12 June,2026 09:22 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Ranveer Singh and Farhan Akhtar (Pic via Instagram)
The controversy surrounding Ranveer Singh's reported exit from Don 3 continues to make headlines, with FWICE (Federation of Western India Cine Employees) chief advisor Ashoke Pandit shedding more light on the federation's decision to issue a non-cooperation directive against the actor.
Speaking about the matter, Pandit revealed that the federation carefully reviewed evidence before taking any action. "We saw WhatsApp chats between Ranveer Singh, Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani before announcing non-cooperation," he said, stressing that the decision was not made without examining the facts. According to him, the discussions and communications between the parties were assessed as part of FWICE's efforts to understand the dispute.
The issue reportedly began after Ranveer stepped away from Don 3, the much-awaited reboot of the popular franchise. The film, backed by Excel Entertainment and directed by Farhan Akhtar, had already entered an advanced stage of pre-production. Pandit claimed that the production house informed FWICE that approximately Rs 45 crore had been spent on preparations related to the project.
He also stated that the federation attempted to resolve the matter amicably by reaching out to the actor several times. "We sent three invitations to Ranveer Singh," Pandit said, adding that the organisation did not receive a response. According to him, the lack of communication became a concern as producers sought clarity regarding the future of the film.
Clarifying widespread reports that Ranveer had been "banned," Pandit strongly denied the claim. "It's not a ban. We are not a court; we can't ban people," he explained. He added that FWICE had only issued a non-cooperation directive, asking its affiliated members to refrain from working with the actor until the dispute was resolved.
Pandit further argued that the controversy goes beyond a single actor or film. "We very strongly feel that this is a very wrong trend which will start," he said, expressing concern about the financial impact sudden exits can have on producers and industry workers.
While the dispute has since moved towards a resolution, the Don 3 row has sparked wider conversations about accountability, contracts, and professional commitments in the film industry.
