AshokePandit clarifies actions against Ranveer Singh in Don 3 row

Pandit said that FWICE cannot ban people, clarifying it’s a non-cooperative directive.

It was reported recently that Ranveer Singh was “banned” by the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE). However, FWICE Chief Advisor AshokePandit has now clarified the matter, saying the federation cannot ban people but has instead issued a “non-cooperation” directive, asking its members not to work with the actor on any project in any capacity.

“We cannot ban anyone,” says AshokePandit.

Speaking about the controversy, AshokePandit explained that FWICE does not have the authority to ban artists. He stated that the word “ban” has been misused in public discussions about the issue. According to him, FWICE is a trade union representing workers across multiple crafts in the film industry and not a legal institution capable of prohibiting someone from working. Pandit explained that the federation has merely advised its members across 30 different crafts not to collaborate with Ranveer Singh on any project until the matter is resolved. He described the move as an internal industry response rather than a legal punishment. AshokePandit also expressed concern over actors allegedly walking away from projects after commitments have already been made. According to him, such incidents can have severe financial consequences for producers, especially smaller production houses that may not have the resources to absorb major losses. He pointed out that not every banner has the financial strength of Excel Entertainment, founded by Farhan Akhtar and RiteshSidhwani. He suggested that sudden exits from big-budget films could create instability within the industry and affect the survival of producers financially.

FWICE claims attempts were made to resolve the matter.

According to Pandit, FWICE attempted to resolve the issue amicably before making any public statements. He revealed that the federation had reportedly sent three invitations to Ranveer Singh, requesting him to sit down with both the producers and FWICE representatives for discussions. However, Pandit claimed the actor did not respond initially and only reacted after hearing about the federation’s planned press conference. He further alleged that Ranveer later sent an email stating that the matter did not fall under FWICE’s jurisdiction. Pandit admitted that there is currently “no closure” in the matter and insisted that discussions between the actor, producers, and federation are still necessary. He also hinted at the possibility of negotiations regarding the compensation reportedly being sought by the producers following the actor’s exit from the film.

At the same time, he clarified that FWICE deliberately avoided using the term “ban” during its official press conference. According to him, the issue should not be sensationalised, as it concerns the larger functioning and stability of the film industry.