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    EYE ON BOLLYWOOD                                                         JUNE 12, 2026     |  The Indian Eye 43

             Ranveer Singh Controversy Exposes Fault

                    Lines in Bollywood’s Power Structure

                     The Don 3 dispute has evolved into a larger debate over authority, due process

                                                   and the future of industry governance.

            OUR BUREAU                                                                                               “It’s  impossible  not  to  make  en-
                                                                                                                  emies when you are successful,” she
            Mumbai
                                                                                                                  remarked,  suggesting  that  industry
                  he controversy surrounding ac-                                                                  conflicts  often  accompany  profes-
                  tor  Ranveer  Singh’s  reported                                                                 sional achievement.
            Texit from Don 3 has grown far                                                                            Filmmaker  Ram  Gopal  Varma
            beyond  a  disagreement  between  an                                                                  adopted an even more confrontation-
            actor and a production house. What                                                                    al stance, openly criticizing FWICE’s
            began as a dispute over a film project                                                                actions. He described the non-coop-
            has  exposed  deeper  tensions  within                                                                eration directive as an example of an
            Bollywood’s institutional framework,                                                                  outdated union structure attempting
            raising questions about who has the                                                                   to assert its influence.
            authority  to  regulate  industry  dis-                                                                   Varma  argued  that  organiza-
            putes,  how  conflicts  should  be  re-                                                               tions like FWICE are neither courts
            solved, and whether traditional indus-                                                                nor regulatory authorities and ques-
            try bodies remain relevant in a rapidly                                                               tioned  their  role  in  adjudicating
            changing  entertainment  landscape.                                                                   commercial disputes. He further em-
                At the center of the controversy                                                                  phasized  the  economic  importance
            is  the  Federation  of  Western  India                                                               of  stars  in  sustaining  the  industry’s
            Cine  Employees  (FWICE),  which                                                                      employment ecosystem.
            had  issued  a  non-cooperation  di-                                                                     “It is stars like Ranveer Singh who
            rective against Ranveer Singh after                                                                   create  employment  to  those  lakhs
            receiving  a  complaint  from  Farhan                                                                 of  FWICE  workers,”  Varma  said.
            Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani’s Excel   Ranveer Singh himself has largely remained silent. Through his spokesperson, the actor   His comments reflect a growing
            Entertainment regarding the actor’s   stated that he preferred to handle professional discussions with “dignity, maturity and mutual   divide  between  traditional  industry
            departure from Don 3. According to                                                                    institutions  and  those  who  believe
            reports, the producers alleged losses   respect” and had consciously chosen not to engage in public speculation. (ANI)   market forces and contractual agree-
            of around Rs 45 crore in pre-produc-                                                                  ments should determine outcomes.
            tion expenses following the actor’s exit.  “We would resolve the issue with-  manner  in  which  it  was  handled.   Meanwhile,   Ranveer   Singh
                However,  the  situation  took  a   in  the  Producers’  Association  itself   Dhillon argued that actions affecting   himself  has  largely  remained  silent.
            dramatic  turn  when  FWICE  with-  and  requested  them  to  remove  the   a major film production could have   Through his spokesperson, the actor
            drew its directive after intervention   ban,” Sinha said, adding that IMPPA   consequences  extending  far  beyond   stated  that  he  preferred  to  handle
            from the Indian Motion Picture Pro-  had  successfully  handled  far  larger   a single actor.        professional discussions with “digni-
            ducers’ Association (IMPPA), open-  disputes in the past.              “It would not have affected only   ty, maturity and mutual respect” and
            ing a new chapter in an already con-  The  disagreement  highlights  a   Ranveer Singh. There are lightmen,  had  consciously  chosen  not  to  en-
            tentious dispute.                 fundamental  governance  challenge   technicians, spot boys, make-up art-  gage in public speculation.
                The episode has revealed a grow-  within Bollywood: overlapping juris-  ists, stuntmen, costume makers and   That restraint may ultimate-
            ing  institutional  tug-of-war  within   dictions  among  industry  bodies.  As   many  others  whose  livelihood  de-  ly  prove  significant.  With  FWICE
            the  film  industry.  FWICE  defend-  different associations represent pro-  pends on film shoots,” she noted.  withdrawing its directive and IMPPA
            ed  its  initial  action  by  stating  that   ducers, directors, artists and workers,   This  observation  points  to  one   promising  an  amicable  settlement,
            it  was  responding  to  a  formal  com-  questions  often  arise  about  where   of  the  central  dilemmas  facing  the   the  dispute  appears  to  be  moving
            plaint and following its internal pro-  authority begins and ends.  film  industry.  High-profile  disputes   away  from  public  confrontation  to-
            cedures.  General  Secretary  Ashok   The controversy became even   are  often  framed  around  stars  and   ward institutional negotiation.
            Dubey explained that the federation   more  complicated  when  Cine  and   producers,  but  the  economic  conse-  As  India’s  film  industry  grows
            issues  non-cooperation  directives   TV Artistes’ Association (CINTAA)   quences ripple through an ecosystem   into  a  more  corporate  and  globally
            when members violate its rules and   President  Poonam  Dhillon  publicly   that supports thousands of workers.  integrated  business,  such  disputes
            emphasized  that  the  organization   criticized the process. She expressed   Delays, cancellations and prolonged   are likely to become increasingly
            “doesn’t ban anyone.”             surprise that a decision of such signif-  conflicts  can  disrupt  livelihoods   common. The challenge will be cre-
                Yet  the  producers’  body  strong-  icance had been taken without con-  throughout the production chain.  ating mechanisms that balance the
            ly questioned FWICE’s authority in   sultation with affiliate organizations.  The  issue  attracted  attention   interests  of  producers,  artists  and
            the matter. IMPPA President Abhay    “Any decision of this magnitude   from prominent film personalities as   workers while ensuring transparency,
            Sinha argued that the federation had   should involve all concerned parties.  well.  Actor  and  politician  Kangana   fairness and institutional credibility.
            acted without consulting the produc-  Unilateral decisions are never right,”  Ranaut voiced support for Ranveer   For now, the Ranveer Singh con-
            ers’ association and insisted that such   Dhillon said.             Singh, describing professional obsta-  troversy serves as a reminder that Bolly-
            disputes  should  be  handled  within   Her  intervention  shifted  atten-  cles as an inevitable consequence of   wood’s biggest battles are often fought
            producer organizations.           tion  from  the  dispute  itself  to  the   success.                not on screen, but behind the scenes.

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