Producer Speaks Out on the Ranveer-FWICE Drama
The ongoing friction between Bollywood powerhouse Ranveer Singh and the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) just got a new voice. Producer Nikhil Dwivedi, whose upcoming film Bandar is set to drop this June, has openly questioned whether such bodies have the legal right to ask workers to not collaborate with a particular actor or producer.
Speaking ahead of the release of his Anurag Kashyap directorial, Dwivedi made it clear that contractual disagreements belong in the courts, not in association directives. “Any contractual dispute can only be addressed in the Courts of India, which is why people approach the courts,” he said, according to industry sources present at the interaction.
Dwivedi on the Limits of Associations
The Bandar producer didn’t hold back when discussing the role of film bodies. He acknowledged that associations like FWICE are crucial for representation, but stressed their limitations. “The association says that it can bring an actor and a producer together to discuss and resolve their issues, but if that still does not happen, they ask them to take the matter to court. They try their best, but beyond a point, they cannot do anything more about it,” Dwivedi explained.
Then came the real punch. “However, if an association is asking people not to work with a particular actor or producer, I do not know whether they are legally allowed to do so. The Bombay High Court’s ruling on whether such associations have that jurisdiction had already come in 2017-18, but if they are still making such announcements, I do not know whether they are aware of it,” he added, leaving little room for ambiguity.
What’s the Bigger Picture?
The dispute between Ranveer Singh and FWICE has been making headlines, but details remain murky. With Dwivedi now publicly weighing in, the focus shifts to the legal framework governing such industry bodies. The producer’s remarks suggest that associations might be overstepping their mandate by trying to dictate who artists can work with.
Meanwhile, Dwivedi’s Bandar starring Bobby Deol in the lead role as a former pop icon accused of sexual assault, is generating its own buzz. The film, written by Sudip Sharma and Abhishek Banerjee (the duo behind Paatal Lok), is directed by Anurag Kashyap and produced by Dwivedi under Saffron Magicworks in association with Zee Studios. It releases in cinemas worldwide on June 5, 2026.