Producer TP Aggarwal drags FWICE to court over Ranveer Singh's 'Don 3' Row

Bollywood is sharply divided over the ‘Don 3’ controversy between Farhan Akhtar and Ranveer Singh, with both factions receiving notable support within the industry.

In the latest development, veteran producer TP Aggarwal has legally challenged FWICE (Federation of Western India Cine Employees) and IMPPA (Indian Motion Picture Producers' Association) by filing a petition in the Bombay High Court.

Aggarwal argues that these independent organizations do not have the right to enforce bans or non-cooperation orders against industry professionals.

Aggarwal said that no organization has the right to issue bans or directives against industry professionals. The filmmaker hinted that he and fellow filmmaker Vipul A. Shah had previously filed a petition challenging similar actions.

Speaking to India Today, Aggarwal said, “They had no business to do this.” Further, he confirmed that the initial hearing for their petition against FWICE and IMPPA is scheduled for June 2.

“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." TP Aggarwal provided further context on the petition in a statement.

As one of the most senior and influential figures in the Indian film industry, Aggarwal is one of the veterans in the industry and brings immense experience to the situation. His extensive leadership background includes serving as the president of IMPPA for 17 years and being elected president of the Film Federation of India (FFI) four times. Currently, he serves as a Patron for both FFI and IMPPA.

The legal move comes right after FWICE slapped Ranveer Singh with a non-cooperation directive. The tension traces back to a major fallout between the actor and Farhan Akhtar’s Excel Entertainment over Singh's departure from the highly anticipated Don 3.

Before this, filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma (RGV) had also come forward to voice his support and criticize the FWICE. Slamming the FWICE on social media, the Satya filmmaker heavily slammed the federation's newly announced 'ban' against Ranveer. He also argued that the ban is unjustified, emphasising that stars like Ranveer generate significant employment opportunities across the film industry.

Meanwhile, critics and industry insiders are calling the federation’s actions an outdated, performative display of power. They argue that the trade union is operating like a "kangaroo court" rather than a legitimate regulatory body, and the aggressive stance taken against Ranveer Singh by FWICE is seen as a massive PR disaster.

The Don 3 controversy gained momentum after Ranveer Singh's last-minute exit from the project, prompting the makers, Excel Entertainment, led by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani, to raise concerns about substantial financial losses incurred during pre-production. Meanwhile, they approached the Producers Guild of India and sought to mediate the dispute, but nothing has worked in their favour, and no final resolution has been reached.