The ongoing dispute between actor Ranveer Singh and the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has taken a legal turn. The actor has reportedly served a legal notice to the film workers' body after it issued a non-cooperation directive against him, asking its members not to work on projects featuring the star.
According to an NDTV report, the notice was sent on June 2, just days after FWICE announced its decision. While details of the legal notice have not been made public, the development marks a significant escalation in the standoff that has sparked discussion across the Hindi film industry.
Don 3 exit at the centre of the controversy
The dispute is linked to Ranveer Singh's reported exit from Don 3, which is being directed by Farhan Akhtar and produced under Excel Entertainment.
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FWICE had earlier stated that Farhan Akhtar and producer Ritesh Sidhwani approached the organisation regarding the actor's alleged withdrawal from the project during an advanced stage of preparation. The body claimed that producers had already spent nearly Rs 45 crore on pre-production activities and expressed concerns over the financial impact of the reported exit.
Following these developments, FWICE urged its affiliated members across various departments and crafts to refrain from working on any project involving Ranveer Singh.
FWICE defends its stand
At a recent media interaction, FWICE advisor Ashoke Pandit said, "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."
However, Pandit later clarified that FWICE's action should not be described as a "ban", despite widespread characterisation of the move as one.
Ranveer responds through official statement
Shortly after FWICE's announcement, Ranveer Singh issued a response through his spokesperson.
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"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," the statement said.
The actor has not commented on the matter personally.
Meanwhile, the controversy has also revived discussions around FWICE's legal authority. Industry veteran and former IMPPA president TP Aggarwal has reportedly challenged the organisation's move before a civil court in Mumbai. With legal proceedings now underway and FWICE expected to address the media again, the dispute remains far from resolved.
