Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma, known for collaborating with actors like Nagarjuna, Manoj Bajpayee, and Amitabh Bachchan, says he chooses performers purely based on the demands of the script and the nature of the characters—never because of their star power. This approach, he explains, has shaped all his films featuring Amitabh Bachchan, including Sarkar (2005) through to Sarkar 3 (2017).
Speaking with The Hans India, Varma described why Bachchan’s acting style appeals to him.
According to RGV, “Amitabh Bachchan has a remarkably still face, which is quite rare for an actor. The way he expresses through his eyes and voice, without exaggerated movement, gives him a unique dignity and elegance. To my knowledge, no other Indian actor does this the way he does.”
When asked about comparisons between Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan, Varma stated that their styles are entirely different.
“Shah Rukh’s charm and energy belong to a different world. I grew up on films like Deewaar, Trishul, and Zanjeer, which shaped my taste. That’s why I connect with Amitabh Bachchan’s cinema. Shah Rukh Khan’s romantic movies are simply not my kind of films, so I’m not the right person to comment on his work.”
Despite Shah Rukh’s reinvention as an action star in films like Pathaan and Jawan, Varma still doesn’t see himself directing him.
He explained, “I’m not capable of making a film with Shah Rukh Khan because his fans expect a certain persona from him. That’s not the kind of cinema I’m equipped to create.”
RGV’s long-standing association with Amitabh Bachchan includes the Sarkar trilogy, as well as titles like Nishabd (2007), Aag (2007), Rann (2010), and Department (2012). He has also worked with Abhishek Bachchan in Naach, Sarkar, and Sarkar Raj, which also starred Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.
Interestingly, Varma once considered casting Shah Rukh Khan in his 2002 film Company. He revealed that he narrated the story to SRK, who showed interest. However, Varma felt that the actor’s naturally energetic screen presence clashed with the character’s cold, understated personality.
“Malik in Company needed stillness—he is calm, calculating, never excited. Shah Rukh’s natural energy goes in the opposite direction. Forcing him to be still would be unfair to him and to the film,” RGV said. He later chose Ajay Devgn for the role, which became one of Devgn’s most acclaimed performances.
