RGV Doesn’t Hold Back
Ram Gopal Varma has jumped into the Don 3 controversy with both feet, taking a sharp dig at the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) for its non-cooperation directive against Ranveer Singh. In a fiery post on X, the maverick filmmaker didn’t mince words, calling the union an “extremely outdated system” that’s more about flexing muscle than actually resolving disputes.
Varma warned that the so-called ban on Ranveer could eventually become a “big fat joke” on FWICE, suggesting the move might backfire spectacularly. He argued that such interventions are less about justice and more about performative authority in a changing industry landscape. According to him, only the parties involved truly know the details of what happened during the film’s development.
The Dispute Heats Up
The controversy erupted after Ranveer Singh reportedly stepped away from Don 3, which was being developed under Farhan Akhtar and Excel Entertainment. Following his exit, the makers claimed financial losses of around Rs 45 crore, prompting FWICE to issue a non-cooperation directive against the actor. The directive urges industry members not to work with him until the dispute is resolved.
Ranveer’s side has maintained that the film wasn’t creatively finalised and that key script elements were still in development when he made his decision. With industry bodies, filmmakers, and now prominent voices like RGV involved, the dispute has moved beyond a single production into a larger conversation about power, unions, and modern filmmaking practices.
Industry Divided
RGV questioned the idea of large unions speaking for lakhs of workers in disputes where most people aren’t directly involved. He said many such actions are driven by perception rather than complete understanding of facts. The filmmaker stressed that civil disputes between production houses and artists should ideally be handled legally, not through industry pressure tactics.
Meanwhile, the Don 3 controversy continues to brew with no resolution in sight. As industry insiders weigh in on both sides, all eyes are on FWICE and Excel Entertainment for their next move.