In a recent candid interview, director Ram Gopal Varma responded to the long-standing rumors of him having a romantic relationship with actress Urmila Matondkar. In earlier interactions, the veteran director, known for hits like ‘Rangeela’ and ‘Satya’, compared his frequent collaboration with Urmila to his work with Amitabh Bachchan, and wondered why only the former sparked such intense romantic speculation.
Popular director Ram Gopal Varma aka RGV has finally addressed the long-running speculations surrounding the relationship with his former muse, Urmila Matondkar. In a recent candid interview, the director dismissed the speculation with his characteristic candor.
Speaking about the “affair” which is said to have started 28 years ago during the height of their professional collaboration, Varma made it clear that he “always denies it”.
“
Ram Gopal Varma links rumors with Urmila Matondkar
The rumors go back to the mid-1990s, after the huge success of the classic film Rangeela (1995). The duo subsequently collaborated in several blockbuster films, including ‘Satya’, ‘Daud’, ‘Bhoot’ and ‘Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya’.
Rangeela turns 30: Urmila Matondkar recreates ‘Rangeela Re’ song to celebrate musical masterpiece
When asked directly about the “truth” behind the issue, RGV offered a philosophical but firm denial, saying: “You see my point…
If there is a truth, why don’t I tell it? That’s a long time you’re talking about, 28 years. The point is, I don’t want to talk about anything that happened a long time ago. I can always deny it, that’s the same thing I’ll do [even now]”.
Ram Gopal Varma’s previous stance on link-up rumours
RGV has long maintained that his repeated casting of Urmila was driven by her immense talent and not her personal feelings. In his autobiography titled Guns & Thighs, the director admitted that he was mesmerized by Urmila’s screen presence and that he inspired the character of Mili in Rangeela.
Additionally, the veteran director often uses his extensive work with Amitabh Bachchan as a touchstone to highlight how the media selectively targets male-female professional pairings for the sake of gossip.The rumors were not without consequences. Reports from the 1990s suggested that these speculations negatively affected RJV’s marriage to his ex-wife Ratna Varma. Meanwhile, Urmila Matondkar, who quit the industry at the peak of her career, recently made headlines for filing for divorce from her husband, Mohsin Akhtar Mir, in late 2024.
