EXCLUSIVE: Ram Gopal Varma says film like “Animal can never come out of a corporate setup” as he discusses about creative freedom in filmmaking

December 12, 2025 - 5:18 PM IST

Ram Gopal Varma, who recently revisited Rangeela for its November 28, 2025 re-release, shared his thoughts on contemporary filmmaking during an interview with Bollywood Hungama. While discussing the divided reactions that films like Animal often spark, Varma reflected on how the industry’s shift toward corporate-backed productions has changed the creative process.

EXCLUSIVE: Ram Gopal Varma says film like “Animal can never come out of a corporate setup” as he discusses about creative freedom in filmmaking

When asked whether the flood of opinions around a polarising film is a good thing and whether he would approach a similar story today, Varma said the landscape has “two sides.” He explained that earlier, many filmmakers operated with complete indulgence and little external feedback, which meant no one truly knew what the film was until it reached theatres.

He acknowledged that corporate structures bring transparency and shared accountability: “Enough people should know. Of course, all collectively can make a mistake, but that could be better than one guy making a mistake.”

However, Varma also pointed out the inherent limitations. According to him, multiple decision-makers rarely align creatively: “If ten people collectively cannot make a creative decision—I strongly believe that—because everyone has a different taste, mood, sensibility, and idea of the audience.” He added that hierarchical systems often dilute creative freedom, though he noted that “creative freedom itself is a dangerous thing,” judged only by a film’s success or failure.

Using Animal as an example, Varma stated that such a film could not have emerged from a committee-driven process. “I believe an Animal can never come out of a corporate setup. It’s impossible. That has to be one guy’s vision,” he said, emphasising the degree of conviction needed to back a film that operates so strongly on a singular creative tone.

Varma concluded that both systems—individual-led filmmaking and corporate-driven models—carry advantages and drawbacks, but certain films are inherently tied to one person’s uncompromised vision.

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