‘One meeting with Shah Rukh Khan and I realised he won’t work for Company’: Ram Gopal Varma recalls how he cast Ajay Devgn after stepping out of SRK’s home

He further explained why he decided against casting Shah Rukh: “There’s a difference between a performing actor and an actor, I don’t mean one is less or more, it’s just a style of acting. Someone like Shah Rukh should be left to himself. I think when directors try to impose different kinds of characters on him, it doesn’t really work, not that he hasn’t done different things, of course he has. But Ajay, he’s a natural for that role. His natural body language, very calm, composed, fits perfectly. That’s when I decided on Ajay.”

RGV revealed that he realized Shah Rukh wouldn’t be suitable for the role during their very first meeting: “I just had one meeting, and in that meeting itself, I realised it wouldn’t work. And in fact, I came out of Shah Rukh’s house, and on the way to my office, I decided on Ajay. I called him, and then went and met him and he instantly said yes.”

Varma shared a similar story regarding the casting of Mohanlal for the film. Initially, he considered Kamal Haasan: “I went to meet Kamal, and while I was talking to him, I suddenly realized that Kamal’s acting style is very, I don’t know what to call it, very stylised, you know? I felt that kind of style, in the atmosphere of Company, would look very fake, too cinematic, you know? And just like with Shah Rukh, while I was at Kamal’s house, I messaged Mohanlal from there itself and went to meet him right after.”

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Ram Gopal Varma is currently gearing up for his film with Manoj Bajpayee, Police Station Mein Bhoot. In an exclusive conversation with SCREEN, Bajpayee reflected on working with Varma again after a long hiatus and what felt different this time: “It’s too early to say anything, but at least we’ve finished one schedule. This Ram Gopal Varma 2.0 is really going to blow your mind. In the first schedule, I myself was blown away by the taking, by the craft. Every shot, every detail, every suggestion kept me on my toes. I realized this isn’t the Ram Gopal Varma I had worked with before. This is a new RGV, someone who’s collaborating more than just directing, and surprising you with the way he sets up a scene. So yes, it’s still early, but I can say he’s going to be back, and how!”