Ram Gopal Varma questions Rajinikanth and Amitabh Bachchan’s acting prowess due to their ‘demigod’ status: ‘I don’t know if Rajinikanth can exist without slow motion’
Director Ram Gopal Varma recently shared his thoughts on the difference between stars and actors, suggesting that iconic figures like Rajinikanth and Amitabh Bachchan might not be the best actors due to their “demigod” status. RGV mentioned he couldn’t imagine Rajinikanth without slow motion and recalled disliking a specific scene where Amitabh Bachchan acted like he had a stomach ache.
In an interview with Pinkvilla, RGV questioned Rajinikanth’s acting ability, wondering if he could play a character like Bhikhu Mhatre (from Satya) and suggesting that he doesn’t know if Rajinikanth can exist without slow motion. He said watching Rajinikanth in slow motion is enough for his audience. Varma believes that audiences are happy to see Rajinikanth walking in slow motion for half a film, and that watching a “star do a normal character” can be “disappointing.
RGV recounted watching Amitabh Bachchan portray a character with a stomach ache, saying he “used to hate that scene.” He explained that he prefers to see these iconic figures as “demigods” who shouldn’t be reduced to ordinary characters with everyday illnesses.
Ram also expressed his guilt over the failure of ‘RGV Ki Aag’, particularly because Amitabh put his reputation at risk by agreeing to star in the film. RGV acknowledged that the film became a “laughing stock,” and he felt responsible for letting Bachchan down. He admitted that he was more occupied with ‘Sholay’ on a shot-to-shot basis, and the “emotion went out of my head”.
