Ram Gopal Varma, Vivek patch up, plan more projects

Mumbai, Feb 12 (IANS) Ram Gopal Varma, with whom Vivek Oberoi is working in 'Rakta Charitra', is one of the many people the actor fell out with. But now the two have become the closest of friends and are planning at least two more films together.

The two even converse in Telugu, Varma's mother tongue, which Vivek learnt for 'Rakta Charitra'.

'Ramuji was pissed off. And rightly so. He had picked me up from nowhere and made me a star. He was embittered by the way I turned. I lost a lot of my friends. And that included Ramuji,' Vivek said emotionally.

Now the two are back on an even pitch and are planning at least two more films together.

Incidentally, Vivek is the only protege whom Varma has chosen to patch up with. The ones he has had permanent fall-outs with include Manoj Bajpai, Aftab Shivdasani, Randeep Hooda and Mohit Ahlawat.

Reacting to rumours of a patch-up with Bajpai, Varma retorts: 'Mere itne bhi bure din nahin aaye hain. (I have not fallen upon such bad days).'

Vivek even took the trailer of his new film 'Prince It's Showtime' to Hyderabad where he was shooting with Varma.

'Ramuji booked a theatre at the film city in Hyderabad to watch it. Not just that. I left the theatre after a while since late nights don't suit me. I had a shoot in the morning. But my director chose to stay on watching the trailer over and over again. Ramuji has always been a mentor. I'm sorry if I let him down in the past,' Vivek said.

Shatrughan Sinha, who forms the third element in the new Ramu-Vivek alliance, too watched the trailer with Varma.

Vivek just can't stop raving about Shatrughan, his co-star in 'Rakta Charitra'. 'He's so generous and warm. He makes me feel so special every day on the sets. He's an inspiration. I call him Super Sarkar. He's so larger than life. He's the only politician who is never politically correct.'

Vivek is gearing up for the release of 'Prince It's Showtime' which is rumoured to be a remake of the 1960s' Shammi Kapoor starrer 'Prince'.

'Ha, ha. I wish. People feel it might be a takeoff on Shammi Kapoorji in Prince, or they feel it is a costume drama. Let them see what it is. I don't want to give away the plot. Hats off to Kumar Tauraniji for having faith in me. I knew it would be risky. He pulled out all the stops to make Prince look lavish,' Vivek chortles.