B N Tiwari, the President of FWICE said that Ram Gopal Varma who owed money to the technicians and to the daily wage workers for three projects was pending despite his Sarkar 3 released in 2017, Officer in 2018 were released. Ram Gopal Varma had had written a letter to FWICE stating and assuring that all dues would be cleared at the earliest and that he be allowed to continue with his work. BN Tiwari stated, FWICE kept following with him but Varma has been avoiding the issue. When the Federation learnt that he was once again preparing to shoot his next project and for a month almost they were told the payments would be made shortly and requested not to take any action but again Varma has failed to keep up his word and commitments.  

The FWICE Association eventually had to decide to halt the shoot and demanded the unpaid dues. Ashok Dubey, Honorary General Secretary of FWICE stated the federation had no choice but to stall the shoot as they asked the cameramen, fighters and members of the lighting department, Spot Boys technicians from sound department not to continue with their work until the dues were paid. 

The outstanding amount involved payment to several departments. 

After almost nine years, the workers received the money that was due to them. Ashoke Pandit, FWICE Chief Advisor of the Indian Film & Television Directors Association (IFTDA) adds it was high time producers of films recognize that technicians and daily wage workers contribute in a big way towards completing a film and they have responsibilities and families to take care of.  He further stated that we FWICE did not want to stop Ram Gopal Varma’s Shoot or had any intention to cause difficulties as they are aware producers also suffer with the result. However, this is more of a warning that they will continue to seek action when payments are withheld.   

There is no response from Ram Gopal Varma on this issue. It didn’t go too well with the filmmaker and he took to social media to criticize the federation over its stringent directives concerning Ranveer Singh’s Don 3 FWICE hit back at Ram Gopal Varma the filmmaker while they raised questions on his remarks and the credibility over this issue. 

Rs. 1 crore was unpaid to technician and daily wage workers since 2017 which included officers who worked in 2018. In 2019, Ram Gopal Varma had assured the dues would be cleared but he failed to keep up to commitment to clear the unpaid outstanding. Ashoke Pandit also defended the directive and orders by FWICE’s role in protecting the interests of the technicians and workers and that it was the duty of the Federation to take the responsibility and intervene in such cases where payments are withheld.