In a recent development, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has reversed its previous non-cooperation directive against actor Ranveer Singh, which had been issued just a week earlier. Poonam Dhillon, President of the Cine & TV Artistes’ Association (CINTAA), expressed her continued support for Singh, having been one of the first voices in the industry to oppose the FWICE’s initial action. She mentioned that Singh’s father had personally reached out to her to express gratitude for her backing.
In a conversation with Variety, Dhillon stated, “As an actor and the CINTAA president, I’m pleased that the directive has been lifted, as he certainly did not deserve such treatment. We contested the decision from the outset because FWICE lacked the authority to take such a step against a performer of his standing. An actor has the autonomy to select their projects, and the dynamics between him and the producer should be handled privately. He is dedicated and responsible in his craft, as evidenced by his impressive body of work.”
Dhillon further noted, “From what I understand, he maintains a strong relationship with Excel Entertainment, the company behind films like Gully Boy and Dil Dhadakne Do. Farhan Akhtar, who is also an actor, has our support as well. We hope none of our artists encounter these kinds of issues, as conflicts can always be resolved. Our backing for Ranveer stems from his membership in CINTAA.”
Additionally, Dhillon shared that she had a detailed conversation with Ranveer Singh’s father, Jagjit Singh Bhavnani, after the resolution of the incident. “I had an extensive discussion with Ranveer’s father, and we have been communicating via WhatsApp. He expressed his gratitude for our support. We aimed to gain a clearer understanding of the situation. He mentioned their communication with Excel Entertainment and emphasized the close ties he has with Farhan and the entire Excel team. There was no hostility on their part; they were dissatisfied with how FWICE managed the situation. I offered CINTAA’s assistance, but he indicated, ‘We didn’t involve you to avoid causing you trouble, and we are already working on resolving this matter.’ Technically, he did not require our intervention, and I am pleased that the issue has been amicably resolved.”
Ranveer Singh has been in the spotlight since March after his unexpected departure from the film Don 3. Reports indicate that Excel Entertainment, led by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani, sought 45 crore rupees in compensation, claiming significant financial losses due to extensive pre-production efforts. The production company had secured locations and arranged accommodations for over 200 crew members, being merely two weeks away from starting the shoot.
Following this, Excel Entertainment approached FWICE with documentation of its claimed expenditures, prompting the federation to issue a non-cooperation directive against Singh, citing financial losses incurred by producers when actors withdraw from projects at advanced stages.
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