In a candid conversation on the MPower Podcast, filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma revealed that he and director Mani Ratnam don’t particularly enjoy each other’s films — a fact that may surprise fans of both cinematic stalwarts. Despite their iconic contributions to Indian cinema, RGV made it clear that a collaboration between the two is highly unlikely.
“Mani Ratnam doesn’t like my films, and I don’t like his. That’s our relationship,” said RGV. While acknowledging Kamal Haasan’s performance in Nayakan, Varma admitted he wasn’t impressed with the film overall. He also credited legendary filmmaker K. Balachander as a bigger creative influence, citing similarities in their dialogue and editing styles.
Interestingly, the two filmmakers have shared credits in the past — co-writing Gaayam and Thiruda Thiruda, and co-producing Dil Se. But even then, RGV revealed they operated independently. “He didn’t listen to one idea of mine, and I didn’t listen to his. So we made our own films. Two creatively strong-minded people can’t really collaborate.”
While Mani Ratnam recently directed Thug Life with Kamal Haasan, Ram Gopal Varma is gearing up for Syndicate — a film he claims will be “the biggest ever” and promises to “wash away all my cinema sins.”
