Actor Manoj Bajpayee has become the first major Bollywood star to publicly react to the Federation of Western India Cine Employees’ (FWICE) non-cooperation directive against Ranveer Singh, expressing hope that the matter will be resolved amicably .
The veteran actor was speaking at the trailer launch of his upcoming film Governor when he was asked about the escalating controversy surrounding Singh’s abrupt exit from Farhan Akhtar’s Don 3 .
‘We don’t have detailed information’
Addressing the issue, Bajpayee candidly admitted that most industry insiders are in the dark about the specifics of the dispute.
“I must tell you one thing that all the people who are in this industry, they are only reading it on social media and we don’t have detailed information about it,” Bajpayee told reporters .
“But all we can say as colleagues or as fellow fraternity members that we hope that the matter is sorted out soon,” he added, striking a conciliatory tone that avoided taking sides .
The actor’s measured response comes at a time when the industry remains sharply divided over FWICE’s action against Singh, with some criticising the federation’s priorities while others have supported the move .
The FWICE directive
FWICE announced the non-cooperation directive on Monday, stating that its more than four lakh members — including cameramen, spot boys, lightmen, and technicians across 38 crafts — will not work with Singh until the dispute over his Don 3 exit is resolved .
Producers Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani of Excel Entertainment filed a complaint alleging that Singh walked out of the film three weeks before shooting was scheduled to commence, causing significant financial disruption .
The producers claim that over Rs 45 crore had already been spent on pre-production, including hotel bookings, overseas travel arrangements, and location recce costs .
Ranveer’s response
FWICE officials stated that three notices were sent to Singh seeking his side of the story, but received no response. The actor later communicated through email that the federation “does not fall into the jurisdiction of this entire issue” .
Following the directive, Singh’s spokesperson issued a statement saying the actor “holds the highest regard for the film fraternity” and has “consciously chosen to maintain silence, believing that professional discussions and personal equations are best handled with dignity, maturity and mutual respect” .
The actor was recently spotted visiting the Chamundeshwari Temple in Mysuru, but has otherwise maintained a low public profile since the controversy erupted .
Industry reaction divided
Bajpayee’s diplomatic response stands in contrast to other industry voices. Film editor Shweta Venkat, known for Gangs of Wasseypur, criticised FWICE for acting swiftly on the Ranveer matter while allegedly ignoring editors’ concerns about pay and working conditions that have been pending since 2023 .
“Maybe we weren’t cool enough. Basically producer ya actor bano,” she wrote sarcastically on Instagram Stories .
Filmmaker Sanjay Gupta also questioned the directive, pointing out that a ban on an A-list actor ultimately harms daily wage workers rather than the star himself. “When an A List Hero shoots there are more than 300 workers working on sets. Ban him and you are not stopping him but depriving the workers of their livelihood,” he wrote on X .
About Governor
Bajpayee was promoting his upcoming film Governor, directed by Vipul Shah, which revolves around India’s 1991 economic crisis. The film features Madhoo Shah in a key role and is scheduled for release later this year .
Speaking about the project, Bajpayee called it a “difficult” film, adding, “With the roles that I choose, there is always a risk of going off, but I try to do justice to the character” .
What lies ahead
The FWICE directive effectively means that any future project involving Ranveer Singh could face operational hurdles, as union members have been instructed to refuse work on his productions .
However, industry experts note that the ban is not absolute — individual producers and banners can still choose to work with the actor, though they may face pressure from the federation .
As Bajpayee aptly noted, most in the industry are watching the developments unfold from the sidelines, hoping for a resolution that avoids prolonged legal battles and protects the interests of all parties involved .
