Don 3 row: CINTAA President Poonam Dhillon praises Ranveer for offering Rs 10 crore
Poonam Dhillon has defended Ranveer Singh over his exit from Don 3 and praised his offer to compensate the makers. The CINTAA president also said that lead actors have every right to weigh in on scripts and casting decisions.
Poonam Dhillon, president of the Cine and TV Artistes' Association (CINTAA), has spoken out in support of Ranveer Singh. Her remarks come amid discussions over the actor's exit from Farhan Akhtar's Don 3 and the subsequent FWICE directive. CINTAA had stood by the actor when FWICE issued a non-cooperation order against him, and Dhillon has now praised what she described as his professional approach.
In an interview with Free Press Journal, Dhillon said Singh was justified in offering Rs 10 crore in compensation and issuing an apology after leaving the project. She also backed the broader right of actors to have a say in creative decisions, arguing that lead actors are entitled to be involved in script and casting discussions as they ultimately bear the brunt of the audience's response if a film fails to connect.
Asked about the Dhurandhar: The Revenge actor's reported offer of compensation following his exit, Dhillon said, "Now, see, the details of that we don't know, but we know that 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. 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," she added.
Ranveer had earlier decided to return his reported Rs 10 crore signing amount for the film, which is being helmed by Farhan Akhtar under Excel Entertainment.
What is the Don 3 dispute about?
The controversy began after reports suggested that Ranveer Singh had exited Don 3, with Excel Entertainment allegedly seeking compensation for pre-production expenses. The development led FWICE to issue a non-cooperation directive against the actor.
However, the directive was withdrawn within a week. Dhillon said she had offered assistance through CINTAA but was informed that the matter was already being addressed. With the family reportedly in touch with Excel Entertainment and the directive now revoked, the dispute appears to be moving towards a resolution.