The fight over Don 3 has taken a serious turn. Ranveer Singh is now facing a non-cooperation directive from the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) after he left the project just three weeks before the shoot was supposed to begin. The decision came on May 25, 2026, after Farhan Akhtar and his partner Ritesh Sidhwani filed a formal complaint against the actor.
The dispute started when Ranveer, who was announced as the new Don in 2023, suddenly decided to walk away from one of Bollywood’s biggest franchises. The makers claim they had already spent around Rs 45 crore on pre-production work. This included hotel bookings, location scouting, travel arrangements for over 200 workers, and other planning that was done with Ranveer’s knowledge and presence.
FWICE Issues Non-Cooperation Order After Ranveer Singh Skips Multiple Meetings
The film body sent Ranveer three separate reminders over several weeks, asking him to come and explain his side of the story. Each time, the actor did not respond. Farhan Akhtar first approached FWICE on April 11, 2026, and explained the entire situation for nearly two hours.
Ashoke Pandit, FWICE Chief Advisor, said Ranveer’s team finally sent an email only after the body announced its press conference. In that email, the actor’s team argued that FWICE did not have the right to get involved in the matter.
“Just three weeks before the unit was supposed to leave for the shoot, Ranveer Singh withdrew from the film. We have taken this stand in the interest of producers and the industry. A superstar is not bigger than the law.” – Ashoke Pandit, FWICE Chief Advisor
FWICE President BN Tiwari said the issue affects more than just one film. When a big project stops suddenly, thousands of daily wage workers like spot boys, junior artists, and technicians also suffer financially. The body has over 4 lakh members across 32 different craft unions.
What The Non-Cooperation Order Actually Means For Ranveer Singh
Many news reports called this a “ban” on Ranveer Singh. But Ashoke Pandit cleared up the confusion. “See, we are not court; we can’t ban people, yaar. So we have issued a non-cooperation. Non-cooperation means all our members who belong to 30 crafts, you know, they will not work with him,” he told ETimes.
This means FWICE has asked all its members not to work on any project that features Ranveer Singh. However, individual members can choose to ignore this request. The body cannot punish anyone who decides to work with the actor. Also, any film with Ranveer can hire crew members from outside FWICE.
A similar situation happened in 2017 when the Competition Commission of India told FWICE that it cannot force producers to work only with its members. So while this order makes things harder for Ranveer, it does not completely stop him from working in Bollywood.
Farhan Akhtar Demands Rs 45 Crore Compensation For Losses
The money part of this fight is huge. Excel Entertainment claims the Rs 45 crore spent on pre-production has been fully documented and checked by auditors. Farhan Akhtar told FWICE that Ranveer had signed a three-film contract with his production company.
The actor reportedly wanted a darker and more aggressive version of the Don character, including stronger language and more violence. Farhan apparently wanted to stay closer to his original vision for the franchise. There were also reports that Ranveer was unhappy with delays in production and the lack of a final locked script.
Before going to FWICE, Farhan had already taken the matter to the Indian Film & Television Directors’ Association (IFTDA) and the Producers Guild of India. None of those attempts led to a resolution.
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Ranveer Singh Finally Responds After Months Of Silence
After FWICE announced its decision, Ranveer Singh’s team released an official statement on Monday evening. The actor chose not to attack anyone or add more fuel to the fire.
“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.” – Ranveer Singh’s Spokesperson
The statement also said that Ranveer never thought it was necessary to respond publicly to all the stories and guesses that came out over time. “His focus remains firmly on his work and the commitments ahead. He continues to hold deep respect and goodwill for all those involved and sincerely wishes the franchise continued success,” the statement added.
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