Ranveer Singh’s team reacts to FWICE ban over Don 3 controversy: “He has consciously chosen to maintain silence”

Actor Ranveer Singh has finally reacted to the ongoing controversy surrounding his reported exit from Don 3 after the Federation of Western India Cine Employees announced a non-cooperative directive against him. The actor’s official spokesperson released a statement addressing the situation and clarified Ranveer’s stance amid the growing debate online.

On May 25, 2026, during a press conference, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees, widely known as FWICE, revealed that members of the federation would not cooperate with Ranveer Singh until the Don 3 matter is resolved. The development sparked strong reactions across social media, with many fans expressing disappointment over the decision.

The controversy began after reports claimed that Ranveer Singh had opted out of Don 3 just weeks before the film was scheduled to begin shooting. The actor was announced as the new lead of the franchise in 2023, taking forward the popular action series backed by Excel Entertainment and helmed by Farhan Akhtar.

According to reports, producers Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani later filed an official complaint with industry bodies regarding the issue, which eventually led to FWICE’s action against the actor.

FWICE issues Non-Cooperation Directive against Actor Ranveer singh The letter reads, "...The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has taken serious cognisance of the complaint forwarded to it by the Indian Film & Television Directors' Association (IFTDA) concerning… pic.twitter.com/bX6fWAgxdA

— ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2026

Now, Ranveer Singh’s official spokesperson has issued a detailed statement, emphasising that the actor has deliberately maintained silence throughout the controversy out of respect for the people associated with the franchise.

The statement read, “Ranveer Singh holds the highest regard for the film fraternity and for 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 spokesperson further stated that despite multiple narratives and speculations circulating publicly, Ranveer Singh did not feel the need to engage in public arguments or clarify every rumour.

“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,” the statement added.

The actor’s team also stressed that Ranveer continues to respect everyone involved in the Don franchise and wishes the film success in the future.

“He continues to hold deep respect and goodwill for all those involved and sincerely wishes the franchise continued 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.

The statement has now intensified discussions around the Don 3 controversy, with fans divided over the situation. While some have appreciated Ranveer Singh’s decision to remain silent and dignified, others continue to speculate about what may have led to the fallout between the actor and the makers.

As of now, neither Farhan Akhtar nor Excel Entertainment has issued any fresh statement regarding the matter.

Also Read: BREAKING: Ashoke Pandit CONFIRMS, “Farhan Akhtar has asked for Rs. 45 crores from Ranveer Singh after his walkout”; FWICE issues non-cooperative directive against the actor

Meenakshi Seshadri returns to Mumbai after 30 years, speaks on acting comeback struggles: “I'm managing this journey on my own, without any agency”

Veteran actor Meenakshi Seshadri has revealed that she has officially relocated back to India after spending nearly three decades abroad. The actor, who stepped away from Bollywood at the peak of her career in the late 1990s, shared that she is now looking forward to restarting her journey in the entertainment industry with fresh opportunities in films and OTT platforms.

Meenakshi’s decision to leave the film industry after marriage has remained one of Bollywood’s most discussed exits over the years. In 1995, the actor married investment banker Harish Mysore and moved to the United States, gradually distancing herself from the Hindi film industry despite being one of its leading stars at the time.

On May 25, 2026, Meenakshi shared a heartfelt two-minute-long video on social media, where she opened up about returning to Mumbai and trying to find meaningful acting opportunities once again.

In the video, she said, “A warm Namaste to my growing family of Instagram followers. Today I want to sincerely thank each one of you for your love, encouragement and constant support. After 30 long years, I have relocated back to my Karmabhoomi, Mumbai, India and have stepped once again into the entertainment industry with hope, passion and positivity.”

The actor further shared that she is open to all kinds of roles, as long as they allow her to perform meaningful characters. “I'm really looking forward to meaningful opportunities, whether it's a lead role, supporting character or even a short show. And it doesn't matter as long as it's an impactful performance. It could be films or OTT shows,” she said. Speaking about the kind of work she wishes to pursue, Meenakshi added, “I want to explore roles that challenge me as an artist and help me discover new dimensions of my craft.”

The actor also candidly admitted that while several offers came her way after her return, many projects failed to excite her creatively. “You know, many offers did come my way, but some weren't exciting enough and some simply didn't materialise,” she revealed.

Meenakshi further shared that she is currently managing her comeback independently, without the support of any talent agency. “But I'm managing this journey on my own, without any agency. And your support means everything to me during this phase,” she stated.

Although she has now shifted base to India, the actor clarified that she continues to spend time with her family in the United States. Her post caption also mentioned that she was currently in Boston celebrating her son’s graduation from Harvard University.

 

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The caption read, “Dear friends this is a message to you all from Boston USA. I am here to celebrate my son’s graduation from Harvard University. And spend a fun summer with my family. I want to share that after my relocation to INDIA I have been working towards more opportunities in the entertainment industry. While there have been offers, they were either not exciting enough or just didn’t work out.”

Meenakshi concluded her message by saying that she is not trying to prove anything to anyone and simply wants to do work that genuinely makes her happy. Her return has already sparked excitement among fans, many of whom are hopeful about seeing the veteran actor back on screen after such a long gap.

Also Read: Meenakshi Seshadri recalls her kissing scene with Anil Kapoor; says, “I could do it because of Yashji and Anil”

Brown teaser out: Karisma Kapoor plays a troubled Kolkata cop in Abhinay Deo's neo-noir thriller, watch

Breaking away from decades of polished on-screen glamour, Bollywood icon Karisma Kapoor is steering her career into highly intense, uncharted territory. Streaming giant ZEE5 has officially unveiled the teaser for its upcoming web series Brown, offering audiences a striking first look at the actress in what is tracking to be her most transformative avatar to date.

Set against a haunting, morally fractured backdrop of Kolkata, Brown is a neo-noir psychological crime thriller that extends far beyond a conventional murder mystery. The teaser introduces Karisma stepping into the boots of Rita Brown, a fiercely resilient officer in the Kolkata Police Force. The gritty visuals and deeply emotionally charged atmosphere immediately set a dark tone, establishing the series as a deeply layered psychological portrait. Dropping her familiar, expressive style for a rugged, stripped-down look, Karisma's first glimpse promises a fearless, unfiltered performance.

As one of the few leading ladies from the '90s who continues to connect effortlessly across generations, Karisma Kapoor has consistently adapted to changing digital storytelling formats. Brown marks one of the boldest narrative shifts of her career as she embraces contemporary character complexities on OTT platforms. Portraying an emotionally fractured officer battling deep-seated personal demons while investigating disturbing metropolitan crimes, the actress takes a dramatic leap into pitch-black storytelling territory.

 

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The series is helmed by director Abhinay Deo, who mounts a suspenseful, hard-boiled atmosphere to complement Karisma's rugged and resilient performance. If the first snippet is any indication, Brown is gearing up to be a definitive milestone in the actress's digital filmography, presenting her in an avatar unlike anything she has attempted before.

Also Read: Akshay Kumar, Karisma Kapoor and other stars from Sony TV share heartfelt messages on Maharashtra Day 2026

Kangana Ranaut defends Aishwarya Rai Bachchan amid Cannes criticism: “She is not here to please you”

Actor Kangana Ranaut has come out in support of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan after the latter faced criticism on social media over her appearance at the Cannes Film Festival 2026. Responding to the online discourse surrounding Aishwarya’s fashion choices, Kangana shared a strongly worded note defending the actor and speaking about individuality, self-expression, and the scrutiny faced by women in the public eye.

Taking to her Instagram Stories, Kangana posted a photo from Aishwarya’s first Cannes red carpet appearance this year, where the actor was seen wearing a striking blue gown. Sharing her thoughts on the criticism, Kangana wrote, “Fashion and style is a self expression, it is one's own interpretation of life and their attitude, no woman owes anything to anyone, Ash looks great!!”

The actor further criticised those judging Aishwarya’s appearance and questioned the unrealistic standards often imposed on women, especially senior actresses. “Those of you who want to see her any other way, why don't you show what you got?? She is not here to please you, she is glorious,” Kangana added.

Addressing conversations around ageism and representation on international red carpets, Kangana also wrote, “if you are not used to seeing older women on red carpets, get used to them now. Thanks.”

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan made her 24th appearance at the Cannes Film Festival this year, continuing her long-standing association with the prestigious global event as the brand ambassador for L'Oréal Paris. Joining her at Cannes was daughter Aaradhya Bachchan, who also made an official appearance alongside her mother at the Lights on Women’s Worth Gala dinner hosted during the festival.

Interestingly, Aishwarya was not the only Bollywood celebrity to face online criticism over fashion choices during Cannes this year. Actor Alia Bhatt, who was also a part of L’Oreal, too found herself at the centre of social media discussions regarding her outfits and overall styling during her appearances at the festival. Several actors, filmmakers, and fans had also stepped forward in support of Alia, highlighting the growing conversations around trolling, unrealistic beauty standards, and personal expression in fashion.

Kangana’s statement has since garnered attention online, with many social media users appreciating her for standing in solidarity with Aishwarya and speaking against age-based criticism directed at women in entertainment and fashion spaces.

Also Read: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan impresses fashion police with more Cannes looks: From ethereal feather glam to avant-garde floral drama

FACT CHECK: Paresh Rawal has NOT quit Hera Pheri 3 again; old Bollywood Hungama report from 2025 gets picked up as fresh news

Exactly a year ago, Bollywood Hungama reported what was probably one of the biggest newsbreaks of 2025 – Paresh Rawal had quit Hera Pheri 3. It shocked the trade, the industry, fans and even the team of the film. A few days after this news broke, Akshay Kumar’s Cape of Good Films, the producer of Hera Pheri 3, sued Paresh Rawal for Rs. 25 crores. A couple of days later, Bollywood Hungama published another report stating that Paresh Rawal had returned the signing amount of Rs. 11 lakhs with 15% p.a. interest, along with some additional money for stepping away from the series. A few weeks later, Paresh Rawal and Akshay Kumar resolved the matter, and the former returned to the franchise. The issue was put to rest and had even become history. But now, amusingly, it is back in the news.

On Saturday, reports started coming in that Paresh Rawal has once again quit Hera Pheri 3. Interestingly, these reports carried the same information that Bollywood Hungama had published exactly a year ago – that Paresh Rawal had returned the signing amount with 15% interest and additional compensation for walking out of the film. CLICK HERE TO READ THE NEWS

Back then, Bollywood Hungama had also reported further details about the development – that the actor was being paid Rs. 15 crores for the film, had received Rs. 11 lakhs as the signing amount and was to receive the balance Rs. 14.89 crores a month after the film’s release. A source had told us then, “The senior actor had reservations about this clause. Also, the film’s principal shoot was to commence sometime next year. This means that Hera Pheri 3 was unlikely to be released before late 2026 or in the year 2027. In short, Paresh would have had to wait for nearly two years to get the rest of his acting fees.”

The same information has now been picked up by certain news outlets, and the source of the information has been attributed to Bollywood Hungama. However, what they forgot to inform readers was that Bollywood Hungama had published this report on May 23, 2025, while these outlets wrote about it exactly a year later, on May 23, 2026!

Another amusing aspect is that the articles mention that Paresh Rawal would have to wait two years to get his acting fees if Hera Pheri 3 is released in late 2026 or 2027. But we are now in 2026. Hence, if the news was actually fresh, he would have to wait just six months or less than a year to receive Rs. 14.89 crores. This itself proves that the information being circulated is a year old.

As expected, the report has spread like wildfire on the internet and has panicked fans. However, they need not worry. Whenever Hera Pheri 3 is made, everyone’s favourite Baburao Ganpatrao Apte will definitely be there to entertain them.

Also Read: Akshay Kumar recreates his iconic Phir Hera Pheri pose; flaunts ‘side wala swag’

David Dhawan admits he made Chashme Baddoor in ANGER: “I was not getting stars. They didn’t reject the film but they were hesitating”

The David Dhawan Film Festival is going on in PVR and to celebrate the legendary director, the multiplex chain organized a fireside chat. It involved David Dhawan talking about his life and films with his son, Varun Dhawan. Incidentally, both are also gearing up for the release of Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai. The comic caper will arrive in cinemas on June 5. Towards the end of the event, David Dhawan opened up about the hardships he faced and how actors sometimes declined to work with him.

David Dhawan said, “If a director’s film doesn’t work, toh actor usko dekh ke kahin aur muud jaayega. Actor ki jaat hi aisi hoti hai! Actor kisi ka saga nahin hai.” Varun was amused and also awkward, as he’s an actor. It also raised laughs.

David continued, “But there’s one actor I worked with who never bothered ki iski film chali ya nahin. That actor is Govinda. I remember once when my film didn’t work, I was upset. He told me, ‘Tu script likh na’! Then I wrote Shola Aur Shabnam (1992).”

Varun asked him, “Was there a time when you were not getting stars?” He replied, “Yes, I made Chashme Baddoor (2013). Bahut gusse mein banayi thi maine. Chintu ji (Rishi Kapoor) was there in the film as well. He told me, ‘I don’t have a role’. I replied, ‘Aap karo, yaar’! He did it for me (smiles).”

Varun then asked, “Did you face rejection from some actors?” David explained, “No, but I could feel it. They were hesitating. I wanted to get out of that rut of stars, which was difficult. When one is able to write a good script and get good songs, then that person can make a film with newcomers.”

Chashme Baddoor starred Ali Zafar, Divyenndu and Siddharth. It marked the debut of Taapsee Pannu in Hind cinema.

Akshay Kumar teams up with Vipul Shah for alien action thriller Samuk; Hollywood creature and action experts join project

Actor Akshay Kumar is set to headline a new large-scale sci-fi action thriller titled Samuk, directed by Kanishk Varma and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah. Positioned as an ambitious alien survival thriller, the film is currently in development and is expected to go on floors soon.

The project marks Akshay Kumar’s return to a full-scale action role and will reportedly combine elements of survival horror, military realism, and alien thriller storytelling. The makers are also bringing together an international technical team with experience across several Hollywood franchise films. Speaking about the project, producer Vipul Shah said, “We always try to challenge ourselves with different genres, and Samuk is something Indian cinema hasn’t attempted before. Our aim is to create a world-class alien thriller for audiences.”

Director Kanishk Varma, known for projects such as Sanak and Inside Edge, revealed that the idea for the film emerged from his interest in survival thrillers and elite security force worlds. “Samuk was born from my love for the SPG world and survival thrillers like Alien and Predator. Bringing those influences together with Akshay sir has been surreal,” he said. The filmmaker also emphasised the use of practical effects over fully CGI-driven visuals. “I always wanted the creature to feel physically real on set. That old-school tactile horror is what made films like Alien timeless,” he added.

Joining the project is acclaimed Hollywood creature effects designer Alec Gillis, whose filmography includes work on the Alien and Predator franchises, along with films such as Starship Troopers, It, and Tremors. Gillis, who previously worked under legendary filmmaker Stan Winston, described the collaboration as creatively exciting.

“Working with Kanishk has been fantastic because he genuinely loves practical creature filmmaking. Our goal is to create an alien predator unlike anything audiences have seen before,” Gillis said. He further added, “Together Kanishk and I designed the title character, which is truly a unique alien horror. In an era of CGI and AI, it is gratifying that directors and audiences still value handcrafted, human-made traditional monsters.”

Praising Akshay Kumar’s screen presence, Gillis said, “He has the physicality of Jason Statham and the likeability of Tom Cruise. The challenge is creating a monster worthy of facing him. My goal is to create an alien nemesis in Samuk whose energy and screen charisma equal Mr. Kumar's. Defeating this new classic movie monster will not be an easy task, even for him.”

The action sequences for the film will be overseen by British stunt coordinator Luke Tumber, whose credits include the Mission: Impossible films, Star Wars, No Time To Die, and the Venom franchise. Speaking about the collaboration, Tumber said, “Kanishk has a very clear vision for the action, and Vipul Shah wants the scale to feel truly Hollywood-level. Working with Akshay Kumar on this kind of grounded, high-intensity action film is incredibly exciting.”

He added, “This project represents an exciting fusion of international stunt expeakshay kumarrtise, visionary filmmaking, and authentic action cinema, and I'm proud to be part of bringing that vision to life. Together, we aim to deliver a film that combines powerful storytelling with cutting-edge live-action sequences that will resonate with audiences internationally.”

Akshay Kumar also confirmed his involvement in the project, saying, “Yes, I've signed this film. I found the script and subject of Samuk fascinating. Alien thriller is a totally new genre for me and also for our films. I am very excited about it.”

Co-produced by Aashin A Shah, Samuk is being developed as a pan-Indian theatrical project with a planned 2027 release window.

Also Read: Akshay Kumar to make Bhojpuri debut? Actor collaborates with Akshara Singh for music video; deets inside!