FWICE, which represents around 30 lakh cine workers, had sent Ranveer three meeting invitations before issuing the directive. The actor’s team received no advance and claims the film lacked a locked script even years after development began.
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The ‘Don 3’ controversy has taken its most serious legal turn yet. Actor Ranveer Singh has sent a formal legal notice to the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) over the non-cooperation directive the body issued against him. FWICE has simultaneously called a press conference on June 3 to address the dispute publicly.
Sources confirmed to NDTV that Ranveer served the legal notice on June 2, 2026. The notice challenges the non-cooperation directive that FWICE issued against him in late May. Singh has argued that FWICE has no jurisdiction over what his team describes as a contractual dispute between the actor and the producers. The exact demands made in the notice have not yet been disclosed.
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FWICE has yet to issue a detailed response to the suit, and the matter is likely to proceed through the appropriate legal forums in the coming weeks.
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Excel Entertainment announced ‘Don 3’ in August 2023 with Ranveer Singh in the lead role, positioning it as a major franchise reboot following tenures of Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan.
Ranveer departed from the film in December 2025, attributing the exit to script changes. The timing drew considerable attention as it came days after the box office success of his film ‘Dhurandhar’.
The actor was reportedly unhappy with the absence of a bound script, unresolved storylines, and concerns over project management. He also did not receive an advance and was not compensated for time lost on other shelved projects.
Excel Entertainment offered a different account. Farhan Akhtar reportedly said that the script was developed and shared in stages, and that Ranveer had approved each draft without objection. From the producers’ perspective, the actor’s exit came after extensive planning and spending.
Excel Entertainment has claimed losses of around Rs 40 crore from the fallout, citing pre-production costs and scheduling commitments made to accommodate the actor.
The non-cooperation directive came out on May 25, 2026, after filmmaker Farhan Akhtar approached the federation in April over the fallout linked to the film.
FWICE, which represents approximately 30 lakh cine workers across western India, issued the directive against Ranveer Singh in late May 2026. The directive effectively urged affiliated members, including technicians and crew, not to work with the actor until the matter was resolved.
FWICE Chief Advisor Ashoke Pandit said the body made repeated attempts to resolve the matter before taking action. “We sent him invitations thrice. There was no response, and then finally he sent mail when he came to know that we are having a press conference, saying that this doesn’t come under a jurisdiction,” Pandit said.
Ranveer’s team responded, calling his silence a choice rooted in dignity, maturity, and mutual respect.
Separately, veteran producer TP Aggarwal moved the Bombay Civil Court at Dindoshi on June 1. He challenged the directive on broader legal grounds.
Aggarwal contends that trade organisations and industry associations cannot legally prevent producers, technicians, or artists from working with any individual. He argued that such actions exceed their jurisdiction. The court has reportedly issued notices to the concerned organisations.
Aggarwal cited a 2017 Competition Commission ruling in support of his position. “Whatever FWICE has done is completely wrong and it’s not within their jurisdiction,” he said. “It’s not something they can do.”
Aggarwal is one of the industry’s most respected figures, having served as president of IMPPA for 17 years and as chief of the Film Federation of India on four occasions.
The dispute also drew a response from the Cine and TV Artistes’ Association (CINTAA), of which Singh is a member. CINTAA questioned why the association was not approached earlier by any party before the non-cooperation directive was issued. CINTAA VP Padmini Kolhapure publicly stated her association stands behind the actor.
As the row grew, reports of external mediation surfaced. Reports claimed Aamir Khan had intervened through a meeting at his Mumbai residence that reportedly included several industry figures. However, the actor flatly denied any hand in the dispute.
Separately, rumours emerged that Farhan Akhtar had considered Hrithik Roshan as a replacement. Hrithik categorically denied this. “I would like to categorically clarify that I was never approached for ‘Don 3’ at any given time. I request the media to steer clear of any such unverified reports,” he said.
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