Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has now weighed in on the Ranveer Singh-FWICE controversy over the actor`s exit from Farhan Akhtar`s Don 3. A few days ago, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) issued a non-cooperation directive against Ranveer in the Don 3 matter, claiming that the actor failed to respond to repeated requests to appear before the body and discuss the issue, despite being sent three reminders.
Ram Gopal Varma reacts to action against Ranveer Singh
The union`s action has sparked intense debate across the industry and the internet. On Saturday, Ram Gopal Varma shared his stance on the issue, calling out FWICE.
He said that the `so-called ban` will eventually become a `big fat joke` on the federation.
“BAN `FWICE` and not RanveerOfficial. The so called `BAN` or non co operation in the style of Gandhiji , will eventually become a BIG FAT JOKE on FWICE This isn`t industry or worker protection, like they are claiming. It is just a pure performative muscle flexing, by an extremely outdated union system , desperately trying to hold on to their grip Whether it claims to speak for over 5 lakh or 50 lakh workers , the brutal truth is that most of those lakhs don`t even know the internal facts of the two parties dispute,” Ram Gopal Varma wrote.
He further said, “FWICE is neither a court of legal justice nor a government authorised regulatory body , and at best it`s a kangaroo court , which by definition pretends to deliver justice , but in actual fact it disregards established legal rules, due process, and impartiality That is because the verdict is often decided in advance by a group of a specific agenda oriented people meeting privately including actors who are scared shitless with the mega success of @RanveerOfficial in Dhurandhar This will be a massive PR Disaster for FWICE because It is screaming in desperation while at the same time demonstrating its outdatedness.”
The filmmaker emphasised that stars like Ranveer generate significant employment opportunities across the film industry.
“It is stars like RanveerOfficial who sell tickets at the theatres and not FWICE It is stars like RanveerOfficial who create employment to those lakhs of FWICE workers and not FWICE It is only because stars like RanveerOfficial exist , that the industry exists , and also the FWICE exists So in a summation , here is my unsolicited advise to all concerned `Let`s not poke our unwanted noses into a civil dispute between 2 parties`,” he concluded.
Here`s Ram Gopal Varma`s entire statement.
BAN “FWICE” and not @RanveerOfficial
The so called “BAN” or non co operation in the style of Gandhiji , will eventually become a BIG FAT JOKE on FWICE
This isn’t industry or worker protection, like they are claiming. It is just a pure performative muscle flexing , by an…
— Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) May 29, 2026
Ranveer is not banned
While many believed that FWICE chief advisor Ashoke Pandit announced a ban on the actor, he has explained that FWICE “can’t ban” people. Ashoke Pandit, while speaking to ETimes, clarified, “See, first of all, the entire conversation has become wrong. It`s not a ban. See, we are not the court; we can`t ban people, yaar. So we have issued a non-cooperation. Non-cooperation means all our members who belong to 30 crafts, you know, will not work with him. It`s my choice whether I want to work with him or not. So we, as a trade union, have issued this thing to our members that as far as wherever he is there, you will not work till the time. This issue is not sorted out. Because we very strongly feel that this is a very wrong trend which will start.”
Ashoke further argued that such a trend of actors abruptly walking out of projects could harm producers financially. He highlighted that not every production house is as financially secure as Excel Entertainment and can afford to lose crores. “They will commit suicide,” he remarked.
