Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh made his first public appearance late Monday night at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, just hours after a major industry backlash. The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has issued a strict non-cooperation directive against the actor following his abrupt exit from the highly anticipated action franchise, Don 3.
Surrounded by tight security, Singh was seen walking into the airport wearing a white kurta-pyjama, a Nehru jacket, a black face mask, and sunglasses, steering clear of the waiting paparazzi.
The controversy erupted after filmmakers Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani of Excel Entertainment approached the Indian Film & Television Directors’ Association (IFTDA). According to the FWICE, Akhtar lodged a formal complaint on April 11, 2026, stating that Singh’s sudden withdrawal—just days before the scheduled shoot—inflicted a massive financial blow. The production house had already invested approximately Rs 45 crore into the film’s extensive pre-production phase.
In response to the industry boycott, Ranveer Singh’s spokesperson released an official statement defending the actor’s stance. The statement emphasized that Singh holds the highest regard for the film fraternity and has consciously chosen to maintain silence to handle the situation with dignity and mutual respect. It further added that the actor does not wish to contribute to public speculation and remains focused on his upcoming professional commitments.
Don 3 was officially announced in August 2023, with Ranveer Singh set to replace industry veterans Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan in the iconic titular role. With the FWICE ban now in place, the future of the project and Singh’s immediate Bollywood collaborations remain highly uncertain.
