Ashoke Pandit Clarifies Stance on Ranveer Singh and Ongoing Don 3 Controversy

On June 12, 2026, Ashoke Pandit, the President of the Indian Film and Television Directors' Association (IFTDA) and Chief Advisor for the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), clarified that he has no personal conflict with actor Ranveer Singh. Speaking about the ongoing 'Don 3' controversy within the Hindi film industry, Pandit advised against conflating the success of the movie 'Dhurandhar' with the contract issues surrounding 'Don 3'.

Pandit highlighted the importance of professional loyalty and industry relationships during his discussion. He pointed out that Excel Entertainment had signed Ranveer Singh for 'Don 3' long before the actor's recent resurgence, specifically at a time when four of his previous films had failed to perform at the box office.

According to Pandit, while it is positive that 'Dhurandhar' has succeeded and that Singh is currently operating at a high level, individuals in the industry must remember those who stood by them when their careers were not going well. He emphasized that professional relationships should be maintained even when a career takes an upward turn.

Reflecting on the nature of Bollywood stardom, Pandit remarked that stardom is a relative concept. He cited the historic stardom of actors like Rajesh Khanna, Shah Rukh Khan, and Salman Khan to illustrate his point. Pandit stated that while audience love and celebration are wonderful, commitment and trust remain the essential foundation of the film business.

Pandit also offered strong praise for director Aditya Dhar and his film 'Dhurandhar'. He credited the film with reviving the Hindi film industry, stating that Dhar had "given life back to the industry" and "injected oxygen" into the business. Pandit described 'Dhurandhar' as the kind of film that can genuinely bring audiences back to theatres, noting that the entire industry celebrated its success.

However, Pandit insisted that the success of 'Dhurandhar' and the 'Don 3' dispute must be kept separate, warning that mixing a film's success with a contractual dispute only creates confusion. He emphasized that the industry survives on trust, noting that producers invest crores of rupees and hundreds of technicians commit years of their lives to projects based on commitments.

Pandit concluded by stating that the federation's primary objective is to protect the industry's ecosystem. He asserted that commitments must be honoured by everyone, whether they are the biggest superstar or the smallest technician, reiterating that his only concern is ensuring trust and professionalism remain in the industry.