Ranveer Singh sues film body a week after 'ban' amid Don 3 row

Ranveer Singh has sent a legal notice to FWICE after its non-cooperation directive over Don 3. The move sharpens the dispute involving Excel Entertainment as the film body prepares another press conference.

In Short

• FWICE confirmed receiving a legal notice from Ranveer
• The federation had earlier issued a non-cooperation directive
• The action followed Ranveer's abrupt exit from Don 3

The Don 3 row turned murkier this week as actor Ranveer Singh moved court against the non-cooperation directive issued against him by the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE). The development comes over a week after the film body announced what many viewed as a ban on the actor amid its dispute with Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani's Excel Entertainment over the film.

FWICE chief advisor Ashoke Pandit confirmed to India Today that the federation had received a legal notice from the Dhurandhar star, following which it decided to convene another press conference, scheduled to be held later today in Mumbai.

While the contents of the notice remain undisclosed, the film body is expected to address the escalating standoff involving Ranveer Singh and Excel Entertainment at the media briefing.

FWICE's decision stemmed from a complaint that Akhtar had made against Singh earlier this year. In its official statement to the media, the federation implied that Singh had not shown appropriate conduct and refused to discuss the matter with them despite multiple attempts. "Considering the conduct displayed towards the Federation and the stakeholders associated with the project, the office of FWICE have resolved to issue a Non-Cooperation Directive (NCD) against Mr. Ranveer Singh," the statement read.

Singh released a statement on the same day, reacting to the directive against him by FWICE, and maintained that he would not discuss the matter in public. A statement on behalf of the actor read: "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."

Pandit also clarified the federation's position during an earlier press conference. "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," he said.

However, as the backlash intensified, he later maintained that the film body had issued a "directive" and not a "ban" against the actor. He clarified that while workers affiliated with the federation would not collaborate with Singh, the rest of the industry was free to do so.

As the controversy escalated into an unprecedented industry standoff, several members of various film bodies voiced their opposition to the action against Ranveer Singh. Many maintained that a non-cooperation directive against an actor was unlikely to be effective and could instead adversely impact workers dependent on film productions.

Interestingly, in his communication to the federation, portions of which were later released to the media, Singh stated that he did not consider it the "appropriate forum" to discuss the matter. Declining to comment on the matter or engage with the federation, the actor had maintained that he did not wish to fuel speculation surrounding the issue.

A part of the statement issued on his behalf read, "While several narratives and speculations have surfaced over time, Ranveer has never considered it necessary to respond publicly or contribute to conjecture. His focus remains firmly on his work and the commitments ahead."

The Don 3 drama: What went wrong behind the scenes?

The dispute can be traced back to August 2023, when Ranveer Singh was announced as the new face of Don 3, stepping into a role immortalised by Amitabh Bachchan and later reinvented by Shah Rukh Khan. The announcement sparked intense debate among fans, with excitement over the franchise's return matched by scepticism over the casting change.

Farhan Akhtar's announcement teaser promised a fresh chapter for the iconic action franchise, positioning Ranveer as a younger, more contemporary Don. Yet, after the initial buzz, updates on the film became increasingly scarce. There was little clarity on the cast, production schedule or release plans, fuelling speculation about developments behind the scenes.

Over time, industry chatter began to shift from questions about delays to reports of deeper disagreements. While early rumours linked the uncertainty to Ranveer's box-office struggles at the time, subsequent reports suggested the friction stemmed from creative and logistical concerns surrounding the project itself.

Multiple reports claimed that the actor had grown frustrated with repeated postponements and the lack of a finalised screenplay. There were also suggestions of differing creative visions, with Ranveer reportedly favouring a darker, more hard-edged interpretation of the character, while the makers preferred to retain the tonal DNA established in the franchise's previous instalments.

The situation allegedly deteriorated further when reports emerged that alternative casting options were being explored despite Ranveer continuing to be publicly associated with the project. What had begun as whispers of creative discord soon snowballed into reports that the actor was no longer attached to the film.

The fallout, however, did not remain confined to creative differences. Industry reports later claimed that Excel Entertainment sought compensation of around Rs 40-45 crore, citing losses incurred during the film's development process. The dispute was reportedly taken up first by the Producers Guild of India before finding its way to the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE).

FWICE chief advisor Ashoke Pandit subsequently revealed that Farhan Akhtar and producer Ritesh Sidhwani had personally approached the federation regarding the matter. According to Pandit, substantial investments had already been made towards pre-production, including international recce trips, accommodation arrangements and preparations involving hundreds of crew members.

He further alleged that Ranveer had entered into a three-film agreement with Excel Entertainment and had actively participated in script discussions as well as the promotional campaign that formally introduced him as the franchise's new Don.

As things stand, Don 3 finds itself at a standstill. The complete story remains known only to Ranveer Singh and Farhan Akhtar, but a project that once generated immense excitement is now synonymous with one of Bollywood's most contentious controversies in recent memory.

- Ends