Discover surprising and lesser-known facts about maverick filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma — A must-read for RGV fans and cinema lovers!
1. He studied civil engineering: Before stepping into films, RGV earned a degree in civil engineering from Siddhartha Engineering College in Vijayawada. Filmmaking wasn’t even on his radar back then.
2. Obsessed with Bruce Lee: RGV is a die-hard Bruce Lee fan. He has said that Lee’s intensity and screen presence inspired him to think cinematically, even before he considered a film career.
3. Started as a video library owner: Before making films, RGV ran a video rental store. This gave him access to a wide range of world cinema, which later shaped his unconventional filmmaking style.
4. No formal film training: Despite his influential style, RGV never went to film school. He’s entirely self-taught, picking up techniques by watching movies obsessively.
5. ‘Shiva’ was a game-changer: His debut film Shiva (1989) revolutionized Telugu cinema with its gritty realism and use of steady cam — a technique uncommon in Indian cinema at the time.
6. Steven Spielberg once called him: After watching Company, Steven Spielberg apparently called RGV to praise the film and said, “You made The Godfather look like a children’s film.”
7. He inspired Bollywood’s crime genre revival: With films like Satya and Company, RGV reshaped Bollywood’s crime drama template, influencing a generation of filmmakers including Anurag Kashyap.
8. He’s a prolific writer: RGV has authored books like Guns and Thighs, where he details his controversial and brutally honest thoughts about the film industry, politics, and human nature.
9. Strange working habits: RGV reportedly doesn’t believe in working conventional hours. He often shoots at night and is known to have edited entire films while sitting alone at odd hours.
10. He dislikes awards: RGV has openly criticized film awards, calling them “fake validations.” He believes the audience is the only judge that matters.
