Ranveer Singh’s Don 3 row is 'strange’, says CINTAA president Poonam Dhillon: ‘We could have mediated’

The controversy around Don 3 has now pulled another film body into the conversation. A day after the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) issued a non-cooperation directive against Ranveer Singh over the ongoing dispute surrounding the film, Cine and TV Artistes’ Association (CINTAA) president Poonam Dhillon said the association was never consulted by either side.

Speaking to Variety India, Poonam expressed surprise that neither the actor nor the producers chose to involve CINTAA despite the matter escalating publicly. She said the association could have stepped in to mediate had it been approached earlier.

“It’s a very strange situation to be in because it’s one of our members, but neither the artist nor the producer or the Federation informed us or took us into confidence. We could have tried to resolve the issue. That is what our association is there for — to resolve such issues or disputes or any kind of problems that arise between an actor and a producer,” she said.

Poonam also maintained that she could not take sides without knowing the full details of the dispute. At the same time, she admitted feeling disappointed that CINTAA had been left out entirely, especially since Ranveer is a member of the association.

“Ranveer, being a part of CINTAA, could have involved us and approached us so we could have tried to resolve the issue in a more amicable way. I would like every actor to honour their commitments in the best possible way. If there are any issues, they should handle them and, if needed, approach the association so we can resolve them together. Because the fact is that we don’t really know much. So I cannot say whether he is wrong or they are wrong. I simply don’t know,” she added.

How the dispute reached this point

The current controversy traces back to 2023, when Farhan Akhtar announced Ranveer Singh as the lead of Don 3. However, reports of tension between Ranveer and Excel Entertainment headed by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani began surfacing later, particularly after speculation that the actor exited the project following the success of Dhurandhar, directed by Aditya Dhar.

By December 2025, industry chatter had intensified around creative and professional disagreements linked to the project.

Matters escalated further last month when Farhan Akhtar reportedly approached FWICE, claiming Ranveer’s exit had led to financial losses of nearly Rs 45 crore. According to FWICE, the complaint was initially filed with IFTDA on April 11, 2026, before being referred to the federation for further action.

FWICE said it conducted meetings with all concerned parties before taking action, noting that producers had invested approximately Rs 45 crore into the film’s pre-production phase and argued that losing a lead actor at such an advanced stage could significantly impact both finances and execution.

Later on Monday, Ranveer’s spokesperson, said the actor believes such disputes should be handled with “dignity, maturity, and mutual respect.”

The statement emphasised that he holds the 'highest' regard for the film fraternity, and everyone associated with the Don franchise. “Throughout the recent developments surrounding Don 3, he has consciously chosen to maintain silence, believing that professional discussions and personal equations are best handled with dignity, maturity and mutual respect.”

The statement further added, “While several narratives and speculations have surfaced over time, Ranveer has never considered it necessary to respond publicly or contribute to conjecture. His focus remains firmly on his work and the commitments ahead.”

His team also reiterated that the actor has “deep respect and goodwill” for all those connected to the project, while expressing hope that the franchise continues to enjoy success. “Choosing restraint and grace in moments like these has always been a conscious decision on his part, and he will continue to maintain the same stance,” the spokesperson concluded.

Ranveer hasn't commented personally on the matter as yet.