‘I thought Vidhu Vinod Chopra would hit me': Ram Gopal Varma says 12th Fail director ‘believes he's the best filmmaker', Anurag Kashyap recalls quitting his film
Filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra was the topic of conversation for directors Ram Gopal Varma and Anurag Kashyap. In a recent interview, the duo revealed hilarious anecdotes and their memories of working with the 12th Fail director. While Kashyap called him 'self-obsessed' and recalled leaving his film Mission Kashmir, RGV said that Chopra believes that he is the best filmmaker in the world.
During a conversation with India TV, Anurag spoke about quitting Chopra's Mission Kashmir. Without revealing the details, he said, 'I had written a script for Shivam Nair to do for television. That is when I left Mission Kashmir and I asked Shivam, 'Can I direct my own script?'. Shivam gracefully agreed.'
Having said that, the Gangs Of Wasseypur director praised Chopra's creative mind. 'The child in him is still alive. His self-obsession and vanity co-exist. There's one sequence in 12th Fail where Vikrant Massey's character has gone all the way to (Uttarakhand). It's a single-shot scene. The way he has designed it, he's a craftsman. When he's at his peak craftsmanship, you do admire him,' he added.
ALSO READ | Ram Gopal Varma says Mani Ratnam called Dil Se co-producer 'mad' for wanting to change film's climax: 'We should switch to Chaiya Chaiya'
Ram Gopal Varma had his own funny anecdotes to share. Recalling a script narration for Mission Kashmir, he said, 'He mentioned 'shikara' (houseboat). Now, I am not a Hindi guy. I assumed that 'shikara' meant hunter! I thought that he differently pronounced 'shikari' (laughs). A little ahead into the narration, he told me, 'The shikara blows up'… After 10 minutes, I asked him, 'Why was the hunter killed?''
He continued, 'He said, 'Ramu, you don't know shikara'! He was so angry with me (laughs)… I screwed up the entire narration. He was so angry with me that I thought he was about to hit me or something!'
RGV also claimed that Vidhu Vinod Chopra believes he is the best filmmaker in the world. 'He genuinely believes that he's the best filmmaker in the world. Whether he's one or not, I am not going to say that. But I don't think any filmmaker in the world will believe that,' he concluded.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
"I groomed him—then he backstabbed me, opened his own company, I was shocked": Mukesh Chhabra shares real-life betrayal after 'The Traitors' exit
Mukesh Chhabra is no stranger to drama—he's the man behind the scenes, shaping some of the most powerful on-screen performances in Hindi cinema. As one of Bollywood's most respected casting directors, Mukesh has been instrumental in launching fresh talent and curating unforgettable ensembles for films like Gangs of Wasseypur , Dangal , Chhichhore , and Tamasha . He also made his directorial debut with Dil Bechara , the last film of the late Sushant Singh Rajput , which continues to hold a special place in the hearts of audiences. But in a surprising turn, Mukesh recently stepped into the spotlight in a completely different way—as a contestant on The Traitors , the Indian reality show hosted by Karan Johar . Known for its psychological twists and high-stakes betrayals, the show eliminated Mukesh in a recent episode, making him the latest to exit the game. In an exclusive interview with ETimes following his elimination, Mukesh opened up about the emotional aftermath of the show and how it echoed some painful moments from his own life. 'One of my biggest learnings from the show is that you really can't trust anyone—not even the people you eat, sit, or roam around with,' he shared. 'You never know who's actually betraying you or who the real traitor is.' When asked if he had ever experienced betrayal in real life, Mukesh didn't hold back. 'In real life, I've felt betrayed many times,' he admitted. 'But one instance that really hurt was during 'Dil Bechara'. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villa For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas in Dubai | Search ads Learn More Undo I had entrusted one of my casting assistants to look after my company while I was away making the film. When I returned, I found he had taken away all my data and secretly opened his own casting company. I was shocked. I had literally groomed that child in front of me. It felt like a stab in the back.' The pain in his voice is unmistakable—but so is his resilience. Even though he faced elimination early in the show, Mukesh says he'd return in a heartbeat if given a wildcard entry. '100%! Now I know how to play the game,' he said with a smile. Mukesh's experience on The Traitors wasn't just about gameplay—it became a mirror to deeper truths about trust, loyalty, and the unpredictability of human nature. And whether it's in cinema or real life, his journey continues to prove that even the most seasoned storytellers have chapters of pain, betrayal, and surprising lessons to share.
Mint
8 hours ago
- Mint
'Hazraat, Hazraat, Hazraat!' Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Manoj Bajpayee remember Gangs of Wasseypur as the film clocks 13 years
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 23 (ANI): The much-loved crime drama 'Gangs of Wasseypur' turned 13 on Sunday, June 22. Directed by Anurag Kashyap, the two-part film was released in 2012 and quickly became a cult hit. With its sharp dialogues and powerful performances, it changed the face of Indian cinema. As the film clocked 13 years, actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who rose to fame with his role in the film, took to Instagram to share a special picture with director Anurag Kashyap. The photo shows the two standing near a tree. Nawazuddin stands quietly while Kashyap is seen smoking a cigarette. "Celebrating 13 years of Gangs Of Wasseypur," Nawazuddin wrote in the caption. The post caught the attention of fans who dropped their reactions in the comment section. One fan wrote, "Unbeatable combo. Ek aur jalwa dikhao." Another commented, "Adha ciggerate ke liye intejar karta hua nawaj vai." "Lagta hai kuch bada aane wala hai. Tabahi I mean Gangs of Wasseypur 3," wrote a third user. Actor Manoj Bajpayee, who played Sardar Khan in the film, also marked the day with a heartfelt post. He wrote, "Hazraat, Hazraat, Hazraat! 13 years ago, Wasseypur redefined Indian cinema. A saga of coal, crime, and cult dialogues that still echo across screens and streets. More than a project, this became a moment in history, one that shaped Indian cult cinema forever." Gangs of Wasseypur was released in two parts -- the first on June 22 and the second on August 8, 2012. The story covered nearly seven decades, from 1941 to 2009, focusing on coal mafias, crime families, and the endless fights for power in Dhanbad. Besides winning hearts and earning critical praise, both parts of the film turned into box office successes. Today, 'Gangs of Wasseypur' continues to enjoy a huge fan base, with many calling it one of the best Indian films ever made. (ANI)
Time of India
18 hours ago
- Time of India
Exclusive - Sheezaan Khan on Tujhse Hai Ashiqui: Wanted to explore playing a negative character
Tujhse Hai Ashiqui which started from June 6, features actor Sheezaan Khan as Arjun Waliya. While the actor is excited for the audience to see him in a negative character, he shared that he did not relate to it at all. He said, 'I don't relate to it at all. The character is a villain. Every person has an ideology, whether he is a villain or a hero, and they think they are always correct. While playing my character, I used to feel bad after the scene. I, as Sheizaan, used to feel bad about whatever I was doing in my character. This is the first time in my 12–13 years of career that I am playing a character like that.' 'I had never played a villain before, so this was a big reason for me to say yes to this show. I wanted to explore playing a negative character, and I had two big examples in my mind: first was Shah Rukh Khan in Darr, and second was Bobby Deol in Animal. I was okay with less screen time, but I wanted my character to be impactful. And that was it. If there is no Arjun Waliya in Tujhse Hai Ashiqui, then there is no conflict,' he added. When asked whether he feels fashion on screen has declined in the entertainment industry, he disagreed and said, 'Fashion and storytelling are two very different things.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Ibbenbüren: Nur 700 Plätze. Werden Sie Testhörer für die neuen Hörgeräte ohne Zuzahlung. GEERS Undo For him, storytelling is of utmost importance. He cites Gangs of Wasseypur as an example, a film that succeeded immensely because of its strong narrative. He added, 'It's just how a maker wants to show their show.' Behind the scenes, Sheezaan credits Ravie, who has directed the show, for being his guiding force throughout the shoot. Whenever he was confused or unsure about a scene, a quick call to Ravie would set things right. 'He used to just pick up my call and tell me how the scene should be performed, or if there is any change in the scene, how it should be done. So for me, he was like a guide. I trusted his vision completely,' he ended. Gashmeer Mahajani: I can only do limited series, but not daily soaps
