The Federation of Western India Cine Employees has often found itself at the centre of Bollywood controversies, especially in matters involving political sensitivities, cross-border collaborations and disputes within the entertainment industry.
On this particular occasion, it is the actor Ranveer Singh who has become a target of the federation's notice following the issuance of the non-cooperation notice against him by the organization.
It transpired that filmmakers Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani have filed an official complaint with FWICE regarding Ranveer's sudden departure from the movie, "Don 3." According to reports, the actor was invited to present his side before the organisation but allegedly failed to appear. But Ranveer is far from the first celebrity to land in trouble with FWICE.
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Diljit Dosanjh and the ‘Sardaar Ji 3’ controversy
In 2025, Diljit Dosanjh faced backlash after Pakistani actor Hania Aamir appeared in the trailer of Sardaar Ji 3, co-starring Diljit and Neeru Bajwa.
The controversy emerged shortly after the Pahalgam terror attack, when FWICE renewed demands for restrictions on Pakistani artists working in India.
The Punjabi horror-comedy skipped theatrical release in India, while FWICE reportedly imposed a non-cooperation directive against Diljit for collaborating with a Pakistani actor. The restriction was later lifted after Border 2 producer Bhushan Kumar appealed to the organisation, allowing Diljit to continue work on the film.
Mika Singh’s Pakistan performance row
Singer Mika Singh also faced FWICE action in 2019 after performing at a wedding event in Karachi linked to relatives of former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf.
The incident took place during heightened diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan following the revocation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.
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FWICE termed the performance “anti-national” and imposed a ban on Mika Singh and his crew members. The ban was later revoked after the singer met FWICE officials and publicly apologised, saying the commitment had been made before tensions escalated.
Kartik Aaryan receives warning notice
In 2025, actor Kartik Aaryan received a formal warning letter from FWICE over an event in Texas allegedly organised by a Pakistani-owned restaurant.
The organisation asked the actor to withdraw from the programme.
However, Kartik’s team later clarified that he had never confirmed participation in the event and requested organisers to remove his name and photographs from promotional material.
Pakistani actors faced blanket restrictions
FWICE’s most widely discussed action came after the 2016 Uri terror attack, when the body imposed a blanket ban on Pakistani artists working in India.
The move impacted several actors including Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan, both of whom had begun establishing careers in Bollywood at the time.
Fawad Khan had appeared in films such as Kapoor & Sons and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, while Mahira Khan later starred opposite Shah Rukh Khan in Raees.
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A powerful voice within the industry
Over the years, FWICE has positioned itself as a strong voice representing workers and technicians within India’s entertainment industry.
But its interventions have often sparked wider debates around artistic freedom, political sensitivities and the role of industry bodies in regulating celebrity conduct.
With Ranveer Singh now joining the growing list of celebrities facing scrutiny from the organisation, the latest controversy has once again brought FWICE’s influence within Bollywood into public focus
