Ram Gopal Varma#Film craft and style

Varma was born on 7 April 1962 in a Telugu family to Krishna Raju Varma and Suryavathi. In an interview with Lakshmi Manchu on a talk show, Varma said that he was born in Nampally, Hyderabad. He did his schooling at St. Mary's High School, Secunderabadand completed Intermediate from New Science college Ameerpet Hyderabad. {{cite news |last1=varma |first1=ram gopal |title=Dedicated to my first, memorable crush |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/140309/entertainment-bollywood/article/dedicated-my-first-memorable-crush |work=Deccan Chronicle |date=9 March 2014}} and completed his BE degree in Civil engineering from V.R. Siddhartha Engineering College, Vijayawada. Even during this period, Varma remained a film buff, through his uncle. Varma would skip classes often and watch films instead. He would watch the same film repeatedly "just to watch certain scenes which interested him."{{cite web|last=Basu|first=Arundhati|title=Don of the big screen|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050702/asp/weekend/story_4921623.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051127004822/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050702/asp/weekend/story_4921623.asp |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 November 2005 |work=The Telegraph|location=India|access-date=12 September 2011|date=2 July 2005}} According to him, that is how he learned film direction.

In an interview to Tehelka, Varma talked about his relationship with his parents and the reasons behind his decision to become a filmmaker.

{{blockquote|From my parents' perspective, I looked like a useless bum. It was the truth. I had no objective. I was just fascinated by people, so I used to study their behaviour. I was most fascinated by the bullies in my classroom. They were like gangsters for me. They had the guts to push around people, do things I couldn't— perhaps did not even want to do myself. But I'd want a friend like that (laughs). I used to adulate them like heroes. That was my first touch with anti-socialism. Over a period of time, I developed a low-angle fascination for larger than life people. I was always a loner – not because I was unhappy, but because I live away from myself, not just others. I like to study myself – the way I am walking, talking, behaving. My constant obsession with studying myself and other people is perhaps the primary motivation for me to be a filmmaker.{{cite web|title=I need to change my approach to films|url=http://www.tehelka.com/story_main34.asp?filename=hub150907ramgopalverma.asp |work=Tehelka |access-date=12 September 2011|date=15 September 2007}}}}

After a brief stint as a site engineer for Krishna Oberoi hotel in Hyderabad, he put his dreams on the back burner and decided to go to Nigeria to make some money. It was at this moment that he visited a video rental library in Hyderabad. He loved the idea and decided to start one of his own at Ameerpet in Hyderabad, through which he slowly developed connections with the film world. His father at that time was a long time sound engineer at Annapurna Studios. After working as an assistant director in Collector Gari Abbai and Rao Gari Illu, Akkineni Nageswara Rao gave him the opportunity to direct the 1989 cult blockbuster, Siva, after being impressed by him.{{cite web|url=http://70mmonline.com/WatchMovie.aspx?movieid=3279&movieName=Lakshmi%20Talk%20show%20with%20Ramgopal%20Varma|title=Lakshmi Talk Show with Ram Gopal Varma|website=70mmonline.com|access-date=12 September 2011}}

Rachel Dwyer, a reader in world cinema at the University of London-Department of South Asia, marked Varma's Satya as an experiment with a new genre, a variation of film noir that has been called Mumbai Noir, of which Varma is the acknowledged master.{{cite news

| title = Behind The Scenes

| author = Rachel Dwyer

| work = Outlook Magazine

| date = 30 May 2005

| access-date = 18 August 2010

| url = http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?227527

}} In 2010, Varma received critical acclaim at the Fribourg International Film Festival, Switzerland; a retrospective of his filmography, highlighting Mumbai Noir was staged by film critic Edouard Waintrop, a delegate in the Directors' Fortnight of the Cannes Film Festival.{{cite news|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/edouard-waintrop-on-the-new-indian-cinema/1/189357.html |title=Edouard Waintrop on the New Indian Cinema : UP Front |work=India Today |date=18 May 2012 |access-date=27 September 2012}}{{cite web|author=David|title=The Films of Ram Gopal Varma – An Overview|publisher=Cinema Strikes Back|date=16 June 2006|url=http://www.cinemastrikesback.com/?p=1202|access-date=22 February 2009}} Satya and Company, in particular, were cited by British director Danny Boyle as influences on his Academy Award-winning film Slumdog Millionaire (2008), for their "slick, often mesmerizing portrayals of the Mumbai underworld", their display of "brutality and urban violence", and their gritty realism.{{cite web|author=Amitava Kumar|title=Slumdog Millionaire's Bollywood Ancestors|work=Vanity Fair|date=23 December 2008|url=http://www.vanityfair.com/online/oscars/2008/12/slumdog-millionaires-bollywood-ancestors.html|access-date=4 January 2008}}{{cite web|author=Lisa Tsering|title='Slumdog' Director Boyle Has 'Fingers Crossed' for Oscars|publisher=IndiaWest|date=29 January 2009|url=http://www.indiawest.com/readmore.aspx?id=860&sid=5|access-date=30 January 2009|archive-date=2 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090302235319/http://www.indiawest.com/readmore.aspx?id=860&sid=5|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=DGA nominees borrow from the masters: Directors cite specific influences for their films|author=Anthony Kaufman|work=Variety|date=29 January 2009|url=http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=awardcentral&jump=contenders&id=director&articleid=VR1117999259&cs=1|access-date=30 January 2009}}

In 2005, Varma directed the Godfatheresque-Sarkar, another super-hit thriller inspired by the life of Bal Thackeray and North Indian politics, which was screened to special mention at the New York Asian Film Festival, along with its sequel Sarkar Raj, which premiered at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival and the 9th IIFA World Premiere-Bangkok, and was archived at the Academy of Motion Pictures library.{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-bollywood-biggies-bet-big-on-cannes-1164120|title=Bollywood biggies bet big on Cannes|work=dna}}{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/shropshire/content/articles/2008/05/23/bollywood_news_sarkar_cannes_feature.shtml|title=BBC – Shropshire – Entertainment – Sarkar Raj unveiled at Cannes|publisher=BBC}}{{cite web|title=Sarkar Raj makes it to the Academy of Motion Pictures library |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/box-office-special-features/2008-30-screens-in-u-k/ |website=Bollywood Hungama|access-date=9 August 2011 |date=2 August 2008}}{{cite web|url=http://www.desiblitz.com/content/bangkok-for-2008-iifa-awards|title=Bangkok for 2008 IIFA Awards|work=DESIblitz|date=31 May 2008 }} In 2013, he directed a docudrama, The Attacks of 26/11, showcased to critical acclaim at the Berlin International Film Festival, in the Panorama as well as the Competition section,{{cite web|url=http://www.koimoi.com/reviews/the-attacks-of-2611-review/ |title=The Attacks of 26/11 Movie Review |date=March 2013 |website=Koimoi.com |access-date=6 March 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/the-attacks-of-2611-ram-gopal-varmas-film-gets-selected-for-berlin-film-festival/313098-8-66.html|title='The Attacks of 26/11' selected for Berlin film fest|work=IBNLive|access-date=1 March 2013|archive-date=2 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130102010628/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/the-attacks-of-2611-ram-gopal-varmas-film-gets-selected-for-berlin-film-festival/313098-8-66.html|url-status=dead}} and was premièred at Films Division of India.{{cite news|url=http://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/2012/aug/310812-RGV-to-recreate-Taj-Hotel-for-his-26-11-film.htm |title=RGV to recreate Taj Hotel for his 26/11 film |website=Mid-day.com |date=31 August 2012 |access-date=22 September 2012}}{{cite news |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Bollywood/Advani-praises-RGV-s-The-Attacks-of-26-11-advocates-Parliament-screening/Article1-1018841.aspx |title=Advani praises RGV's The Attacks of 26/11, advocates Parliament screening |newspaper=Hindustan Times |date=2013-02-28 |access-date=2013-03-06 |archive-date=6 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130306133838/http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/bollywood/Advani-praises-RGV-s-The-Attacks-of-26-11-advocates-Parliament-screening/Article1-1018841.aspx |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Bollywood/Critics-review-The-Attacks-of-26-11-find-it-watchable/Article1-1019373.aspx |title=Critics review The Attacks of 26/11, find it watchable |newspaper=Hindustan Times|date=1 March 2013 |access-date=6 March 2013 |archive-date=5 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130305074622/http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Bollywood/Critics-review-The-Attacks-of-26-11-find-it-watchable/Article1-1019373.aspx |url-status=dead }} The film received highly positive reviews, with critics praising Varma's narrative of assistant commissioner N. R. Mahale, and the discrepancies associated with Mahale's interaction with Ajmal Kasab on anti terrorism.{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/report/brilliant-cop-who-first-quizzed-kasab-on-26-11-film/20130304.htm|title=Brilliant: Cop who first quizzed Kasab on 26/11 film|date=4 March 2013|website=Rediff.com}}{{cite news |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/recreating-26-11-massacre-felt-terrifying-rgv-movie-snippets-news-national-mjenkefhida.html |title=Recreating 26/11 massacre felt terrifying: RGV (Movie Snippets) |website=Sify |date=4 September 2012 |access-date=22 September 2012 |archive-date=11 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011025548/http://www.sify.com/movies/recreating-26-11-massacre-felt-terrifying-rgv-movie-snippets-news-national-mjenkefhida.html |url-status=dead }}{{cite news|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/slide-show-1-celeb-tweets-through-the-day/20111213.htm |title=Would you watch RGV's film on 26/11? |website=Rediff.com |date=13 December 2011 |access-date=22 September 2012}}

Varma's philosophy is influenced by Russian-American Novelist Ayn Rand, Philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche and authors like James Hadley Chase and Frederick Forsyth, as well as by Mad magazine.{{Cite web |url=http://www.gunsandthighs.com/#director |title=Guns and Thighs – an Original Series by RGV |access-date=28 May 2017 |archive-date=26 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200526090054/http://www.gunsandthighs.com/#director |url-status=dead }} Varma's first runaway hit in Hindi cinema was Shiva (1990), the remake of his 1989 film Siva.{{cite web|last=Verma|first=Sukanya|title=All you need to know about Company|url=http://www.rediff.com/entertai/2002/apr/11ramu.htm|publisher=Rediff|access-date=12 September 2011}} Varma introduced the steadicam to Indian cinema with Siva.{{cite book|last=Chinnarayana|first=Pulagam|url=http://s1056.photobucket.com/user/PavanJandhyala/library/Siva?sort=3&page=1|title=శివ{{mdash}}సెల్యులాయిడ్ చరిత్రలో సహజావేశం|trans-title=Siva{{mdash}}A natural frustration in the history of celluloid|language=Telugu|date=August 2007|work=Telugu Naadi|location=United States|issn=1559-7008|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160531122221/http://s1056.photobucket.com/user/PavanJandhyala/library/Siva?sort=3&page=1|archive-date=31 May 2016|access-date=9 April 2016}} Later, he garnered attention in Bollywood with the romantic comedy film, Rangeela (1995) starring Aamir Khan.{{cite web|last=Raghavan|first=Nikhil|title=A saga in the making?|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/article820926.ece|work=The Hindu|access-date=12 September 2011|date=9 October 2010}} The film won seven Filmfare Awards.{{cite news|title=Acting! Who me? Never, says Ram Gopal Varma|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/bollywood/acting-who-me-never-says-ram-gopal-varma-70611|publisher=NDTV|access-date=12 September 2011|agency=Indo-Asian News Service|date=5 December 2010}} Rangeela was later remade in Hollywood as Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!.{{cite web|url=https://in.style.yahoo.com/pride-10-bollywood-movies-were-075429409/photo-win-a-date-with-tad-1468225657461.html|title=Take Pride in These 10 Bollywood Movies Which Were Copied By Hollywood|website=In.style.yahoo.com}}

He then directed Satya (1998), which won six Filmfare Awards, including the Critics Award for Best Film, In 2005, Indiatimes Movies included Satya in its list of 25 Must See Bollywood Movies.{{cite web|url=http://movies.indiatimes.com/Special_Features/25_Must_See_Bollywood_Movies/articleshow/msid-1250837,curpg-3.cms|title=Entertainment|work=indiatimes.com|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080610052749/http://movies.indiatimes.com/Special_Features/25_Must_See_Bollywood_Movies/articleshow/msid-1250837,curpg-3.cms|archivedate=10 June 2008}} Satya was showcased among the Indian panorama section, at the 1998 International Film Festival of India,{{cite web|url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/FrmIP1998Award.aspx?PdfName=IP1998.pdf |title=Directorate of Film Festival |website=Iffi.nic.in |access-date=12 July 2012}} Varma received the Bimal Roy memorial award for best direction for this film.{{cite web|url=http://bimalroymemorial.org/default/1999/05/1999-awards/|title=1999 Awards|work=Bimal Roy Memorial}}{{cite news|url=http://www.reachouthyderabad.com/newsmaker/nm150.htm |title=Ram Gopal verma:Sarkar: Yet another fantastic movie from the Stylish Director |website=Reachouthyderabad.com |access-date=27 September 2012}} In the same year, he co-produced Dil Se.., directed by Mani Ratnam, screened at the 1999 Berlin Film Festival, and won the Netpac Award, as well as two National Film Awards and six Filmfare Awards.{{cite web |title=The Winners – 1998 |newspaper=The Times of India |url=http://filmfareawards.indiatimes.com/articleshow/articleshow/articleshow/368679.cms |access-date=12 September 2011 |archive-date=8 July 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708042017/http://filmfareawards.indiatimes.com/articleshow/articleshow/articleshow/368679.cms |url-status=dead }} Satya, together with his 2002 film Company (which he directed, won three IIFA Awards, seven Filmfare Awards, and a Bollywood Movie Award for best direction, and was premiered at the 2004 Austin Film Festival) and the 2005 film D (which he produced), were also featured in the Fribourg International Film Festival, and the New York Asian Film Festival.

In the early 1990's, Varma experimented with the supernatural thriller, Raat (1991), and the neo-noir crime thriller, Drohi (1992), which were not commercially successful, but gained a cult following post-release.{{cite web |url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm13IIFAAward.aspx?PdfName=13IIFA.pdf |title=Directorate of Film Festival |website=Iffi.nic.in |access-date=12 July 2012 |archive-date=25 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225004301/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm13IIFAAward.aspx?PdfName=13IIFA.pdf |url-status=dead }} During the years between his trilogy, from Satya in 1998 to D in 2005,{{cite web|title=D: Final film in Indian Gangster Trilogy a Must See|website=Cinemastrikesback.com|date=24 August 2005|url=http://www.cinemastrikesback.com/index.php?p=562|access-date=22 February 2009|archive-date=17 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717100215/http://www.cinemastrikesback.com/index.php?p=562|url-status=dead}} Varma implemented different film genres in his craft. In 1999, he directed Kaun, a suspense thriller set entirely in one house and featuring only three actors, and Mast, a subversion of Hindi cinema's masala genre. In 2000, he directed Jungle, set entirely in a jungle, for which he was nominated for the Star Screen Award for Best Director. In 2003 he directed another supernatural thriller Bhoot on the lines of his earlier hit Raat. Bhoot became a major hit at the box office,{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9B0DEFDA1630F933A05756C0A9659C8B63 | title=Movie Reviews | newspaper=The New York Times | date=24 June 2022 }} and Varma was nominated for the Filmfare Best Director Award for the film.{{cite web|url=http://www.gulte.com/movienews/26206/Trailer-Talk-RGVs-Patta-Pagalu-is-Promising|title=RGV's Patta Pagalu – Trailer Talk – Gulte.com – Rajasekhar in RGV's Patta Pagalu – Swati Dixit's Patta Pagalu|website=Gulte.com}}

Bhoot was followed by even more horror movies, including hit films such as Darna Mana Hai (2003), Darna Zaroori Hai (2006), and Phoonk (2008), gaining Varma the status of ster of the Indian horror genre.{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/may/30bhoot.htm|title=The 'Bhoot' review: Numbed by fear?|work=rediff.com}} Other experimental productions of Varma include Ek Hasina Thi (2003), a psychological thriller, and Ab Tak Chhappan (2004), a film about an inspector in the Mumbai Encounter Squad noted for having killed 56 people in encounters, featured at the Fantastic Fest.

In 2006, he re-made a new installment of Shiva, which was screened at the New York Asian Film Festival, where in a retrospective featuring Varma's experimental hits such as Company, Ek Hasina Thi, Ab Tak Chhappan, Sarkar, Contract, and Shabri was staged. Shabri was also screened at Rome Film Festival.{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.co.in/much-delayed-shabri-gets-a-sequel/|title=Much-Delayed Shabri Gets A Sequel!|publisher=Box Office India}}{{cite web|url=http://www.glamsham.com/movies/scoops/11/aug/20-rgv-shabri-is-far-superior-to-satya-081104.asp|title=RGV: SHABRI is far superior to SATYA|work=glamsham.com|date=7 August 2021 }} 2010 film on media, Rann was screened at Toronto International Film Festival.{{cite web |url= http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/review/14012/index.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081227131046/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/review/14012/index.html |url-status= dead |archive-date= 27 December 2008 |title= Rann |author= Taran Adarsh |date= 29 January 2010 |website= Bollywood Hungama |access-date=29 January 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/rann-film-review-29253|title=Rann -- Film Review|date=4 February 2010|work=The Hollywood Reporter}} A two-part bilingual Parallel cinema Rakta Charitra (2010), on the theme of South Indian politics, was based on the life of Paritala Ravindra, and Maddela Cheruvu Suri; the film received praise from critics.{{cite web|title=Review: Rakht Charitra is replete with violence, yet blows you away! |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/review_review-rakht-charitra-is-replete-with-violence-yet-blows-you-away_1456579|website=Dnaindia.com|access-date=20 March 2012}}

Varma started his career in the Telugu film industry as an assistant director on the sets of films such as Collector Gari Abbai and Rao Gari Illu. His father Krishnam Raju Varma, was a sound recordist at the Annapurna Studios. Varma met Nagarjuna Akkineni at the studio and narrated a scene to the actor which impressed him.{{cite web|title=My best film is Bhoot: Ram Gopal Varma|url=http://www.bollywoodsargam.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=9208|website=Bollywoodsargam.com|access-date=12 September 2011|date=31 July 2004}} The result of their collaboration was a film on the criminalisation of student politics – Siva. It was a commercially successful film that gave Varma an opportunity to demonstrate his technical expertise and story telling skills.

Kshana Kshanam with Venkatesh, Gaayam with Jagapathi Babu and Anaganaga Oka Roju with J.D. Chakravarthy were successful; Govinda Govinda with Nagarjuna proved to be a moderate success at the box office.{{cite web|title=Different Strokes|url=http://www.screenindia.com/old/print.php?content_id=4023&secnam=films|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211124651/http://www.screenindia.com/old/print.php?content_id=4023&secnam=films|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 December 2008|publisher=Screen India|access-date=12 September 2011|date=30 May 2003}} During this period, Varma produced films such as Money (1993), Money Money (1994), and Gulabi (1995). Other films by Varma in Telugu include Deyyam (1996), Prema Katha (1999), Madhyanam Hathya (2004), Katha Screenplay Darsakatvam Appalaraju (2011), Rowdy (2014), Ice Cream (2014), and Anukshanam (2014).{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.in/articles/546687/20140404/rowdy-review-mohan-babu-vishnu-manchu-rgv.htm|title='Rowdy' Review Roundup: Watch it for Mohan Babu|date=4 April 2014|work=International Business Times, India Edition}} Varma introduced online auction based film distribution model for this venture, and tasted success.{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/rgv-disrupts-film-distribution-model-introduces-online-auction/article6398083.ece|title=RGV disrupts film distribution model; introduces online auction|work=Business Line|location=Chennai}}

Varma's notable mainstream works in Hindi cinema include Daud (1997), Darna Zaroori Hai (2006), Nishabd (2007), Darling (2007), and Phoonk (2008). Bollywood film makers such as Anurag Kashyap, Madhur Bhandarkar, Puri Jagannadh, E. Nivas, Prawaal Raman, Krishna Vamsi, and Vishram Sawant assisted Varma, before venturing into direction. In 1993, he scripted the Tamil thriller Thiruda Thiruda, screened at Toronto International Film Festival.{{cite web|url=http://movies.rediff.com/report/2010/jun/18/raja-sen-reviews-raavan.htm|title=Raavan is unforgivably boring|work=Rediff|date=18 June 2010|access-date=29 May 2012|author=Sen, Raja}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108329/fullcredits|title=Thiruda Thiruda (1993)|access-date=21 July 2022|publisher=IMDb}}{{cite web|url=http://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest+News/Asia/Story/A1Story20100625-223964.html|title=Jewel of Indian cinema|publisher=Singapore Press Holdings|work=AsiaOne|date=25 June 2010|access-date=19 May 2012|author=Nayar, Parvathi}} In 2015, Varma was fined for Rs 10 Lakhs, for an alleged copyright violation with the film Aag (2007).{{cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/hc-imposes-rs-10-lakh-fine-on-ram-gopal-varma-for-remaking-sholay/|title=HC imposes Rs 10 lakh fine on Ram Gopal Varma for remaking 'Sholay'|date=1 September 2015|newspaper=The Indian Express}} He made his directorial debut in Kannada cinema with the thriller Killing Veerappan.{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/killing-veerappan-to-be-launched-on-rajkumars-birthday/article7133733.ece|title='Killing Veerappan' to be launched on Rajkumar's birthday |newspaper=The Hindu |date=23 April 2015|access-date=2015-06-24|last1=Khajane |first1=Muralidhara }} In 2023, Ram Gopal Varma announced his retirement from political filmmaking, declaring 'Shapadham' as his final project.{{Cite web |last=Sistu |first=Suhas |date=2023-10-13 |title=RGV quits from making political films; says 'Shapadham' is his last |url=https://www.thehansindia.com/cinema/tollywood/rgv-quits-from-making-political-films-says-shapadham-is-his-last-829547 |access-date=2023-10-13 |website=thehansindia.com}}

File:Surya with RGV in Rakht Charitra shoot.jpg on the sets of Rakta Charitra 2]]

Ram Gopal Varma made his début in Television through a Talk Show titled Ramuism. The show is being aired on a Telugu channel since September 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.gulte.com/movienews/30201/RGVs-Big-Bomb-Blast|title=RGV's Big Bomb Blast|website=Gulte.com|date=3 September 2014 }} The show is noted for its fresh and witty appeal. The show focuses on Varma's Point of View on social issues such as Education, Religion, Mythology, Children, Crime, Death, Anger, Godmen, Woman, Philosophy, Cinema etc. The show is hosted by Swapna, the managing editor of Sakshi TV.

He has also made a documentary called God, Sex and Truth with adult actress Mia Malkova.{{cite web|title=RGV appears before Hyderabad police in obscenity case over his film 'GST'|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/rgv-appears-hyderabad-police-obscenity-case-over-his-film-gst-76626|website=Thenewsminute.com|access-date=12 September 2011|date=31 July 2004}}

Varma wrote an autobiography titled Na Ishtam ("As I Please"), which discusses his life experiences and philosophy. 'Naa Ishtam' was released in December 2010 at Taj Banjara, Hyderabad.{{cite web|url=http://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/news/2010/ram-gopal-varma-naa-ishtam-031210.html|title=Ram Gopal Varma's autobiography Naa Ishtam released|website=Filmibeat.com|date=3 December 2010 }} Sirasri, poet, lyricist and writer wrote a biographical book on the interactions he had with Ram Gopal Varma with the title Vodka With Varma. Director Puri Jagannadh launched the book in December 2012.

In November 2015, Varma published his book Guns and Thighs: The Story of My Life, which discusses a wide range of subjects, from the influences and circumstances that drew him to cinematic techniques, his successful and unsuccessful films, his Hindi cinema idols, his live-in relationship with Suchitra Krishnamoorthi, his relationship with the media and the controversies dogging him, his philosophy of life, and Indian cinema.{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/guns-and-thighs-rgv-s-autobiography-about-pornstar-gangsters/story-pZhoYRwlnL9Zo1OETmHvqK.html|title=Guns And Thighs: RGV's autobiography about pornstar, gangsters|website=Hindustan Times|date=25 November 2015 }} On this occasion, Varma said "I dedicated my book to Ayn Rand, Bruce Lee, Urmila Matondkar, Amitabh Bachchan, and a few gangsters."{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/books/features/RGVs-autobiography-on-Guns-Thighs/articleshow/49920288.cms|title=RGV's autobiography on 'Guns & Thighs'|work=The Times of India}}{{cite web|url=http://www.filmymonkey.com/bollywood/2015/11/30/i-was-inspired-by-amitabhs-gun-and-sridevis-thighs-ram-gopal-varma/|title=I was inspired by Amitabh's gun and Sridevi's thighs- Ram Gopal Varma – Filmymonkey|work=Filmymonkey}}

Varma was married to Ratna, whom he later divorced.{{cite web|date=15 January 2017|title=Ram Gopal Varma's ex-wife to tell all|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/ram-gopal-varmas-ex-wife-to-tell-all/articleshow/16724321.cms|website=The Times of India}} They have a daughter who is a classical dancer.{{cite web|last=Kavirayani|first=Suresh|date=2015-05-07|title=Daughter's married life is boring: Ram Gopal Varma|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/150507/entertainment-tollywood/article/daughter%E2%80%99s-married-life-boring-ram-gopal-varma|website=Deccan Chronicle}}

In January 2025, Varma was convicted by a Mumbai court in a cheque bounce case and sentenced to three months of simple imprisonment. The case, originating 2018, was filed by a company named Shree, represented by Maheshchandra Mishra, under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act.{{Cite web |last=MS |first=Sahyaja |date=2025-01-23 |title=Ram Gopal Varma sentenced to three months imprisonment in cheque bounce case |url=https://www.barandbench.com/news/litigation/ram-gopal-varma-sentenced-three-months-imprisonment-cheque-bounce-case |access-date=2025-01-23 |website=Bar and Bench - Indian Legal news |language=en}}

Varma was also ordered to pay a compensation of ₹3.72 lakh to the complainant within three months, failing which he would face an additional three months of imprisonment. Varma was absent during the proceedings, leading to a non-bailable warrant for his arrest.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-23 |title=Ram Gopal Varma convicted in cheque bounce case, non-bailable warrant issued |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/law-news/story/ram-gopal-varma-convicted-in-cheque-bounce-case-non-bailable-warrant-issued-2668824-2025-01-23 |access-date=2025-01-23 |website=India Today |language=en}}

{{Main|Ram Gopal Varma filmography}}

Varma has garnered the National Film Award, the Bimal Roy Memorial National Award, seven state Nandi Awards, two Bollywood Filmfare Awards, and five Bollywood Movie Awards.

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• [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/I-happened-to-be-at-Taj-by-chance-Ram-Gopal-Verma/articleshow/3779196.cms Ram Gopal Varma At Taj by Chance]

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Category:Hindi-language film directors

Category:Telugu film directors

Category:Indian experimental filmmakers

Category:Indian action choreographers

Category:Indian casting directors

Category:Living people

Category:1962 births

Category:Filmfare Awards winners

Category:Nandi Award winners

Category:Indian atheists

Category:Indian male screenwriters

Category:20th-century Indian people

Category:Artists from Vijayawada

Category:Film directors from Andhra Pradesh

Category:Screenwriters from Andhra Pradesh

Category:21st-century Indian people