‘You Talk Nonsense’: Ashoke Pandit slams Kangana Ranaut over her industry ban rant, calls out Ram Gopal Varma for poking into Ranveer Singh’s Don 3 row

Ranveer Singh vs Farhan Akhtar’s controversy surrounding FWICE’s non-cooperation directive against the actor has triggered strong reactions from several industry members, including filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma. After RGV and Kangana Ranaut, FWICE chief advisor Ashoke Pandit has now hit back, accusing Ram Gopal Varma of ignoring his own unresolved issues with the federation. He even called out Kangana for her statements.

Ashoke Pandit expressed surprise over Ram Gopal Varma’s criticism, alleging that the filmmaker still owes money to industry workers and technicians in a case dating back several years.

“Ram Gopal Varma himself has not given ₹1.25 crore to the industry, to our workers and technicians. He says, ‘Ban the federation’. This is a case from 2017. The picture was made, the picture was released, everything happened, but ₹1.25 crore is a very big amount for technicians and workers,” Pandit said during a press interaction.

“If we issue a non-cooperation directive against you, you say it is illegal. You are not giving money. Isn’t that illegal?”, adding that FWICE would continue to respond to those who, according to him, are unfairly attacking the federation without understanding the facts behind the issue.

“Anybody abusing the federation without any reason, we are going to respond,” he says.

Filmmaker and FWICE chief advisor Ashoke Pandit spoke to the media after announcing that the directive against Ranveer Singh had been revoked.

While addressing the media during a press conference, filmmaker and FWICE chief advisor Ashoke Pandit strongly responded to comments made by Kangana. The actor had reacted to the ongoing dispute between Ranveer Singh and the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE).

“A lot of people in the industry have started abusing us. Yesterday, Kangana also said something. They are not understanding the whole issue, and people are just commenting. Kangana also said that even I have been banned by the industry. I said, ‘You talk nonsense, that’s why I banned you.’ I don’t care. There is a big issue in the industry here. You don’t even know the issue. You are just saying things. We are not against Ranveer. We are talking about what has happened,” shared Ashoke Pandit.

He further clarified that FWICE’s stance is not aimed at Ranveer Singh as an individual, but is rooted in concerns over professional accountability and the broader impact such disputes can have on producers, technicians, workers, and others involved in a film’s production. He emphasised that people should first understand the background and circumstances that prompted the federation’s action before forming opinions or reacting publicly to the controversy.

Here’s what Kangana had said

Speaking at an event, Kangana Ranaut appeared to support Ranveer, saying that as a person’s stature grows, so do their enemies.

“I’ve been banned so many times. When a person achieves high status, they attract more enemies. Ranveer Singh should be happy he’s reached a status that has so many enemies now,” said Kangana, when asked about the actor’s ban.

“When you do well, there are obstacles that come in the way. It can’t always be a smooth walk. It’s happened to me as well so many times, but my career is going fine despite them. It doesn’t matter. Everything is going to be fine eventually,” added the actor-politician

About the Don 3 controversy

The controversy stems from Ranveer Singh’s reported exit from Don 3, the latest instalment of the popular franchise produced by Excel Entertainment. According to FWICE, producer-director Farhan Akhtar approached the federation alleging that the actor’s departure caused substantial financial losses after extensive pre-production work had already been completed.

Following the complaint, FWICE issued a non-cooperation directive against Ranveer. The federation has repeatedly clarified that it has not banned the actor and that the move is intended to address concerns around professional commitments and accountability within the film industry.