‘The critics will hire the underworld to get me’ — Ram Gopal Verma
He lives in the eye of the storm.
Ram Gopal Varma is used to kicking up controversy but that’s never stopped him from making films with daring subjects. Here’s what he talked about:
And speaking about originality, lets get to the topic that everyone originally started reading this interview to get to — Sholay.
It’s a great story. It’s about an encounter cop, with his family killed by a gangster. He wants revenge but he can’t get it from the police force, and so he gets two small time criminals to take care of his vendetta. It’s set in Mumbai, now.
And is it treated in the same genre as the old film?
I’ve been very true to the spirit of Sholay. It is an adaptation but I have always found the story very dark and so this is a very, very dark film. And it’s all about striking the balance. I just want people to walk in thinking about the old classic and then hopefully my film will make them see it afresh.
Another Amitabh adaptation that didn’t do too well was Don. What did you think of that one?
I liked the idea of parts of that film, on paper. I liked the idea of SRK in that genre, playing an action hero/villain instead of continuing with the candyfloss romances. I didn’t like the film.
After Shiva, how badly do reviews affect you?
You must never take it personally. I feel the whole world is running on bitchiness. And that includes you and me. If I want to read a review today, I won’t go and click on the review that says ‘great film,’ I’ll find the reviewer who’s hated the film. And I’ll enjoy reading that no-star review because the reviewer is sarcastic and mean and kills the film.
I understand that logic, and so why should that rule not apply to my films? I read the reviews, but never take them personally.
Even with something as scathing as Shiva? And aren’t you worried about Sholay?
I think the best thing that could happen to Sholay was Shiva being such a bomb.
I think the critics just exhausted every negative they could use for that movie, and they have nothing left. I think for Sholay they will just hire the underworld to kill me, instead of wasting words.
On Friday the film will release, on Sunday the papers will say ‘Ram Gopal Varma found dead.’ (Laughs)