the run, Vijay allies with unlikely helpers: Roma, who has her own grudge against the real Don for her brother Ramesh's murder and sees Vijay's vulnerability as a chance for partial justice; and Jasjit, the biological father of Deepu, whom Vijay has been raising. Jasjit, indebted to Vijay for caring for his son during his imprisonment, provides covert support. Together, they embark on a desperate quest for "the one last piece of evidence"—a hidden ledger or recording that could prove Vijay's innocence and expose the cartel's full operations to higher authorities.

The screen fades on Vijay, Roma, and their fragile network evading both the relentless cartel hit squads and Malaysian/Indian police forces who now hunt "Don" as public enemy number one. No tidy resolution arrives; instead, the final shot emphasizes perpetual motion—Vijay glancing over his shoulder in a high-speed chase—accompanied by the tagline: "Wanted by the police, hunted day and night, forever on the run. The chase has begun." This leaves audiences with the real Don still in his coma (unrevealed to most characters) and Vijay trapped in a limbo of assumed identity.

The Meaning Behind the Ending

The ending of Don (2006) masterfully subverts expectations of heroic triumph, symbolizing the inescapable cycle of crime and deception. Vijay's endless flight represents the devouring nature of the criminal underworld: once entangled, escape is illusory, much like the drug trade itself, which "booms" across borders without end. The "chase" motif isn't just literal—it's a metaphor for the pursuit of power and identity, where Vijay, starting as a "simpleton," absorbs Don's ruthlessness to survive, blurring the line between imposter and authentic villain.

Symbolically, Malaysia's vibrant, international backdrops—over 80% of the film—mirror the global, slippery essence of the cartel, with Kuala Lumpur's towering skylines contrasting Vijay's grounded Mumbai roots. The "last piece of evidence" dangles like a false promise, underscoring themes of buried truths and lost opportunities; De Silva's death ensures that good intentions (like funding Deepu's education) are crushed by systemic violence. Ultimately, the ending critiques the illusion of control in a world ruled by "elusive" figures like Don, suggesting that infiltration doesn't dismantle evil—it perpetuates it through new faces.

Character Arcs and Resolution

Vijay's arc transforms from reluctant everyman to a shadowed anti-hero, his impersonation eroding his innocence. Promised a new life for Deepu, he ends up embodying the very monster he replaced, forever severed from family and normalcy. This unresolved flight resolves his journey not with redemption but adaptation—survival demands he wield Don's cunning, hinting at a potential dark evolution.

Roma's vengeful quest peaks in uneasy alliance with Vijay; her arc from isolated avenger to reluctant partner humanizes her, but her brother's death remains unavenged, leaving her in moral ambiguity. Jasjit's minor role ties into themes of paternal duty, repaying Vijay by aiding the escape, which subtly resolves Deepu's backstory without closure for the boy himself. The real Don, comatose and sidelined, serves as a silent anchor—his empire's persistence mocks the characters' struggles, while cartel members like Singhania devolve into paranoid hunters, their loyalty fracturing under suspicion.

No one achieves full resolution; instead, arcs converge in collective peril, emphasizing how individual ambitions fuel a larger, unrelenting machine.

Alternate Interpretations

The ending's ambiguity invites multiple readings, particularly around the twist that distinguishes this remake. One interpretation sees Vijay's run as temporary: the "last piece of evidence" could exonerate him, allowing a sequel-like continuation (as hinted by the 2011 follow-up Don 2). This views the chase as a bridge to empowerment, with Vijay potentially emerging stronger, co-opting Don's legacy.

Conversely, a darker take posits the ending as Vijay's damnation—he's doomed to perpetual impersonation, the evidence forever out of reach, symbolizing how the innocent (like Ramesh or Kamini) are consumed by crime's orbit. Some might read Roma's involvement as romantic foreshadowing, shifting her revenge into redemption through partnership, while others see it as pragmatic survival, subverting her arc into complicity. The unrevealed coma of the real Don adds layers: is Vijay's flight a placeholder until Don awakens, or has Vijay truly "become" Don, making the imposter the new reality? These ambiguities elevate the film beyond a remake, rewarding rewatches for clues in earlier "memory loss" scenes.

Themes and Symbolism

The ending reinforces core themes of identity duality and the futility of justice against entrenched power. Shah Rukh Khan's dual role symbolizes fractured selves—Vijay's stunt background (physical mimicry) evolves into psychological absorption of Don's mindset, subverting the hero-villain binary. Betrayal permeates, from Ramesh's failed exit to De Silva's death, symbolizing how trust erodes in shadowy empires.

Broader motifs include globalization's underbelly: the Asian-European drug nexus, filmed extensively in Malaysia, symbolizes borderless corruption that outpaces law enforcement. The chase subverts traditional thriller resolutions, critiquing 1970s Hindi cinema's clear morals by embracing moral grayness—Vijay isn't a savior but a survivor, echoing real-world informant perils. Iconic songs, updated from the original, add ironic nostalgia, with lyrics underscoring elusive freedom amid entrapment.

Final Thoughts

Don (2006)'s ending is a stroke of genius, trading closure for tension that lingers like the cartel's shadow. By stranding Vijay in endless pursuit, Farhan Akhtar crafts a standalone thriller that honors its roots while innovating with a twist that feels modern and inevitable. It works brilliantly for its accessibility—visually kinetic action and Khan's magnetic performance make the ambiguity thrilling rather than frustrating—inviting viewers to ponder if anyone truly escapes their assumed roles. In a genre often predictable, this chase redefines pursuit, leaving us hooked on the "what if" long after the credits roll. If you're a fan of stylish crime dramas, this ending cements Don as essential viewing, proving remakes can chase—and catch—something fresh.