Veteran actor Manoj Bajpayee believes filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma is rediscovering the creative spark that made him one of Indian cinema’s most influential directors, reports Indian Express.
The actor has described their upcoming horror-comedy, Police Station Mein Bhoot, as proof that the filmmaker has returned to top form.
Speaking in an interview with SCREEN, Bajpayee said he was convinced audiences would see a rejuvenated Varma in the new project, marking another chapter in one of Bollywood’s most enduring actor-director collaborations.
Bajpayee and Varma first worked together in the 1997 film Daud, before creating cinematic history with Satya in 1998.
Bajpayee’s portrayal of gangster Bhiku Mhatre became a defining performance in his career, and the duo later collaborated on films including Kaun, Shool, Road and Sarkar 3.
Reflecting on their latest venture, Bajpayee expressed confidence that Varma has rediscovered the passion that defined his early work.
“It’s a wild film. He’s back, I can tell you that. Ram Gopal Varma is back with Police Station Mein Bhoot. There’s no doubt about it,” Bajpayee said.
He stressed that his praise was genuine and not influenced by his involvement in the project.
“I’m not saying it because I’m part of the film. Ramu is capable of selling his own films. He doesn’t need Manoj Bajpayee for that,” he added.
The actor compared Varma’s current creative energy to the enthusiasm he displayed while making some of his most celebrated films.
According to Bajpayee, the filmmaker now approaches filmmaking with the same curiosity and excitement that once defined his work.
“The kid in him is back. He used to be like a child in a candy store while making those great films. I don’t know what changed over the years, but only he can explain that,” Bajpayee said.
Bajpayee also revealed that Varma asked him not to prepare extensively for his role as a police officer in the film.
Instead, the director encouraged him to stay flexible because the script and scenes would continue evolving during production.
“He told me, ‘Manoj, just do me a favour. Don’t prepare for this film. Just remember he’s a policeman because I’ll keep changing a lot of things,’” Bajpayee recalled.
The actor admitted the unconventional approach kept him constantly alert on set.
He explained that he often received scenes moments before filming, forcing him to quickly memorise dialogue, revise lines and rehearse with fellow actors.
“It was a joyride, but also extremely demanding. I had to find a quiet corner on a noisy set, learn the scenes and work through them with my co-stars. He kept throwing new things at me, which kept me on my toes,” he said.
Police Station Mein Bhoot is a horror-comedy directed by Ram Gopal Varma and stars Manoj Bajpayee, Genelia D’Souza and Ramya Krishnan in key roles.
The film marks another reunion between Bajpayee and Varma after Sarkar 3 (2017).
