The standoff between actor-filmmaker Farhan Akhtar’s Don 3 team and actor Ranveer Singh seems to have taken a new turn. On Wednesday, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) withdrew its Non-Cooperation Directive against the actor, weeks after the body backed complaints related to his exit from the franchise and urged members not to work with him.

Speaking at a press conference in Mumbai, FWICE president Birendra Nath Tiwari said the decision was taken following appeals from the Cine and TV Artistes Association (CINTAA) and the Indian Motion Picture Producers’ Association (IMPAA).

“Initially, we believed that once we issued the Non-Cooperation Directive, Ranveer Singh and his team would come forward for discussions. However, I feel his team misguided him. They wrote to us saying that he did not fall under our jurisdiction, but he is an artiste and a member of CINTAA, which is affiliated with the federation,” Tiwari tells us.

“Our intention was never to pull down a superstar or stop his growth. We have now withdrawn the Non-Cooperation Directive and the producer bodies, the Guild and other stakeholders will take the discussions forward,” he adds.

CINTAA general secretary Upasana Singh stressed the need for dialogue. “The only solution is conversation and mutual understanding. Even though Ranveer never approached CINTAA, he is our actor and it is our responsibility to try and resolve any issue concerning our actors,” she says.

Hitesh Jain, legal expert and managing partner at Parinam Law, says, “The directives issued by FWICE were meaningless and unenforceable. In the past, FWICE has not been able to enforce such directives and courts have criticized them as well. In any event, these directives were always meant to be taken with a pinch of salt. The film industry is not going through a glorious time and people are struggling for work. When you issue such directives, it is not in the interest of the workforce, which FWICE claims to represent. When you halt a project, you go against employment opportunities for the many people engaged on it. FWICE had no business taking any stand in a matter involving two parties.”

He adds, “If Excel Entertainment felt it had a strong case, nothing prevented it from approaching the court. In a contractual dispute, there is no question of morality. The fact that Excel did not approach the court and instead used backdoor methods exposes its vulnerability.”

— As told to Natasha Coutinho

-------------------------------------------------------

FWICE chief advisor Ashoke Pandit maintained that the federation’s stand was never against the actor personally. “We have nothing against Ranveer Singh and continue to celebrate his success. This was never about one actor, but about protecting the culture of commitment in the industry. If such instances become a trend, it will create mistrust and damage the film industry. We hope the matter can now be resolved through dialogue,” he says.

Reacting to actor-politician Kangana Ranaut’s comments in support of Ranveer, Pandit says, “A lot of people in the industry have started commenting on this matter without understanding it.” Referring to Kangana’s remarks about being “banned” by the industry in the past, he adds, “Kangana said she had been banned by the industry. I told her, ‘You talk nonsense, that’s why I banned you.’ There is a much bigger issue concerning the industry here.”

Taking a jibe at filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma, Pandit further alleges that the filmmaker still owes Rs. 1.25 crore to technicians and workers. “If we issue a Non-Cooperation Directive against you, you say it is illegal. You are not giving money. Isn’t that illegal?” he asks.