Ram Gopal Varma Defends Ranveer Singh Amid Don 3 Controversy

Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has come out in support of actor Ranveer Singh following the controversy regarding Singh’s exit from the film Don 3. Varma condemned the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) for issuing a non-cooperation directive against Singh, suggesting that the “so-called ban” would ultimately reflect poorly on the federation itself.

In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Varma expressed his strong opinions on the matter, describing the FWICE as an outdated entity attempting to maintain control. He began his post by stating, “BAN ‘FWICE’ and not @RanveerOfficial”.

He elaborated, stating, “The so-called ‘BAN’ or non-cooperation in the style of Gandhiji will eventually become a BIG FAT JOKE on FWICE. This isn’t industry or worker protection, as they are claiming. It is merely performative muscle flexing by an extremely outdated union system, desperately trying to hold on to their grip.” Varma questioned the relevance of the FWICE, saying that the vast majority of the workers it claims to represent are unaware of the specific details concerning the dispute.

Varma further criticized FWICE’s authority, commenting, “FWICE is neither a court of legal justice nor a government-authorised regulatory body. At best, it’s a kangaroo court that pretends to deliver justice, while disregarding established legal rules and due process.” He suggested that the outcome of the dispute is often predetermined by a select group of individuals with specific agendas.

The filmmaker insisted that FWICE’s intervention would be a significant public relations disaster, asserting, “It is screaming in desperation while at the same time demonstrating its outdatedness.” He argued that workers' livelihoods in the industry do not rely on any single actor or project, calling claims to the contrary a misleading narrative aimed at creating tension on social media.

At the centre of the issue is a producer alleging substantial pre-production losses, which Varma framed as a private contractual matter rather than a concern for FWICE. He maintained, “Only the disputing parties will know the intricacies about what happened, and the matter should be between them like any other civil dispute.” He challenged anyone within FWICE to present evidence against Singh, criticising the federation for its lack of substantive legitimacy.

In concluding his lengthy remarks, Varma affirmed that stars like Ranveer Singh are crucial to the theatre industry, stating, “It is stars like @RanveerOfficial who sell tickets at the theatres and not FWICE. It is only because stars like @RanveerOfficial exist, that the industry exists, and also the FWICE exists.”

The FWICE’s conflict with Singh began when Farhan Akhtar contacted the federation regarding the issue in April 2023. Following this, the federation issued a non-cooperation directive against Singh. In response, Singh’s spokesperson released a statement highlighting the actor's respect for the film industry and asserting that he chose to maintain silence over the matter, emphasising the importance of handling professional discussions with dignity.

While Farhan Akhtar had previously directed Shah Rukh Khan in Don (2006) and Don 2 (2011), he announced that Singh would lead Don 3 in 2023. Reports of discord among Singh, Akhtar, and Ritesh Sidhwani of Excel Entertainment surfaced in December 2025. The actor reportedly exited the film abruptly after the success of his project Dhurandhar. Akhtar later claimed Singh’s departure caused him financial losses of ₹45 crore, prompting his appeal to the FWICE for intervention.