Long before he became one of Bollywood’s most provocative filmmakers, Ram Gopal Varma, who has worked with actors like Aamir Khan in Rangeela and Ajay Devgn in Company, was a child with wildly different dreams. From being fascinated by the "vroom vroom" of auto-rickshaws at 10 to imagining a quiet life in the forest at 15, and eventually pursuing engineering, his journey was anything but linear. In a recent social media post, the director reflected on these phases while revealing what truly pushed him toward cinema and why he now feels the need to reinvent himself completely.
Varma shared that his early ambitions had little to do with filmmaking. As a child, the simple thrill of an engine revving made him want to become an auto-rickshaw driver. A few years later, influenced by a cousin, he fantasised about leaving everything behind to live in a forest. Like many others, he eventually followed a more conventional path and pursued a B.Tech degree. But even that phase did not define him for long, as his interests kept evolving with every new influence he encountered.
Books played a crucial role in shaping his creative instincts. He moved from reading Enid Blyton to becoming engrossed in the gritty storytelling of James Hadley Chase, and later found himself deeply inspired by the works of Frederick Forsyth. Each shift, he explained, redefined his understanding of storytelling and raised his personal benchmarks, pushing him to think differently about narratives and characters.
Movies that influenced his filmmaking
Cinema, however, became his ultimate calling. Over the years, Varma built his filmmaking sensibilities around iconic inspirations. He drew from the musical charm of The Sound of Music for films like Rangeela, explored fear and psychological tension in projects such as Raat and Bhoot, influenced by The Exorcist, and leaned heavily on the crime drama depth of The Godfather while crafting films like Satya, Company, and Sarkar. These influences shaped his identity as a filmmaker and helped him carve a distinct space in the industry.
Now, Varma believes he is at another turning point. In the same post, he spoke about his upcoming project Syndicate, describing it as a story built on a chilling premise where law and order in India collapses within a single day. Instead of relying on supernatural elements, the film aims to explore the terrifying potential of human behaviour, presenting horror rooted in reality. He described Syndicate as a narrative about a powerful and dangerously driven organisation that threatens the very fabric of the country.
RGV about Dhurandhar 2
What has triggered this shift, according to Varma, is his reaction to Dhurandhar 2. The filmmaker expressed that watching the film completely altered his perspective on cinema, making his earlier work feel insignificant in comparison. Where The Godfather once stood as his ultimate benchmark, he now sees Dhurandhar 2 as a film that redefines the genre at every level, from storytelling and character design to performances, background score, and emotional depth.
Varma credited Aditya Dhar as the force behind this shift, stating that adapting to newer cinematic languages is essential for survival in the industry. He suggested that filmmakers must be willing to let go of their past learnings, shed their egos, and reassess their approach if they want to stay relevant. In his view, resisting change after such a transformative cinematic moment would be a grave mistake.
For Varma, this is not just about one film or one project. It is about evolution. From a child chasing the sound of a rickshaw engine to a director constantly redefining his craft, his journey reflects a pattern he believes is universal — the idea that every new experience has the power to reshape who we are and what we create.
RGV's B.Tech degree
Ram Gopal Varma had earlier shared on X that he was thrilled to finally receive his B.Tech degree, 37 years after completing it. He revealed that he never collected it back in 1985 because he had no interest in pursuing civil engineering at the time. He also expressed gratitude to Acharya Nagarjuna University for the long-delayed recognition, marking a full-circle moment in his unconventional journey.
Varma shared that his early ambitions had little to do with filmmaking. As a child, the simple thrill of an engine revving made him want to become an auto-rickshaw driver. A few years later, influenced by a cousin, he fantasised about leaving everything behind to live in a forest. Like many others, he eventually followed a more conventional path and pursued a B.Tech degree. But even that phase did not define him for long, as his interests kept evolving with every new influence he encountered.
Books played a crucial role in shaping his creative instincts. He moved from reading Enid Blyton to becoming engrossed in the gritty storytelling of James Hadley Chase, and later found himself deeply inspired by the works of Frederick Forsyth. Each shift, he explained, redefined his understanding of storytelling and raised his personal benchmarks, pushing him to think differently about narratives and characters.
Movies that influenced his filmmaking
Cinema, however, became his ultimate calling. Over the years, Varma built his filmmaking sensibilities around iconic inspirations. He drew from the musical charm of The Sound of Music for films like Rangeela, explored fear and psychological tension in projects such as Raat and Bhoot, influenced by The Exorcist, and leaned heavily on the crime drama depth of The Godfather while crafting films like Satya, Company, and Sarkar. These influences shaped his identity as a filmmaker and helped him carve a distinct space in the industry.Now, Varma believes he is at another turning point. In the same post, he spoke about his upcoming project Syndicate, describing it as a story built on a chilling premise where law and order in India collapses within a single day. Instead of relying on supernatural elements, the film aims to explore the terrifying potential of human behaviour, presenting horror rooted in reality. He described Syndicate as a narrative about a powerful and dangerously driven organisation that threatens the very fabric of the country.
RGV about Dhurandhar 2
What has triggered this shift, according to Varma, is his reaction to Dhurandhar 2. The filmmaker expressed that watching the film completely altered his perspective on cinema, making his earlier work feel insignificant in comparison. Where The Godfather once stood as his ultimate benchmark, he now sees Dhurandhar 2 as a film that redefines the genre at every level, from storytelling and character design to performances, background score, and emotional depth.Varma credited Aditya Dhar as the force behind this shift, stating that adapting to newer cinematic languages is essential for survival in the industry. He suggested that filmmakers must be willing to let go of their past learnings, shed their egos, and reassess their approach if they want to stay relevant. In his view, resisting change after such a transformative cinematic moment would be a grave mistake.
For Varma, this is not just about one film or one project. It is about evolution. From a child chasing the sound of a rickshaw engine to a director constantly redefining his craft, his journey reflects a pattern he believes is universal — the idea that every new experience has the power to reshape who we are and what we create.
