Ram Gopal Varma turns 63: His obsession for Sridevi and 9 lesser-known facts about renowned filmmaker

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Ram Gopal Varma, a puzzling figure in the world of cinema, embarked on an unusual journey. Starting as an engineering student, he transformed his passion into a video store and eventually ventured into filmmaking. Here’s a closer look at 10 lesser-known aspects about him, some even contentious. On his birthday, April 7, we delve deeper.

Lesser-known facts about Ram Gopal Varma

1. Ram Gopal Varma started his career as an engineer

As a former civil engineer turned lifestyle expert, I found myself drawn to the world of cinema even before stepping foot in the film industry. My Bachelor of Engineering degree in Civil Engineering from V.R. Siddhartha Engineering College, Vijayawada, served as a foundation for my academic pursuits, but it was my passion for films that truly fueled me. During my college years, I often chose to miss classes in favor of immersing myself in the silver screen, and this clandestine love affair set me on the path towards filmmaking.

2. Started a video store in Hyderabad

Initially, Ram Gopal Varma served as a site engineer at the Krishna Oberoi hotel in Hyderabad. Seeking higher income opportunities, he traveled to Nigeria. Upon returning, he was struck by an idea while visiting a video rental store in Ameerpet, leading him to establish his own business. This venture helped him forge connections within the industry. Later on, he lent his skills to several films, eventually receiving his major break directing Siva in 1989.

3. Introduced AR Rahman to Bollywood

In 1995, AR Rahman first appeared in Bollywood through Rangeela directed by Ram Gopal Varma. This movie featured Aamir Khan and Urmila Matondkar as principal actors. The music from this film became incredibly popular, resulting in the renowned composer receiving extensive acclaim and numerous awards.

4. Worked as an assistant director in Tollywood

As a die-hard admirer of the art, I can’t help but trace the captivating journey of Ram Gopal Varma in the vibrant world of Telugu cinema. It all started when he was an assistant director on remarkable films like Rao Gari Illu and Collector Gari Abbai. My heart skips a beat thinking about his father, Krishnam Raju Varma, who worked as a sound recordist at the legendary Annapurna Studios. In this hallowed ground, destiny unfolded when I crossed paths with Nagarjuna, leaving an indelible impression through my gripping scene narration. This pivotal moment marked the beginning of my extraordinary career, propelled by the success of Siva – a film that continues to resonate in the annals of Telugu cinema history.

5. Took a dig at Rajinikanth

Ram Gopal Varma frequently generates news for his critical comments directed towards Rajinikanth. In 2016, he caused a stir by drawing parallels between the two on subject X. A tweet suggested that Robot would have been more successful with the established Bollywood actor, Amitabh Bachchan, while Te3n might not resonate well with Rajinikanth.

6. Mocked Karan Johar

Ram Gopal Varma and Karan Johar have had a tense relationship for quite some time now. Back in 2013, on Teachers’ Day, RGV stirred up controversy with tweets that poked fun at educators. Later, he criticized Karan by predicting that a film titled “Teacher of the Year,” inspired by “Student of the Year,” would become a flop instead – dubbing it as the “Disaster of the Year.

7. RGV’s obsession for Sridevi 

In his book titled “Guns and Thighs,” renowned filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma dedicated a chapter to the late Sridevi, expressing profound admiration for her. During their professional collaboration, Varma referred to the creation of “Kshana Kashanam” as a love letter to Sridevi. As they worked on this project, he found himself constantly captivated by her charm, beauty, and unique personality. For him, she was a fascinating mystery with an unseen barrier that no one could breach.

8. Rumored to be dating Urmila Matondkar

It’s been suggested that Ram Gopal Varma significantly influenced Urmila Matondkar’s career, starting with the movie “Rangeela.” Over time, he consistently cast her in various productions. However, whispers of an alleged romantic involvement between them circulated, which supposedly strained his marriage. According to reports, his wife, Ratna, reacted strongly to their reported closeness, allegedly even slapping Urmila upon learning about it.

9. Insulted a woman while partying

Previously, Ram Gopal Varma sparked controversy when a video featuring him at a nightclub went viral online. In this clip, he could be seen dancing with a woman and pouring alcohol over her. Despite facing numerous criticisms, he chose not to delete the video from his Instagram account.

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2025-04-07 05:40