Bollywood boulevard

To take you back so you can understand the whole background, Varma lashed out against Aamir in an interview shortly after the release of Ran...

YOU must have read about the patch-up between Aamir Khan and Ram gopal Varma. But do you believe them? I, for one, don8217;t. Fine, so the two of them ran into each other recently, and perhaps they did exchange pleasantries. But don8217;t get all hopeful. It8217;s highly unlikely that they will be working together anytime soon.

To take you back so you can understand the whole background, Varma lashed out against Aamir in an interview shortly after the release of Rangeela. The filmmaker said he wasn8217;t particularly satisfied with the actor8217;s performance in the film, and insisted that in one scene even a junior artiste outperformed Aamir. And Aamir vowed he would never work with him again.

Since then, both have gone on to do good work without the other. Aamir left an indelible impression with Sarfarosh, wowed the world with Lagaan, and stole the show in Dil Chahta Hai. Varma, meanwhile, silenced his detractors with Satya, and is now basking in the glory of Company.

Aamir and Varma have carefully avoided each other in the interim. They have hardly any common friends Varma broke off with financier Jhamu Sughand after Rangeela, Aamir swears by Sughand, and practically no reason to bump into each other.

To say that either needs the other would be unfair. Aamir has hit big-time with relative unknowns like John Matthew Mathan, Farhan Akhtar and Ashutosh Gowariker, and he8217;s delivered two of his biggest duds with so-called top filmmakers Mann with Indra Kumar, Mela with Dharmesh Darshan. Varma hit bull8217;s eye with mostly first-timers in Satya, and suffered his biggest losses on the star-heavy Daud. However, Rangeela is considered one of Varma8217;s finest films, and among Aamir8217;s best performances. With both at the peak of their careers, now might be the best time to collaborate on a spellbinder. But it8217;s not likely to happen.

Neither forgive too easily. Neither have forgotten the bitterness. So don8217;t be fooled. They might pose together for a picture at a party, but neither will extend the olive branch. It would be great to see them work together again. But it8217;s not going to happen. Hate to be the harbinger of bad news, but somebody8217;s got to do the dirty job.