Ram Gopal Varma reveals how Urmila Matondkar’s song in ‘Rangeela’ led to her casting in ‘Bhoot’: 'That close up is what...'

Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma recently shared an interesting anecdote about casting Urmila Matondkar in his acclaimed horror film ‘Bhoot’. According to the director, a single expression by the actor in the song ‘Hai Rama’ from ‘Rangeela’ convinced him she had the intensity required to headline the supernatural thriller.Released in 2003, ‘Bhoot’ became a box-office success and is still considered one of the most memorable horror films in Hindi cinema. Matondkar’s performance as a woman possessed by a spirit earned widespread praise and several awards.

Why Urmila Matondkar was chosen for ‘Bhoot’

Speaking about his decision to cast Urmila Matondkar, Ram Gopal Varma shared with PTI that a particular moment in ‘Rangeela’ stayed with him for years. He said, “I decided to cast Urmila in the role because of one expression she did in another completely different film of mine.”

The filmmaker elaborated that the close-up shot of Matondkar in the song ‘Hai Rama’, where she appears in a red dress and looks intensely at Jackie Shroff, left a strong impression on him.RGV added, “The expression in the ‘Hai Rama’ song from ‘Rangeela’ struck so strongly in my head… that close up is what actually convinced me she can pull this role in ‘Bhoot’.”

The story and impact of ‘Bhoot’

‘Bhoot’ follows a young married couple who move into an apartment that turns out to be haunted.

The film starred Ajay Devgn and Urmila Matondkar as the couple whose lives spiral into chaos after they begin experiencing supernatural events. As the unexplained occurrences intensify, Matondkar’s character slowly descends into psychological turmoil, creating a gripping horror experience for audiences.

On working with Urmila Matondkar across genres

When asked whether he would collaborate with Urmila Matondkar again, Ram Gopal Varma said he currently has no plans.

He remarked, “Right now, I don't have anything. I must have done every kind of genre with her from ‘Satya’ to ‘Rangeela’ to ‘Bhoot’ and ‘Ek Hasina Thi’.”Over the years, the filmmaker and actor have worked together in several memorable projects including ‘Satya’, ‘Rangeela’, ‘Bhoot’ and ‘Ek Hasina Thi’.

Why cast matters in horror films?

Varma also emphasised that casting plays a crucial role in the success of a horror film, as the audience’s fear largely depends on how convincingly the actors portray their emotions.He explained, “I feel casting is the most important thing because what the characters are feeling on screen the audience will feel the same, especially even more so in a horror film.” According to the director, the actors’ expressions carry the majority of the impact in such films. He added, “The expressions of actors play around 80 per cent of the importance; sound, music, and all other things play about 20 per cent.”

Inspiration from ‘The Exorcist’

Ram Gopal Varma also spoke about how classic horror cinema shaped his approach to the genre. He admitted that he has been a long-time admirer of ‘The Exorcist’. He recalled watching the film as a teenager and being deeply affected by it. He said, “I saw it when I was a teenager and I couldn't sleep; I was not myself for a month.” Interestingly, the director revealed that he has not revisited ‘Bhoot’ since its release more than two decades ago.While discussing the making of ‘Bhoot’, Varma revealed that his initial concept involved the typical horror setting of a haunted mansion. He shared, “When I was making ‘Bhoot’, my first idea was to set it in some kind of a haveli.” However, the idea later evolved into setting the story in a modern apartment in Mumbai’s Lokhandwala area. He explained, “Let's set it in Lokhandwala… I think horror works best when the people sitting in the theatre feel it can happen to them.”The filmmaker believes that horror films work best when they keep the narrative simple and focus more on atmosphere and emotion. He said, “There are various ways to make a horror film. I feel a horror film should never have too much of a story.” Referring again to ‘The Exorcist’, Varma added that minimal storytelling can sometimes create a stronger impact on audiences.Upcoming collaboration with Manoj BajpayeeOn the work front, Ram Gopal Varma is set to reunite with Manoj Bajpayee for the upcoming horror-comedy ‘Police Station Mein Bhoot’. The two have previously collaborated on notable films such as ‘Satya’, ‘Kaun’ and ‘Shool’. Varma revealed that the new project is expected to release sometime in May.