New Delhi: Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma expressed his support for actor Ranveer Singh following a ban imposed by the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE). In a lengthy post on his X account, Varma criticized the ban, describing it as ineffective and merely performative.
Varma’s statement began by asserting, “Ban FWICE and not Ranveer Singh. The so-called ban or non-cooperation, reminiscent of Gandhian tactics, will ultimately be a farce for FWICE.” He dismissed the organization’s claims of protecting the industry and its workers, labeling them as a desperate attempt by an outdated union to maintain influence. “Whether it claims to represent over 500,000 or 5 million workers, the harsh reality is that many of them are unaware of the internal disputes between the parties involved,” he added.
He further emphasized that the FWICE does not function as a proper legal authority. “FWICE is neither a court of justice nor a government-sanctioned regulatory body; it is essentially a kangaroo court,” Varma remarked. He criticized the group’s processes, suggesting they are predetermined by a specific agenda and led by individuals who may feel threatened by Singh’s success in the film “Dhurandhar.” Varma characterized the situation as a public relations disaster for FWICE, illustrating its desperation and irrelevance.
He also challenged the organization’s claim that workers’ livelihoods depend on any single actor or film project. “It is misleading to suggest that workers’ fates are tied to one actor; that is simply not true,” he stated.
Delving deeper into the dispute, Varma highlighted that the core issue revolves around a producer’s claims of significant pre-production losses, which he described as a private contractual matter. “Such disputes occur across various sectors and should not involve FWICE,” he argued. He posited that the intricacies of the situation should remain between the disputing parties and, if necessary, be resolved in court.
Varma concluded his post by asserting that it is stars like Singh who drive box office revenue and support the livelihoods of FWICE workers. He urged all parties involved to distance themselves from what he deemed a civil matter, stating, “Let’s not meddle in a private dispute between two parties.”
