Ram Gopal Varma Faces Backlash Over Unpaid Dues to Technicians

In a recent controversy, FWICE Chief Advisor Ashoke Pandit has publicly addressed filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma's outstanding payments to technicians, revealing that he owes over 1 crore for his film 'Officer'. This situation escalated after Varma criticized FWICE on social media, calling it a 'kangaroo court'. The ongoing dispute has drawn significant attention, involving various industry figures and raising questions about accountability in Bollywood. As the situation unfolds, many are eager to see how it will impact Varma's reputation and future projects.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 3, 2026, 15:44 IST

FWICE Responds to Ram Gopal Varma's Controversial Remarks

Mumbai: The Chief Advisor of FWICE, Ashoke Pandit, has responded sharply to filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma's suggestion that the organization should be banned.

Pandit revealed that Varma owes over 1 crore to technicians for his film Officer.

During a press briefing on Wednesday, he stated, "In a democratic society, everyone has the right to express their views. However, we want to inform everyone that Ram Gopal Varma has outstanding payments exceeding 1 crore and 25 lakhs owed to technicians and workers."

He emphasized that this disclosure is not an act of vengeance against the creator of 'Satya', but rather a reminder of his obligations.

Pandit explained that the issue has persisted since 2017 when Varma produced the Telugu film Officer. The Federation has been attempting to resolve the situation, but in 2019, Varma requested an extension for the overdue payments.

He proceeded to read a letter from Varma to the Federation, which stated, "We have produced a film titled Officer, and there are pending payments to be settled with the federation, associate members, and other vendors. We acknowledge that these payments have been overdue for 20 months and are fully aware of our responsibilities. We request a final deadline of March 4, 2019, to clear all outstanding dues."

Despite the time elapsed, Pandit noted that the payments have yet to be made, and he called for an apology from Varma.

On May 29, Varma had criticized FWICE on social media, labeling it a 'kangaroo court' after the organization imposed a non-Cooperation Directive against Ranveer Singh following his departure from Don 3.

In his post, Varma stated, "FWICE is not a legitimate court nor a government-sanctioned body; it operates like a kangaroo court, pretending to deliver justice while ignoring established legal protocols and fairness."

BAN “FWICE” and not @RanveerOfficial

The so-called “BAN” or non-cooperation in the style of Gandhiji will eventually become a BIG FAT JOKE on FWICE

This isn’t industry or worker protection, like they are claiming. It is just a pure performative muscle flexing, by an…

— Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) May 29, 2026

FWICE decided to lift the ban on Wednesday after the actor sent a legal notice to the organization.

What began as a dispute between Ranveer Singh and Farhan Akhtar has now drawn in FWICE, Ram Gopal Varma, and numerous others from the film industry.