The Federation of Western India Cine Employees issued a strict non-cooperation directive against Ranveer Singh on May 25, 2026. The swift ban came after Excel Entertainment producers Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani formally complained in April that the actor’s abrupt exit from Don 3 cost them Rs 45 crores. The lightning-fast response from the federation to protect a major production house immediately triggered a severe backlash from the working-class crews who actually assemble these films.
Shweta Venkat, the acclaimed film editor behind Gangs of Wasseypur and Newton, publicly ripped into the FWICE over its blatant double standards. She pointed out that a petition signed by 242 film editors in 2023 detailing delayed payments, poor pay structures, and unhealthy working conditions was completely ignored by the exact same governing body.
Taking her frustration to social media, Venkat ridiculed the federation’s sudden efficiency when wealthy producers are involved. She asked: “Where was this efficiency? It has been 3 years. Or maybe we weren’t cool enough. Basically become either a producer or an actor (translated from Hindi).”
The controversy is already pulling in other industry veterans who have found themselves on the wrong side of the federation. Actor Chunky Panday stepped into the fray to back Ranveer Singh, openly recalling his own negative experiences dealing with similar federation bans in the past. The dispute remains locked as Excel Entertainment seeks to recover the lost Rs 45 crores from Singh’s sudden departure.