Ram Gopal Varma: ‘If ‘Dhurandhar 2′ Does Numbers Like ₹1500-2000 Crores Then All The South Films Will Go For A Toss’ (EXCLUSIVE)

No one explores the hunger for power in men on celluloid better than Ram Gopal Varma. “Satya,” “Company,” and the “Sarkar” films prove the same. Ram Gopal Varma is all set to return behind the camera with “Sarkar 4”, the shoot of which is supposed to start in May. In the meantime, he has been busy on social media talking about the film industry and films like “Animal” and “Dhurandhar.” In a short chat with Variety India, Ram Gopal Varma spoke about how “Dhurandhar” has altered the Indian box office. 

What are you directing next?
“Sarkar 4” from May 2026. The two Bachchans - Amitabh and Abhishek are part of the movie. That’s all I can tell you at the moment. Let’s talk about “Dhurandhar 2” now. 

Don't you think audiences will have truly high expectations from “Dhurandhar 2”?
I think it will be fantastic. See, more than anything else, the audience has invested into the characters and the story so much. I think they will just follow the trajectory of the characters from part one. They shot both the parts simultaneously, right? So it'll be like one film split into two. I don't think they'll have any over-expectations. This is not like a franchise. It's like the “Baahubali” films. Yeah, like that only. I feel “Dhurandhar 2” will do better business than part one. Also, they are promoting “Dhurandhar 2” heavily in the South. 

“Dhurandhar” changed the language of action choreography in Bollywood. Do you feel it will impact South movies?
You can't have people flying in the air and kicking in the air. It's got to be all real. You see, if “Dhurandhar 2” creates numbers like ₹1500-2000 crores then all the South films will go for a toss, I think. All South films are designed in the old-school manner.  

Makarand Deshpande and you are collaborating again? 
Not anything specific, we're doing something for sure. We always had an equation.We just did the production of a film called “Rush.” 

Tell us a bit about your bond with Makarand? 
He was there in “Satya.” And after that, after that I did quite a few movies with him. He was in “Jungle” as well. I'm very fond of him, both as an actor and as a person. I'm quite close to him, otherwise also. Sometimes I go to watch his plays, which he does in between.