Before Ranveer Singh, FWICE banned Diljit Dosanjh, Mika, Gauahar Khan. Here's why

Actor Ranveer Singh has been the talking point for Bollywood watchers since Monday, when the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) banned him following a complaint from filmmaker Farhan Akhtar. According to Akhtar, Singh allegedly walked out of his upcoming film, Don 3, days before shooting was to begin, which led to losses. Coming on the heels of Ranveer Singh's blockbuster box office show with the Dhurandhar films, the FWICE action naturally shocked fans. Media and social media alike also raised questions over the legality of the boycott. Many argued, irrespective of whether Singh had erred or not, the FWICE decision of an indefinite ban clearly violates the fundamental right to livelihood. The involvement of a star of Ranveer Singh's stature has brought such a boycott into the limelight, but this is not the first time that FWICE has banned artists. Who did FWICE ban in the past and why? FWICE bans in Bollywood have happened three times in the past, and the reasons have ranged from the concerned artist collaborating with Pakistani nationals and performing in Pakistan to flouting pandemic norms. Read on to know the details. Diljit Dosanjh, banned in 2025 The most recent ban before Ranveer Singh was the one imposed on actor-singer Diljit Dosanjh. The FWICE decision to impose a non-cooperation directive against Dosanjh happened last year when, despite the federation's appeal to all Indian artists against working with Pakistani nationals, Dosanjh's comedy film Sardarji 3 cast Pak actor Hania Aamir as one of the female leads. Besides his starring role, Dosanjh is also credited as a co-producer of the film. Sardarji 3 was not released in India, but it did good business in the rest of the world. The film collected over Rs 70 crore and set a new overseas record for the Punjabi film industry. FWICE, meanwhile, had asked its five lakh-odd members in Mumbai not to be associated with any Diljit Dosanjh project. Notably, the federation also wrote to T-Series, requesting that Dosanjh be dropped from their co-production, Border 2. However, Dosanjh was allowed to continue shooting for the war drama after T-Series chairperson and managing director, Bhushan Kumar, personally intervened. Although FWICE Chief Advisor Ashoke Pandit has said the non-cooperation directive against Dosanjh stands, the actor went ahead and completed Imtiaz Ali’s Main Vaapas Aaunga. The film is scheduled to be released on June 12, 2026. Mika, banned in 2019 Pop star and playback singer Mika Singh was banned by FWICE in 2019. The federation's decision came after Mika performed at a wedding in Karachi, Pakistan. Incidentally, along with the FWICE boycott, Mika's decision to perform for a private gathering in Pakistan also drew a ban from the All India Cine Workers Association (AICWA). The bans were imposed after videos surfaced online showing the singer performing at the event in Pakistan surfaced online. The performance happened in Karachi for a close relative of former Pakistan Prime Minister Pervez Musharraf on August 8 that year. Mika would eventually apologise, claiming the timing of his performance in Pakistan was "coincidental". At a press conference, the singer said: "The timing was wrong that I went there because the decision on Article 370 has just been taken. I called the federation and told them that this was a mistake. I apologise for the mistake and I won't repeat it again. I got a visa, so I went (to Pakistan). If you get a visa, you will go, too," said the singer." The Article 370 reference pertains to the constitutional provision that gave autonomous status to Jammu and Kashmir. Its abrogation by the Government of India happened on August 5, 2019. Mika also met the officials of FWICE to clear the air and his bans would eventually be reversed. In all, the FWICE ban on Mika lasted for a little over a week. Gauahar Khan, banned in 2021 Actor Gauahar Khan was banned by FWICE in May 2021, through a non-cooperation notice issued for her alleged violation of Covid-19 norms. She was given a two-month ban. The FWICE notice followed a police case filed by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) stating a Bollywood actor had flouted Covid-19 guidelines. The BMC release did not name the actor, but a joint statement issued by FWICE president BN Tiwari, general secretary Ashok Dubey and treasurer Gangeshwar Srivastav made it clear who the concerned artist was. "It was a very irresponsible act by Gauahar Khan, she not only risked her life but others who were on the set," the FWICE statement said, according to a Hindustan Times report from May 2021. Reportedly, Khan appeared on a set for a shoot despite testing Covid-19 positive, and being medically advised quarantine. Incidentally, FWICE bans prevent all Pakistani artists from working in India. The federation took the decision in the wake of the Uri attacks of 2016 and the Pahalgam terror strikes in Jammu and Kashmir last year. Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan, Saba Qamar and Mawra Hocane are among Pakistani actors whose Bollywood careers were cut short due to the ban.