'Kudos To Him': Poonam Dhillon Defends Ranveer Singh Over Don 3 Exit Controversy

One of Bollywood's biggest controversies erupted after Ranveer Singh abruptly exited Don 3. Now, fresh details continue to emerge about what may have led the actor to walk away from the highly anticipated franchise film.

Just weeks before overseas shooting was scheduled to begin, Ranveer reportedly withdrew from the project. Producers Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani's Excel Entertainment scrambled after extensive pre-production work had already been completed. The move eventually escalated into an industry-wide dispute, with the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) issuing a non-cooperation directive against the actor before later revoking it.

What Led To Ranveer Singh's Exit From Don 3?

Multiple factors reportedly contributed to Ranveer's decision, according to various industry sources. These included concerns regarding the budget, changes to his remuneration package, dissatisfaction with the final script, and a lack of stable creative collaboration during the film's development phase.

The actor is also believed to have offered compensation to the makers after exiting the project. Reports suggest Ranveer proposed a settlement of ₹10 crore. However, the producers sought a significantly higher amount to cover expenses incurred during pre-production.

Poonam Dhillon's Reaction To Ranveer Offering Compensation

Amid the controversy, veteran actor and Cine & TV Artists Association (CINTAA) president Poonam Dhillon has come out in support of Ranveer. She argued that actors should not be criticised for stepping away from projects they are no longer comfortable with.

"I am sure he would be a fair person, and if he feels that he is, he is not the kind of person who will deliberately harm or hurt anybody and he has an excellent relationship with Excel. Yeah, he's given two big hits with them," Poonam Dhillon told Free Press Journal.

She further added, "So, if there was any reason that he is not comfortable doing this film, could be for various reasons. And kudos to him that he offered compensation for losses incurred and paid back the signing amount. Many don't even do that."

Poonam also defended actors' involvement in creative decisions. She stated that actors have every right to raise concerns if they are unconvinced by a project's direction.

"They have a say in a script because they are going to be the one who will be projected there. They will get the brick bats in the end if the film is not appreciated.

So, you know they are today actively involved in a very positive way. I would say it should be in a positive way towards the betterment of a project."

Poonam's Opinion On Actors Abruptly Exiting Projects

She acknowledged that last-minute exits can create difficulties for producers. However, Poonam argued that such situations are not uncommon in the film industry.

According to her, this usually happens when actors commit to projects before fully understanding the final script or creative vision.

"The only difference is what I feel is it should be done at the earlier stage. You know what happens is in friendship, they may just accept a project. But you don't know what is going to come out of it, right? You don't know what it entails, what the details of the script are, and the story. So, sometimes I feel that can cause problem because you've committed morally, but emotionally and practically you see that the project is not something which you are comfortable about," she said.

FWICE Did Not Consult CINTAA Before Issuing a Directive Against the Actor

Poonam further criticised FWICE's initial action against the actor. She revealed that CINTAA was not consulted before the directive was announced.

"We will fight for our actors when they have been wronged. For us this came as a bolt from the blue. It was like a third party came in and declared a war. So, we were shocked and I think that has only messed up things a little bit," she said.

The controversy appears to have cooled down, as FWICE withdrew its directive following requests from affiliated industry bodies, including CINTAA and IMPPA. The federation has also urged all stakeholders to resolve the matter amicably.