Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma, who is currently busy promoting the re-release of Rangeela, sat down exclusively with Pinkvilla. The critically acclaimed director went down memory lane and shared some incredible anecdotes and behind-the-scenes stories about his rich filmography and career.
Ram Gopal Varma was questioned about his first battle with the Censor Board of Film Certification. On this he recalled the heated argument he had with CBFC regarding his 1994 film Govinda Govinda. RGV said, “I have made a Telugu film called Govinda Govinda, which is based on the robbery in Balaji’s Tirupati temple, where they try to steal the jewellery. The censor board has a problem about how people can come into the temple with shoes.”
Watch the full interview below:
The Satya director further explained his reasoning and revealed that he was forced to cut all such scenes. Ram Gopal Varma said, “I said they had come to loot the temple, why would they take off their shoes? And they argued wildly and since they are in power, they made me cut most of the scenes.”
Let us tell you, Govinda featured Nagarjuna and Sridevi in the lead roles along with Paresh Rawal, Kota Srinivas Rao and Master Anil Raj. Arun Govil played the role of Lord Vishnu in the film. The film Heist, released in 1994, did not do much at the box office and proved unsuccessful. Later, this film starring Nagarjuna was also dubbed into Hindi with the name The Great Robbery.
Produced by Vyjayanthi Movies, Govinda was Ram Gopal Varma’s third film with Govinda Nagarjuna, after their earlier collaborations, Shiva (1989) and Anthem Drohi (1992).
Ram Gopal Varma’s Rangeela (1995), starring Aamir Khan, Jackie Shroff and Urmila Matondkar, is returning to theaters on November 28, 2025, in 4K restored quality.
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Also read: EXCLUSIVE: Ram Gopal Varma exposed the Telugu cinema industry, said- ‘Bollywood makes as many flop films as it does’