Mumbai, May 26: Filmmaker Sanjay Gupta has voiced his concerns regarding the recent ban imposed on actor Ranveer Singh. Through a social media post, Gupta expressed that banning a major actor impacts not only the individual but also the livelihoods of hundreds of workers in the film industry.
The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) issued a non-cooperation directive against Singh after producers Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani complained. They claimed that Singh’s abrupt departure from the film “Don 3” caused them significant financial losses, estimated at around ₹45 crore.
Gupta took to the platform X to share his perspective, stating, “When an A-list actor is on set, approximately 300 people are employed. This includes spot boys, lightmen, camera crews, makeup artists, costume staff, and many others. If an actor is banned, it doesn’t just halt their work; it affects the livelihoods of those hundreds who depend on the film industry.”
In his post, Gupta further commented, “Preventing a major artist from working may not impact them entirely, but the crew members who work alongside them could find themselves unemployed. What is the point of such decisions?”
Regarding the controversy, FWICE’s chief advisor Ashok Pandit explained that Singh decided to leave the film just three weeks before shooting was set to begin. By that time, nearly all preparations were complete, including location scouting, hotel bookings, and securing shooting permits.
Pandit added, “A significant amount of money had already been spent on this large-scale film. Ranveer’s sudden withdrawal led to financial losses for the producers, affecting the entire team. The federation attempted to communicate with Singh multiple times, but received no response. Consequently, this decision was made.”
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