The dispute surrounding Ranveer Singh’s exit from Don 3 has escalated, with the actor reportedly issuing a legal notice to the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) over its “non-cooperation directive” against him. The development comes a day after veteran producer TP Aggarwal challenged the film body’s action in court.
FWICE, a trade union representing more than five lakh workers, technicians and artists from the film and television industry, had earlier directed its members not to work with Ranveer Singh following his abrupt withdrawal from Farhan Akhtar’s Don 3.
According to sources, Ranveer served the legal notice on Tuesday, more than a week after FWICE issued the directive. The film body had alleged that while Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani’s Excel Entertainment had been cooperating with its inquiries into the Don 3 dispute, Ranveer had failed to appear before the organisation despite receiving three reminders sent at intervals of 10 days.
Before sending the legal notice, Ranveer’s last official communication with FWICE reportedly came on May 23. Through his representative, the actor informed the body that it did not have jurisdiction over the matter. While the representative expressed willingness to meet FWICE officials and discuss the issue, the organisation maintained that Ranveer himself must appear before it.
Neither Ranveer’s team nor FWICE has officially commented on the latest development. However, FWICE is expected to clarify its position during a press conference scheduled in Mumbai today. According to the official invitation, the organisation will “communicate its further stand” regarding the “dispute between filmmaker Farhan Akhtar and Ranveer Singh for the forthcoming film Don 3.”
Legal experts believe the actor may have grounds to challenge the directive. Speaking to SCREEN last week, media and entertainment lawyer Sanjay Vasudevan said Ranveer has several legal options available if he chooses to contest FWICE’s action.
“You have the constitutional right to be able to carry out any trade of your choice, so long as it’s legal. Right now, the film body is more of a toothless tiger. But when it gains teeth to the point where it restricts him to engage with more producers, I’d imagine he’d challenge the union’s directive or at least get them to modify the terms so that his right to work is protected,” said Sanjay Vasudevan.
According to Vasudevan, Ranveer could potentially seek remedies under Section 3(3)(b) of the Competition Act, Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution, and Section 27 of the Indian Contract Act.
The lawyer also argued that FWICE, being a trade union rather than a statutory authority, cannot legally enforce such directives beyond its membership.
“Since Ranveer is not even a member of the FWICE, he is outside its jurisdiction, and the directive has no binding force against him or third parties,” he said, adding that the film body’s “authority is consensual and confined to its members”.
Vasudevan further stated that the actor is under no legal obligation to participate in FWICE proceedings if he chooses not to.
“Declining a request from a non-authoritative body attracts no liability. Ranveer is well within his rights to not indulge in the conversations,” he said. “It’s a commercial choice, and not a legal duty. The ‘no one is above the law’ framing is rhetorical, not legal,” added the lawyer, referring to FWICE President BN Tiwari’s claim that “a superstar is not above the law”.