Mumbai: Bollywood's biggest controversy of the year just escalated dramatically. The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has issued a non-cooperation call against Ranveer Singh following his abrupt and controversial exit from Excel Entertainment's Don 3.
However, in a crucial clarification, the FWICE has emphasized that this is not a ban on the Bollywood superstar. Instead, the federation has requested its 32 affiliated unions—including technicians, spot boys, electricians, makeup artists, and other cine workers—not to cooperate with Singh until he resolves the financial dispute with producer Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar's Excel Entertainment.
The ₹45 Crore Dispute
According to producers, Ranveer Singh's sudden departure from Don 3 after extensive pre-production work has caused losses amounting to ₹45 crore. These costs include set designs, costume trials, location bookings, scheduling commitments, and payments made to supporting staff and technicians.
In response, Singh's team reportedly offered a compromise: ₹10 crore upfront plus a fee cut on a future film project. Excel Entertainment turned down the offer, insisting on a more substantial settlement given the scale of the disruption. The deadlock has now forced the FWICE to step in.
"Ethics, Not Punishment"
Ashoke Pandit, Chief Advisor of FWICE, addressed the media to clarify the federation's stance. "This is not a ban on Ranveer Singh. We are not punishing him. This is about industry ethics," Pandit stated firmly. "When a producer invests time, money, and faith in an actor, and that actor walks away after pre-production is complete, it disrupts the livelihoods of hundreds of workers. Our non-cooperation call will stand until the matter is resolved amicably."
The directive, while non-binding, carries significant weight in the industry. If unions comply, Ranveer Singh could face difficulties in mobilizing crews for his upcoming projects.
Impact on Pralay and Future Films
The timing is particularly concerning as Singh is slated to begin work on his zombie thriller Pralay, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Anurag Kashyap. Industry insiders fear that the non-cooperation call could delay or disrupt the film's production schedule if the Don 3 dispute remains unresolved.
Ranveer Singh has yet to issue an official statement. Meanwhile, Excel Entertainment has remained tight-lipped, though sources suggest they are open to arbitration. The ball is now in the star's cour and the industry is watching closely.
