Watch: Kangana Ranaut Defends Ranveer Singh Amid FWICE ‘Don 3’ Row
Kangana Ranaut has come out in support of Ranveer Singh amid FWICE’s non-cooperation directive, saying obstacles and enemies are inevitable when success and stature grow.
The drama surrounding Ranveer Singh's sudden and unceremonious exit from Excel Entertainment's ‘Don 3’ continues to escalate, but the actor has found an unexpected ally in Kangana Ranaut. The actress-politician threw her weight behind Ranveer Singh while addressing the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) non-cooperation directive against him. Speaking on Tuesday in Mumbai at the trailer launch of her upcoming crime thriller ‘Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata’, Kangana was asked to comment on the industry's shadow ban on Ranveer.
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Known for her unfiltered opinions, Kangana responded saying, “You are asking me, I have been banned by everybody! Toh main ye kehna chahungi ki jab haisiyat badhti hai to dushman bhi badhte hain. Toh ab aisa nahi ho sakta ki aapki haisiyat badhey aur dushman na badhe. Toh aaj Ranveer Singh ko sochna chahiye ki unki kya haisiyat ki unke itne dushman hain! Toh achcha hain… zindagi mein jab aap aagey badhte hain toh kai tarah ke obstacles aatey hain, you can't have a smooth walk always. Toh mere saath toh itna hua hain toh look, today I am doing well. Meri bhi achchi gaadi chal hi rahi hain. Toh okay kuch nahi farak padta, everything is going to be fine eventually.”
Her remarks echo her own turbulent history with the film industry. In 2020, Kangana faced massive industry backlash after alleging that Sushant Singh Rajput's tragic death by suicide was tied to his treatment as an outsider and nepotism. However, despite being a vocal critic who carved her own niche, Kangana Ranaut never faced an official ban from FWICE. She also recently praised Ranveer’s latest spy thriller franchise ‘Dhurandhar’ – helmed by Aditya Dhar – for reviving a struggling Hindi film industry after it amassed a staggering Rs 3000 crore at the worldwide box office this year.
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The current FWICE controversy erupted after Ranveer abruptly walked out of Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani’s ‘Don 3’, just three weeks before the shooting unit was scheduled to leave. Ranveer had been announced in 2023 to headline the franchise, taking over the mantle from Shah Rukh Khan, who led Don (2006) and Don 2 (2011). Following the massive success of ‘Dhurandhar’, his sudden departure from the project prompted Farhan Akhtar to formally approach the FWICE on April 11. Farhan, who joined the FWICE meeting virtually from London while Ritesh attended in person, claimed monetary losses amounting to Rs 45 crore. Amidst the chaos, rumours also swirled that Farhan wanted to replace Ranveer with Hrithik Roshan, a claim Hrithik quickly dismissed.
Following Farhan's complaint, the FWICE issued three formal notices to Ranveer Singh, which allegedly received no response. As a result, the federation issued a non-cooperation directive. FWICE Chief Advisor and IFTDA President Ashoke Pandit recently clarified that the action is a "temporary non-cooperation directive" rather than a ban. "We are not the court; we can't ban people," Ashoke Pandit explained, noting that members across 30 crafts will simply refuse to work with the actor until the dispute is resolved. He emphasized that the trade union views abrupt exits as a "very wrong trend" that needs to be curbed.
In response, Ranveer’s spokesperson stated that the actor holds the film fraternity and the ‘Don’ franchise in the highest regard but has "consciously chosen to maintain silence, believing that professional discussions and personal equations are best handled with dignity, maturity and mutual respect." Ranveer's representatives also argued that the FWICE does not have jurisdiction over the matter. The clash is now heading toward a legal showdown, with Ranveer Singh suing the film workers' body over the non-cooperation action. Furthermore, veteran producer TP Aggarwal has filed a petition challenging the FWICE directive in court.
Meanwhile, Kangana is gearing up for the release of ‘Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata’. Co-produced by Jayantilal Gada and Kangana under Pen Studios and Manikarnika Films, the movie is based on the harrowing 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. The plot highlights the immense bravery of nurses who saved over 400 lives by keeping treatments and surgeries running at Cama Hospital. The film is slated to hit theatres on June 12.
