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Union reverses stance on Ranveer Singh
The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has withdrawn its informal directive urging members to avoid working with Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh. The decision follows reports that Singh sent a legal notice to the union.
Dispute over *Don 3* exit
The conflict began when producers of *Don 3*-the upcoming installment in Farhan Akhtar's blockbuster action franchise-accused Singh of abandoning the project weeks before filming was set to commence. The film, announced in 2023, was expected to continue the legacy of the 1978 original starring Amitabh Bachchan and its 2006 reboot with Shah Rukh Khan.
Producers claimed pre-production costs had already reached approximately 450 million rupees ($4.7 million) by the time Singh exited.
Union's initial response and reversal
On 25 May, FWICE advised its members to refrain from collaborating with Singh until he addressed the allegations. However, on Wednesday, union president BN Tiwari announced the withdrawal of the advisory, stating the industry supported Singh and that the federation's legal team would respond to his notice.
"We celebrate his stardom... We don't have any authority to ban anyone. We are hopeful that there will be a positive reaction from Ranveer."
Ashoke Pandit, FWICE Chief Adviser, to NDTV
Pandit added that the reversal followed appeals from multiple industry groups and urged Singh to engage in discussions to resolve the matter.
Silence from Singh's camp
Singh has not publicly commented on the dispute. Earlier, his spokesperson stated he held the film industry and the *Don* franchise in "the highest regard" and had opted to remain silent.
One of Bollywood's most prominent stars, Singh is known for hits like *Padmaavat* and *Gully Boy*, as well as his recent two-part spy thriller *Dhurandhar*, which achieved significant box-office success.
Past controversies and union actions
This is not the first time FWICE has targeted high-profile figures. In 2025, the union urged members to avoid working with actor-singer Diljit Dosanjh after he appeared alongside Pakistani actor Hania Aamir in a Punjabi film, reflecting ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan.
Singh, too, has faced prior backlash. Earlier in 2025, he apologized after critics accused him of mocking a ritual sequence from the Kannada film *Kantara* during a film festival event, which they deemed culturally disrespectful.
