Ranveer Singh's involvement in 'Don 3' has been a widely discussed topic for an extended period. On May 25, 2026, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) convened a press conference to announce a non-cooperation directive against the actor after both parties failed to reach a resolution. The conflict began when Ranveer withdrew from the project at the last moment, and producer Farhan Akhtar disclosed that his production company had invested Rs 45 crore in the pre-production phase. Now, FWICE filmmaker Ashoke Pandit has elaborated on what this directive entails for the actor and the steps required to lift it.
Ashoke Pandit Clarifies the Non-Cooperation Directive
In an exclusive conversation with ETimes, Ashoke Pandit addressed the so-called 'ban' on Ranveer Singh. He promptly corrected the narrative: 'First of all, the entire conversation has become wrong. It is not a ban. We are not a court; we cannot ban people. So we have issued a non-cooperation directive. Non-cooperation means all our members, who belong to 30 crafts, will not work with him. It is my choice whether I want to work with him or not.'
He added, 'As a trade union, we have issued this directive to our members that wherever he is present, you will not work until this issue is resolved. We strongly feel this is a very wrong trend that could start.' Explaining the producers' perspective, Pandit shared, 'Producers will be doomed at the last moment if directors leave, if actors leave, or if anyone leaves. This will be a significant loss, and ultimately, not everyone is Excel Entertainment, which can afford to lose crores. They will commit suicide.'
Hope for Resolution
The Chief Advisor of FWICE expressed optimism: 'We tried to bring about a situation where we can sit together and sort this out, and hopefully it will happen. We are still hopeful. But for that, we need to meet.'
Ranveer Singh's Response to Invitations
Pandit revealed that they had invited Ranveer Singh three times to resolve the matter. 'We sent him invitations thrice. There was no response. Finally, he sent an email when he learned about our press conference, stating that this matter does not fall under our jurisdiction.' Pandit added, 'With that said, fine, if you feel so strongly. Alright then. No problem. It doesn't matter. We will wait. We will sit with the producer body and various associations and see how things proceed.'
Steps to Lift the Directive
Elaborating on what Ranveer Singh needs to do, Pandit stated, 'There has to be closure. The producers, him, and the body should sit together and reach a solution. If you say it is not Rs 45 crore, we say Rs 30 crore or whatever. Discussion must happen, and both parties must come to a final closure. Ultimately, we have to work together. You cannot keep fighting like a family dispute.'
Broader Implications for the Industry
Pandit emphasized that this issue extends beyond actors. 'In a creative industry, we cannot afford to live like this. If this continues, what if a big director leaves a project at the last moment? The producer has already invested so much money. This is a wrong trend. You cannot leave a proposal upfront unless there is a tragedy or emergency. This applies to everyone, not just actors. Producers also cannot sack people at the last moment. This trend of leaving a project or sacking someone at the last moment is not encouraging for the industry.'
Clarification on the Term 'Ban'
Pandit concluded, 'Unfortunately, people have become so negative. In the entire press conference, we never used the word 'ban'. It is not used in the press release either. I do not know why people stoop so low. There is no need to glamorize or dramatize everything. It is a very serious matter concerning the industry's survival. But you cannot help it.'
Chunky Panday's Perspective
ETimes also contacted Chunky Panday for his comments. When asked if he had ever been banned during his career, he revealed, 'I am not fully aware of the details of this matter, so I may not be the right person to comment. But yes, I was once banned.'
He elaborated, 'During the shooting of 'Aag Hi Aag' in 1987, the film industry went on strike, and no one was supposed to continue shooting. However, Pahlaj Nihalani was shooting in Bangalore with the entire team, and we later continued filming in Ooty. Strict action was taken against me and everyone associated with the film. At that time, all shootings had stopped. Dharmendra ji and Shatrughan Sinha ji were also part of the film, but they were such big stars doing 30-40 films that banning them was not feasible. I was a newcomer; my film had not even been released, so I got banned for about a week.'
Sharing the reason, Panday said, 'The reason was simple: I was shooting with Pahlaj Nihalani while the entire industry was on strike. Since they could not take action against the bigger stars, they targeted me. Later, I apologized, and the ban was lifted within a week. These things happen. Ours is a very small and fragile industry, and I have experienced it myself.'
More About the 'Don 3' Dispute
Amidst these developments, fans of Ranveer Singh have criticized FWICE's directive, claiming that Bollywood is targeting the actor after the massive success of the 'Dhurandhar' franchise.
Meanwhile, Singh's spokesperson issued a statement: 'Ranveer Singh holds the highest regard for the film fraternity and 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. While several narratives and speculations have surfaced, Ranveer has never considered it necessary to respond publicly or contribute to conjecture. His focus remains firmly on his work and commitments ahead. He continues to hold deep respect and goodwill for all those involved and sincerely wishes the franchise continued success. Choosing restraint and grace in moments like these has always been a conscious decision on his part, and he will continue to maintain the same stance.'
