Bollywood’s Ranveer Singh Triumphs as Film Union Lifts Boycott
In a dramatic turn of events, Bollywood’s flamboyant sensation Ranveer Singh is no longer facing the icy winds of a boycott from the film union. The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has decided to set aside its previous call for members to shun Singh after he reportedly exited the highly anticipated ‘Don 3’ project with little forewarning.
Last month, the air was thick with tension as Don 3’s producers cried foul over Singh’s sudden departure, just as the film was on the brink of rolling cameras. The buzz was palpable, especially since this installment was primed to continue the legacy of one of Bollywood’s legendary action franchises, originally brought to life in 1978 by the iconic Amitabh Bachchan and revived with Shah Rukh Khan by Farhan Akhtar.
Amidst the uproar, Singh reportedly fired a legal notice at the federation, a move that played a significant role in dissolving the boycott. Although the BBC hasn’t laid eyes on this legal alert, the industry seems to be rallying behind Singh. FWICE president BN Tiwari emphatically voiced the industry’s support for Singh, promising a legal response to the notification.
Ashoke Pandit, chief adviser to FWICE, shared that widespread appeals from various industry bodies influenced the reversal. “We welcome his success… We don’t have the right to ban anyone,” Pandit conveyed to NDTV, expressing hope for a positive outcome following an expected sit-down with Singh to iron out any wrinkles.
Ranveer Singh himself has remained a man of mystery, offering no public musings on the situation. His spokesperson, however, assures that Singh holds the film industry and the Don series in the “highest regard,” opting for a strategic silence.
Loved for his vibrant persona and memorable roles in movies like ‘Padmaavat’ and ‘Gully Boy’, Singh recently dazzled audiences in ‘Dhurandhar’, a spy thriller that’s been breaking box office records nationwide. Yet, his decision to bow out of ‘Don 3’ stirred controversy, particularly after it came to light that producers had already funneled approximately 450 million rupees ($4.7 million; £3.4 million) into pre-production, with plans for overseas shoots looming.
For May 25, FWICE had instructed its members to steer clear of collaborating with Singh until he clarified his stance, a directive that’s rare but not unheard of. In the past, FWICE has similarly dissuaded Indian artists from working with Pakistani performers amidst cross-border tensions.
Singh is no stranger to controversy, having previously apologized in 2025 for unknowingly ruffling feathers by reciting a sacred passage from the cherished Kannada film ‘Kantara’. He faced criticism for allegedly disrespecting the cultural significance of the text during a film festival, later making amends.
