Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has revisited a tumultuous chapter in Hindi cinema, particularly the 1990s when the Mumbai underworld exerted significant influence over the film industry. His insights shed light on how threats, illicit funding, and casting pressures often stemmed from organized crime, particularly those led by notorious figures such as Dawood Ibrahim.
During a conversation with crime writer Hussain Zaidi, Varma asserted that the actions of the underworld were deliberate rather than random. He elaborated on how gangsters utilized fear as a means to exert control, specifically targeting high-profile individuals. Notable personalities like Rakesh Roshan and Salman Khan were seen as examples of this strategy, demonstrating the gangsters’ intent to assert dominance over prominent figures in the industry.
Varma emphasized that the motivation behind these threats extended beyond mere financial gain; it was fundamentally about exerting power. By intimidating major stars, the underworld sought to create a culture of fear to establish their authority. He explained that access to major actors, such as Hrithik Roshan, was often met with intimidation tactics. According to him, the message was clear: disobedience could lead to dire consequences.
The conversation revealed a direct connection between this atmosphere of fear and the attack on Rakesh Roshan in January 2000, shortly after his film “Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai” achieved significant success. Varma alleged that criminal elements were interested in controlling Roshan’s film schedules and that when Rakesh resisted their demands, violence ensued. On January 21, gunmen assaulted him outside his office, an act he survived but one that underscored the perilous climate within the industry.
Reflecting on the incident, Rakesh Roshan later recounted how he was under intense pressure to allocate dates for his son Hrithik’s work. He characterized this period as one filled with fear and intimidation from the underworld.
Varma also touched upon the murder of Gulshan Kumar in 1997, attributing it to a convergence of jealousy, power struggles, and his refusal to capitulate to extortion demands. Kumar’s success had positioned him as a prominent figure in the industry, making him a target for rival factions within organized crime. Varma noted that influential gangsters may have viewed Kumar’s murder as a method to enhance their reputations among peers.
On the day of Kumar’s death, Varma was at a colleague’s residence when he learned of the shocking news, leaving those gathered in disbelief.
The 1990s were characterized by a complex relationship between Bollywood and the underworld, with numerous levels of interaction, including financing and coercion. Former police officials, such as Mumbai’s Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime), D Sivanandhan, have acknowledged that several films portraying gangland life were reportedly financed through these criminal networks.
The pervasive atmosphere of fear during this period was evident, with images occasionally surfacing of film personalities socializing with underworld figures, especially in the Middle East. Varma’s films, including “Satya,” “Company,” and “D,” often draw inspiration from these harrowing real-life experiences, reflecting the intersection of cinema and the underworld during this dark chapter in Bollywood history.