Ramgopal Varma was in Hyderabad city for the audio release of his upcoming film Siva 2006. All the media personel were invited for interview with Ramgopal Varma at Vaishno Academy office.

He came out of the room after the interview. He wanted a small break before going on. During that break, director Puri Jagannath came to see Ramgopal Varma and both the creators spent some in the lawn at Vaishno office. Ramgopal Varma was very fond of Puri Jagannath's pet dogs. After their little chat, the crusader is back on mission.

Ramgopal Varma looked a bit tired (naturally.. he was interviewing from the morning). He put a big smile on his face.

The following are the excerpts on the discussion with Ramgopal Varma regarding Siva 2006, his upcoming films and related.

Welcome to Hyderabad
Oh ya (acknowledging sarcasm). Thank you.

How is Darwaja Bandh Rakho doing (That film is directed by JD and released few weeks ago)?
Not doing well.

Did you like the film personally?
I would not have made it, if I did not. But my liking has nothing to do with how the film did at the box office.

Coming to Siva, Why Siva again?
Why not Siva again? (laughs and continues).. some stories always have freshness and such will be always entertained by the audience. In fact, this is not the first time that I am reusing my stories. Bhoot is rehash of Raat, Satya is nothing but Antham.. I can go on. All it matters is how I feel about a story. If the story still inspires me, I will make it. If I made it in the past is out of question.

Though the story has same base, narration (presentation) is always different. That is the same case with Siva 2006 too. Story might be old but the package is different, presentation is different.

17 years ago Siva was called a trend setter. In these 17 years, I have gone through so much of technical advancement myself. That will now be reflected in this Siva 2006. I dont intend to say that I am trying to better Siva. Not even a character in Siva 2006 resembles one in Siva.

Lead character in Siva is a student where as in Siva 2006 he is a police officer, fresh out of academy. His reaction to the surprising and terrifying experience with the police department is Siva 2006. I made Siva as a viewer. Now I made Siva 2006 to cater to the audience.

Is this film targetted on police? (even the posters said policeley nerasthulaithey)
No. It reflects the reality and what we see in day-to-day. Every institute has both good and bad. I showed the same in this film.

The lead characters in your films are carrying more negative shades?
Do you really think so (laughs)? There are only two people who are negative here. One is me and the other is you (media). Look at the daily newspaper. What do you see a lot? Good or bad? It is filled with all negative news.

I try to speak reality in my films. I say it as reality and you say it as negative shades. I cannot show that every one is happy when in fact every one is not happy. I cannot make "Ramudu manchi baludu" type of films just for the heck of it.

Heard that Ramesh Sippy is not happy with your idea of remaking Sholay. Why are you remaking Sholay?
As I said before, if I like a story I will do it as a film. Consider Ramayanam for example. There are so many who wrote Ramayanam, who sang Ramanayam and who even made films. It is pleasant and interesting, be it narrated by MS Ramarao garu, Ushasri garu or BR Chopra. That beauty comes because of the essense in the story.

Sholay is story which has got right content, right essense and appeal. It inspired me. I will enjoy making it and audience will enjoying watching it.

Do you have to acquire rights when you rehash your films or others films?
It depends, Phani. It depends on how you are adapting the old one. I do not need any rights to make Sholay again. The way I am presenting the story is going to be entirely different. Just because the characters are being reused does not mean that I am taking the film frame by frame. Also, I am with in legal boundaries. I have consulted my lawyers on going with this film.

Why not Siva 2006 with Nagarjuna?
Nagarjuna was perfect as student in Siva. In Siva 2006, the lead character graduates out of Police academy and enters the police field. Mohit is apt for this role now. Cast is always per the demand of the story.

Coming to the cast, you often repeat your heroines, rather stick to one for some time. Initially it was Urmila, then Antra Mali, now Nisha Kotari.

I made 5 films with Manoj Bapai, 4 with Amitabh. Sandeep Chowta worked for 8 or more films. Why are you not asking about it. It is all in your perception. For me it is about the comfort level working with them, demand of the story. There is nothing more to it.

What are the highlights of Siva 2006?
It is Siva. Dont you think that itself is a highlight (laughs). Technically this film is, so far, my best one. Ilayaraja's music will be a highlight. We reused Jagada Jagadam song from Geetanjali, one song from Mantrigari Viyyankudu, one from Anandaragam, and Botany Patamundi song from Siva. The tunes are reused as it is. Lyrics are totally different though. Sirivennela penned all the lyrics.

Any plans of coming back to Hyderabad?
No. Not at all. I am well settled in Mumbai.

You earlier said that you were planning a Telugu film?
Did I say that? Probably, I would have. See, the ideas keep changing. At this point, I dont have any plans of a Telugu film. In future, may be.

You commented in an earlier interview that Shahrukh is not hero for your films. Why?
As I said before, cast is per demand of the story. Shahrukh is a family hero. I make a different genre of films. Tell me how does he fit into my films. And I finish movies in 2-3 months. I love making movies. If they are a hit or flop is a different question. I cannot just stick to a film for prolonged time. Dynamics are completely different here.

You are making about 8 films an year. Hindi Cinema will become Varma Cinema at this rate.
(laughs with a pride) As I said, I enjoy making films and I will continue making films at that rate.

What is movie to you then and now?
17 years is a long gap. Times have changed. There is so much change in my views too. The resource
power also changed. I used to read a lot of short stories during that time. I spent 400 Rs to buy the story books. Now I spend 4 crores to make movies. Darna Jaroori hai, darna mana hai came out of those short stories. But one thing is consistent - the passion in making films. I continue enjoying making films.

What do you see on watching Siva now?
Anytime you see your own work, you feel like something could have been done better. That is natural. But as I said already, Siva 2006 is not bettering the old one. It is just a thinking process.

Looks like you are taking audience for granted. During pre-release promotion you claim the excellence in the film and the director creating overhype pre-release. But once the movie do not stand up to the expectations, audience might not believe in you any more for next film.

I did not ask them to believe in me. Any one will be confident of his product and will have high praise for it. This is like "kondayya and puli" story. One day the "puli" will make a sudden appearance. Audience know that too.