Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has spoken about the influence of underworld figure Dawood Ibrahim on his filmmaking journey, saying that some of his most defining crime dramas were shaped by real events linked to the Mumbai underworld. His remarks have resurfaced at a time when Dawood Ibrahim is once again being widely discussed following his depiction as Bade Sahab in Dhurandhar The Revenge.
In an interview with Filmfare, Varma said that his films Satya and Company were deeply influenced by real life developments within the underworld, particularly figures like Dawood Ibrahim. “I dedicated my autobiography, Guns & Thighs, to Dawood Ibrahima also, but the publishers removed his name. If Dawood Ibrahim was not there, I would not have made Satya and Company, the two iconic films. How can I not dedicate it to him? I am earning my living because of him,” he said.
The filmmaker also claimed that members of the underworld had watched his films and responded positively to them. “I was the only guy who never got threatening calls, the reason being they loved Satya and Company. They didn't want to bother me. I kind of became their soul mate,” he added.
Released in 2002, Company starred Ajay Devgn, Vivek Oberoi and Mohanlal and explored the workings of the Mumbai underworld through a fictional narrative inspired by the real-life split between Dawood Ibrahim and Chhota Rajan. The film remains one of Varma’s most recognised crime dramas alongside Satya.
Varma had earlier also drawn attention on social media after referring to Dawood Ibrahim as one of his inspirations in a Teacher's Day post. In the message shared on X, he saluted several personalities who influenced his work, including Amitabh Bachchan, Steven Spielberg, Ayn Rand, Bruce Lee and Sridevi, along with Dawood Ibrahim. The inclusion of the underworld figure in that list had sparked strong reactions online at the time.
Also Read: Isha Koppikar credits Ram Gopal Varma as ‘Khallas’ completes 24 years: “It was my turning point”
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