Ram Gopal Varma Says Amitabh Bachchan Put His Reputation At Stake For Aag: 'I Feel Guilty'
Ram Gopal Varma reflects on the infamous Aag, calling it a creative misfire and accepting full blame—even while jokingly naming Amitabh Bachchan and others.
Ram Gopal Varma has never shied away from owning his cinematic missteps—but when it comes to Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag, even he admits it was a creative misfire from the start. In a new interview, the filmmaker opened up about the motivations and mishaps that led to the infamous 2007 remake of Sholay, a film many now regard as one of the worst in Bollywood history.
Varma revealed that the idea was to reimagine Sholay in a modern context—something he believes could’ve worked if executed with the sincerity of his earlier hit Satya. But that vision never materialized. “In filmmaking, the first mistake is choosing what you want to do. After that, nothing is in your control," he said, admitting he hit a creative block midway through the process.
related stories
RGV recalled how a poster designer sparked the idea by imagining a reimagined Gabbar Singh styled like Amitabh Bachchan. “He told me, ‘Sir, legends don’t look real and ordinary,’" Varma recounted. Inspired, he narrated the concept to Bachchan, who signed on the strength of their prior collaboration, Sarkar.
While Varma jokes about who’s to blame—“the poster guy, Sascha Sippy, and maybe even Bachchan sahab"—he ultimately shoulders the responsibility. “But I’m taking the blame," he said with a laugh.
In a previous interview with Galatta Plus, Varma even apologized for dragging Bachchan into the project. “He put his reputation at stake because of me. The film became a laughing stock, and the reason is me, not him," he said. “I felt guilty that I made him go through that."
Released in 2007, RGV Ki Aag featured a powerhouse cast including Amitabh Bachchan, Mohanlal, Ajay Devgn, and Sushmita Sen. Despite that, the film was panned by critics and audiences alike, becoming synonymous with cinematic disaster. Nearly two decades later, it remains a cautionary tale in Bollywood’s history—and one that even its creator can’t help but laugh about.
- Location :
- First Published: