The ongoing dispute between Ranveer Singh and the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has escalated with the actor formally sending a legal notice to the film workers’ body. This move comes in response to a recent non-cooperation directive issued by FWICE against him, marking a major development in an industry stand-off that has attracted widespread attention.
The conflict originated from reports of Ranveer’s exit from Don 3, a project directed by Farhan Akhtar and produced by Excel Entertainment. According to reports, FWICE intervened after being approached by Farhan and producer Ritesh Sidhwani. The production team claimed that Ranveer’s sudden exit from the project, which occurred at an advanced stage of production, could lead to financial losses. The organisation noted that nearly Rs 45 crore had already been spent on pre-production work.
In response to these concerns, FWICE issued a directive instructing all its affiliated members, across various crafts and departments, not to work on any project featuring Ranveer Singh. While clarifying later that the directive should not be termed a ban, the initial announcement caused a stir. FWICE advisor Ashoke Pandit had previously stated, “None of our workers or members, across all crafts, will work on any of his projects. We have requested that all producers take a stand, join us in solidarity, speak out against this conduct, and make a firm decision.”
Ranveer’s team responded to the situation shortly after the announcement via an official spokesperson. The statement reflected the actor’s professional approach, saying, “Ranveer Singh holds the highest regard for the film fraternity and for everyone associated with the Don franchise. Throughout the recent developments surrounding Don 3, he has consciously chosen to maintain silence, believing that professional discussions and personal equations are best handled with dignity, maturity and mutual respect.”
As the legal battle goes on, the broader implications of FWICE’s authority have also been brought into question. Notably, veteran producer and former IMPPA president TP Aggarwal has filed a petition before the Bombay Civil Court in Dindoshi to challenge the organisation’s actions. The legal validity of such directives also remains a point of discussion, referencing a 2017 ruling by the Competition Commission of India, which previously held that FWICE could not impose restrictive conditions on producers. With a press conference scheduled by FWICE to address the matter further, the industry remains watching closely.
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