Don 3 row reaches court: Producer challenges FWICE’s non-cooperation directive against Ranveer Singh

The controversy surrounding Don 3 has now reached the courts, with veteran producer TP Aggarwal challenging the Federation of Western India Cine Employees’ (FWICE) non-cooperation directive against actor Ranveer Singh.

Days after the federation issued the directive following Singh’s reported exit from Farhan Akhtar’s ambitious project, Aggarwal approached the Bombay Civil Court in Dindoshi, arguing that no individual, organisation or trade body has the legal authority to impose a ban on a person or instruct others not to work with them.

TP Aggarwal moves court

Aggarwal, a former president of the Indian Motion Picture Producers’ Association (IMPPA), has filed a petition against FWICE and IMPPA. According to a Times of India report, he has contended that such directives are unlawful and can have serious consequences for professionals working in the film industry. The court has reportedly issued notices to both organisations.

Having served as IMPPA president for 17 years and as chief of the Film Federation of India (FFI) on four occasions, Aggarwal stressed that attempts to isolate an individual professionally should not be taken lightly.

“The film industry thrives on collaboration, and it is important that matters of this nature are addressed through proper legal and professional channels. Any attempt to discourage people from working with an individual should not be taken lightly. Such actions can have far-reaching consequences for livelihoods and creative freedom, and therefore must be dealt with in a fair, transparent, and lawful manner,” Aggarwal said.

He currently serves as Patron of both FFI and IMPPA.

How the Don 3 dispute escalated

The latest legal challenge comes after FWICE last week issued a non-cooperation directive against Ranveer Singh. The move followed a complaint reportedly submitted by filmmaker Farhan Akhtar regarding the Don 3 dispute.

In response, Singh’s spokesperson released a statement saying the actor had chosen to remain silent throughout the controversy out of respect for the film fraternity and those associated with the Don franchise.

“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,” the statement said.

The ₹45 crore claim

After Shah Rukh Khan headlined Don (2006) and Don 2 (2011), Ranveer Singh was announced as the lead actor for Don 3 in 2023.

Reports of a fallout between Singh and the film’s makers, Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani of Excel Entertainment, surfaced in December 2025. The actor was reportedly said to have exited the project following the success of Dhurandhar, directed by Aditya Dhar.

Last month, Akhtar reportedly approached FWICE alleging that Singh’s abrupt departure had caused losses of around ₹45 crore to the production.

As the controversy continues to dominate industry conversations, Ranveer Singh appears to be keeping a low profile. The actor was recently spotted in Budapest ahead of a major football weekend.