The controversy surrounding Ranveer Singh’s exit from Don 3 has now entered the legal arena. What began as an industry dispute has escalated into a courtroom battle after veteran producer TP Aggarwal challenged the non-cooperation directive issued by the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE).
Adding another twist to the ongoing saga, the Cine and TV Artistes’ Association (CINTAA) has publicly expressed support for Ranveer Singh and questioned why the association was not approached earlier by any of the parties involved.
TP Aggarwal Challenges FWICE Directive In Court
According to reports, TP Aggarwal has filed a civil petition in the Bombay Civil Court at Dindoshi against FWICE and the Indian Motion Picture Producers’ Association (IMPPA).
The producer has reportedly argued that trade organizations do not possess the legal authority to instruct producers, technicians, or industry professionals to avoid working with a particular individual.
The court has now issued notices to both FWICE and IMPPA, directing them to respond to the petition.
Aggarwal, who previously served as IMPPA president for 17 years and also headed the Film Federation of India on multiple occasions, believes such directives can negatively impact livelihoods and creative freedom within the entertainment industry.
Legal Scrutiny Over Non-Cooperation Calls
The petition reportedly questions whether industry bodies can effectively restrict professional collaborations through advisory notices.
Aggarwal has argued that disputes involving actors or production houses should be resolved through legal channels rather than through informal industry actions.
According to sources, he believes non-cooperation directives have the potential to affect employment opportunities for numerous professionals associated with film productions.
The case is now expected to examine the extent of authority trade bodies can exercise in such matters.
CINTAA Publicly Supports Ranveer Singh
While the legal proceedings move forward, Ranveer Singh has received backing from CINTAA.
The association’s vice-president, Padmini Kolhapure, reportedly stated that CINTAA stands firmly with Ranveer Singh as one of its members and would support him whenever necessary.
However, she refrained from commenting extensively on the dispute due to the matter already being under public discussion.
Her remarks followed comments from CINTAA president Poonam Dhillon, who expressed disappointment that neither Ranveer Singh, the production team, nor FWICE had approached the association regarding the issue.
According to Dhillon, CINTAA currently lacks complete information because it was not formally consulted by any side involved in the dispute.
How The Don 3 Controversy Began
The conflict traces back to Ranveer Singh’s reported exit from Don 3.
FWICE issued a non-cooperation directive on May 25 after claiming that the actor did not respond to multiple requests asking him to appear and explain the circumstances surrounding his departure from the film.
The move triggered widespread debate across the Hindi film industry, with many questioning the implications of such directives.
Later, FWICE chief advisor Ashoke Pandit clarified that the organization had not imposed a ban on Ranveer Singh.
According to Pandit, the directive was merely a non-cooperation advisory and not a legal prohibition.
He reportedly emphasized that FWICE is not a judicial authority and therefore does not possess the power to ban artists.
Excel Entertainment Seeks Compensation
The dispute became more complicated after reports emerged that Excel Entertainment had sought compensation from Ranveer Singh over alleged pre-production expenses connected to Don 3.
According to industry reports, producer and filmmaker Farhan Akhtar reportedly approached FWICE with a complaint in April.
The complaint allegedly stated that Ranveer Singh exited the project only weeks before the planned shooting schedule.
Reports further suggest that the production house is seeking approximately Rs 45 crore toward costs incurred during pre-production.
Ranveer Singh had originally been announced as the new lead of Don 3 nearly two years before reportedly stepping away from the project in December 2025.
With legal proceedings now underway, the Don 3 controversy has moved beyond industry discussions and into formal judicial review.
