Ranveer Singh reacts after film body bans him over Don 3 exit

The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) on Monday said its more than four lakh members would not work with Ranveer Singh following his last-minute exit from Farhan Akhtar's "Don 3", with the actor responding he will continue to "hold deep respect and goodwill" for all those involved.  Akhtar and his partner Ritesh Sidhwani had filed a complaint against Singh before the Indian Film & Television Directors' Association (IFTDA), which then referred the matter to FWICE for further intervention. "Don 3", which has been three years in the making and was to reboot the successful franchise for a third time with a new face, was yet to begin shooting. The producers claim that more than Rs 45 crore had already been spent in the pre-production phase.
FWICE stated that despite sending multiple reminders, Ranveer had repeatedly failed to appear before the body to address the matter and engage in discussions regarding his exit from the project. FWICE President BN Tiwari emphasised that the issue went far beyond a personal disagreement between an actor and a producer and directly affected the livelihoods of thousands of film industry workers. “When a film is made, thousands of workers get employment. When a film suddenly stops, junior artists and daily wage workers also suffer financial losses,” Tiwari said.
Ranveer’s official spokesperson has issued a statement saying, “Ranveer Singh holds the highest regard for the film fraternity and for everyone associated with the Don franchise. Throughout the recent developments surrounding Don 3, he has consciously chosen to maintain silence, believing that professional discussions and personal equations are best handled with dignity, maturity and
mutual respect.” “While several narratives and speculations have surfaced over time, Ranveer has never considered it necessary to respond publicly or contribute to conjecture. His focus remains firmly on his work and the commitments ahead. He continues to hold deep respect and goodwill for all those involved and sincerely wishes the franchise continued success. Choosing restraint and grace in moments like these has always been a conscious decision on his part, and he will continue to maintain the same stance,” the spokesperson concluded.
At a press conference, FWICE Chief Advisor and Indian Film and Television Directors' Association President Ashoke Pandit laid out the sequence of events that led to the federation’s decision. Pandit traced the issue back to April 11, when Farhan Akhtar first approached FWICE with a formal complaint against Ranveer Singh. Pandit further revealed that the complaint alleged Ranveer had pulled out of Don 3 just three weeks before the shooting unit was set to depart, causing major disruption to the project