RGV says he never got threats from the underworld: They loved Satya, Company

Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has opened up about his experience with the underworld during the 1990s, saying despite making gangster dramas like Satya (1998) and Company (2002), he never received intimidating calls from the underworld. On the contrary, Varma insisted that the "gangsters" loved his films.

Varma recalled that his autobiography Guns & Thighs was initially dedicated to underworld figure Dawood Ibrahim, although publishers subsequently removed the dedication. He also admitted that his experience was markedly different from others in the industry, many of whom reportedly received extortion demands from the underworld back in the day.

The director, in an interview with Filmfare, said, "I dedicated the book to Dawood Ibrahim 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."

For Varma, the underworld was not only a looming threat but also a source of creative inspiration that shaped some of his most significant works.

"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.

The two films, considered among RGV's finest, drew heavily from the realities of Mumbai’s underworld. Varma mentioned that this connection worked to his advantage rather than against him. The 1990s era of Hindi cinema was marked by the underworld’s allegedly pervasive presence, impacting many filmmakers and artists. Varma’s account offers a unique perspective on this complex relationship.

Varma announced his new film, Syndicate in January 2025. In an X post, he claimed that it would be "the biggest film ever" and vowed that it would "wash away all my cinema sins."

The director has recently been active on social media, analysing the success of Dhurandhar: The Revenge.