Ram Gopal Varma and Mohit Suri Team Up for a New Gangster Drama: What We Know So Far
RGV’s new film is being described as even more grounded than ‘Satya’. Directed by Mohit Suri, the story will be based on a pivotal era of the Mumbai underworld.
Mumbai: Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma is returning to the crime genre with a new project that brings him together with director Mohit Suri. The upcoming film is being planned as a two-lead gangster drama, with Suri set to direct while Varma has taken charge of the story and screenplay. He will also serve as one of the producers.
Although the project is still at an early stage, Varma has already offered a glimpse into its subject and scale. The filmmaker has suggested that the film could be bigger in scale than Dhurandhar while being more emotionally grounded than his acclaimed 1998 crime drama Satya.
The film will reportedly draw from a crucial period in Mumbai’s underworld history, particularly the fallout from the split between Dawood Ibrahim and Chhota Rajan. The narrative is also expected to touch upon developments following the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts and the role of Indian intelligence agencies.
However, several key details remain unknown. The makers have not yet announced the official title, final cast, budget or release date.
RGV Gives a Glimpse Into the Story
Varma discussed the project on social media on September 14, revealing that the story is set around the period when Dawood Ibrahim and Chhota Rajan went their separate ways.
The filmmaker also referred to a character named ‘Sautya’, who appears to be linked to the events surrounding the underworld split. At present, it has not been clarified whether Sautya is based on an actual individual, inspired by a known figure from Mumbai’s criminal history or created specifically for the film.
The story is expected to extend beyond the rivalry between underworld groups. According to Varma’s description, the screenplay will also examine developments that took place after the 1993 Mumbai blasts and bring Indian intelligence agencies into the larger narrative.
This indicates that the film could combine several elements, including organised crime, intelligence operations, personal rivalries and real events from one of the most turbulent periods in Mumbai’s history.
‘Dhurandhar’ and ‘Satya’ Have Been Mentioned
Varma’s comments have attracted attention largely because of the comparison he has drawn between the upcoming film, Dhurandhar and Satya.
The filmmaker has claimed that the new project will have a larger scale than Dhurandhar, while its emotional treatment will be even more grounded than Satya. These are Varma’s own comparisons and should not be taken as an established assessment of the finished film, which is still in development.
According to Varma, the basic story and screenplay he developed have been given a different treatment by Suri. The director is expected to bring emotionally layered characters, music and realistic action into the crime-based narrative.
The reference to Satya is particularly notable given Varma’s history with the genre. Released in 1998, Satya featured J.D. Chakravarthy, Manoj Bajpayee, Urmila Matondkar, Paresh Rawal and Saurabh Shukla. Rather than presenting the Mumbai underworld solely through violence and action, the film built its impact around its characters, their relationships and the circumstances that pushed them deeper into crime.
The new collaboration appears to revisit that territory while attempting to give it a different cinematic treatment.
Mohit Suri Steps Into Crime Territory
For Mohit Suri, the project marks a notable departure from the genre that has largely defined his career.
Suri has become known for films driven by romance, music and intense emotional conflicts. His recent film Saiyaara further strengthened his connection with younger audiences and gave his career fresh momentum.
A crime drama centred on Mumbai’s underworld would therefore take him into relatively unfamiliar territory.
At the same time, Varma has indicated that Suri’s contribution will not be limited to directing the existing material. His approach is expected to bring a stronger emotional layer to the characters while combining music and realistic action with the crime narrative.
The collaboration consequently brings together two filmmakers associated with very different cinematic strengths. Varma has spent a substantial part of his career exploring crime and power structures, whereas Suri has primarily worked with emotional and relationship-driven stories.
How those styles ultimately merge will be one of the major points of interest once the film moves into production.
Two Central Male Characters
The film is being developed around two major male protagonists. Both characters are expected to play important roles in the larger story, although the actors who will portray them have not been officially revealed.
There has been speculation that the makers are considering established stars for the two roles. However, no casting announcement has been made so far, and names circulating in reports should therefore be treated as unconfirmed.
The production timeline is also still being worked out. Reports have suggested that filming could begin towards the end of 2027, but there is no final shooting schedule yet.
Casting, pre-production requirements and the scale of the project are likely to determine when cameras actually begin rolling.
Yash Raj Films Reportedly Linked to the Project
The project is also reportedly associated with Yash Raj Films, adding another major name to the developing production.
Despite the growing interest around the film, the makers have kept several details confidential. The official title, complete cast, production budget, shooting locations and theatrical release date are yet to be announced.
Since the project is still being developed, information regarding its cast and schedule could change before the filmmakers make an official announcement.
The Dawood-Chhota Rajan Chapter
The central historical backdrop of the film comes from a major turning point in Mumbai’s organised crime history.
Dawood Ibrahim became associated with the D-Company network and has been designated a terrorist by the Indian government under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. His name has featured prominently in cases and investigations involving organised crime and terror-related activities.
Chhota Rajan was once associated with Dawood before the two eventually separated. Their split became a significant development in Mumbai’s underworld, with the rivalry between the two sides continuing for years.
The upcoming film is expected to use this period as the backdrop for its fictional narrative. However, it remains unclear how closely the screenplay will follow documented events and how much creative liberty the filmmakers will take.
Rather than functioning as a straightforward retelling of the underworld rivalry, the film appears to be using that period as the starting point for a broader story involving crime, intelligence agencies and the aftermath of major attacks.
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The 1993 Mumbai Blasts Form Another Important Layer
The narrative will also reportedly connect with the aftermath of the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts.
On March 12, 1993, a series of coordinated explosions hit Mumbai. The attacks killed 257 people and left around 1,400 injured, according to figures recorded in the Supreme Court judgment related to the case.
The blasts became one of the most significant chapters in the history of organised crime, terrorism and counter-terror investigations in India.
Varma’s description suggests that the film will not simply recreate the bombings on screen. Instead, the story is expected to focus on what unfolded in their aftermath, including developments involving Indian intelligence agencies.
The exact manner in which these historical events will be incorporated into the fictional story will become clearer once more details about the screenplay are revealed.
Who Is ‘Sautya’?
Among the details revealed by Varma, the reference to ‘Sautya’ has generated particular curiosity.
The character is mentioned in connection with the period surrounding the Dawood-Chhota Rajan split, but the filmmakers have not explained who Sautya is supposed to represent.
There is currently no official confirmation that the character corresponds to a particular real-life underworld figure. Sautya could potentially be a fictional character inspired by events from that period.
That uncertainty is significant because the film appears to mix real historical developments with fictional storytelling. Until the makers provide more information, it would be premature to draw a direct connection between the character and any particular individual.
Varma Returns to Familiar Territory
The project marks another return to the world of organised crime for Varma, a genre that has played a major role in his career.
Following Satya, he continued exploring the Mumbai underworld through films such as Company and D. His crime stories often focused not just on gang warfare but also on the personalities, loyalties and relationships that existed within criminal networks.
The new collaboration with Suri gives Varma an opportunity to revisit that world while allowing another filmmaker to bring a different emotional and visual sensibility to the material.
Varma has several other projects in development as well. His upcoming Police Station Mein Bhoot features Manoj Bajpayee, along with Ramya Krishnan and Genelia D’Souza. Another project, Police Company, has reportedly been linked to actor Harshvardhan Rane.
What Lies Ahead for Mohit Suri
For Suri, the gangster drama comes after the success of Saiyaara and could become one of the more significant genre shifts of his career.
The filmmaker is also reportedly working on another project featuring Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, with the film said to be associated with Yash Raj Films.
His collaboration with Varma, however, is particularly notable because it moves him away from the romantic and emotional space for which he is best known and into a darker world of organised crime and intelligence operations.
For now, the Ram Gopal Varma-Mohit Suri film remains under development. Its title, cast, shooting schedule and release date are yet to be officially confirmed.
What has already emerged, however, is the broad outline of an ambitious crime drama built around the Mumbai underworld, the Dawood-Chhota Rajan split, the aftermath of the 1993 blasts and the involvement of intelligence agencies. With Varma handling the story and Suri bringing his own emotional filmmaking approach, the project is shaping up as an unusual combination of two distinct cinematic styles.