Mumbai

Tensions appear to have intensified between actor Ranveer Singh and filmmaker Farhan Akhtar following the actor’s reported exit from the upcoming film Don 3.

On Monday, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) issued a non-cooperation directive against Ranveer Singh in connection with the matter, alleging that the actor failed to respond to repeated requests to appear before the organisation despite being sent three reminders.

The move comes more than a month after Farhan Akhtar approached the federation with a complaint regarding Ranveer Singh’s withdrawal from the project. Excel Entertainment had officially announced Don 3 in August 2023, unveiling Ranveer Singh as the new lead through a teaser release.

According to a letter issued by FWICE, Farhan Akhtar filed a complaint before the Indian Film and Television Directors’ Association (IFTDA) on April 11, 2026, after which the matter was referred to the federation for further action.

The federation stated that meetings were organised to hear all parties involved. During the proceedings, Farhan Akhtar and producer Ritesh Sidhwani reportedly informed FWICE that nearly Rs 45 crore had already been spent on the film’s pre-production. They expressed concern that the sudden exit of the lead actor at an advanced stage of preparation could result in substantial financial losses and disrupt the execution of the project.

Following the developments, the film body also held a press conference on the issue. Speaking to ANI afterwards, IFTDA president Ashoke Pandit explained the reasons behind the federation’s decision.

According to Pandit, Farhan Akhtar alleged in his complaint that Ranveer Singh withdrew from the film barely three weeks before the crew was scheduled to begin shooting, causing major losses to the production house.

Pandit said that after the complaint was formally registered, the federation issued three notices to Ranveer Singh at intervals of ten days, along with reminders, but received no response. He added that after the federation announced plans for a press conference, they received an email from the actor stating that the matter did not fall within FWICE’s jurisdiction and that the body had no authority to intervene.

Pandit said the federation took note of Ranveer Singh’s stand but proceeded with its decision to issue a non-cooperation directive against him.

He further appealed to producers and members of the film industry to support the federation’s stance until the dispute is resolved. According to him, workers and members associated with the federation across different crafts would not participate in projects involving the actor.

Pandit also warned that such incidents could set an unhealthy precedent within the industry if left unaddressed.

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The development comes at a time when Ranveer Singh is enjoying significant commercial success following the strong performance of his Dhurandhar franchise.