Barely a couple of days before the release of Not a Love Story , Ram Gopal Varma has his hands full. He is busy not just promoting the film, but also facing legal threats from Maria Susairaj and Emile Jerome (wife of Jerome Matthews). The silver lining is he has managed to pacify Neeraj Grover's parents. “They were apprehensive about whether I've shown their son in a negative light. Through a common friend, I conveyed to them that the film doesn't show him indulging in the casting couch. So they have no problem with my film,” says Varma.
On the other hand, both Maria and Jerome sent him legal notices wanting to see the film prior to the release. Varma is determined to do nothing of that sort. “I have also, legally, responded to them stating that the film has been inspired by the case and is not an exact representation of real incidents. It is within my legal rights to make a film inspired by any incident of crime,” he states.
He rues that most people don't understand how a film can be ‘inspired' by a person or an incident. “ Sarkar , for instance, was inspired by Bal Thackarey but was not the story of his life. I wanted to show that if a person like Bal Thackarey can command respect in Mumbai, so can someone like Sarkar. Here (in Not a Love Story) , the trigger for me was to try and understand the psychology of two people who could commit such a heinous act,” explains Varma.
Stories of crime and intrigue are not new to Varma, but this incident of murder, he says, is unlike the regular stories of faction and the underworld. “Everyone is aware about crime during faction wars and in the underworld. But here, we are talking about two ordinary individuals, who turned monsters in the eyes of people because they have killed a person, cut his body into pieces and transported them in shopping bags. I believe no one is good or evil. Criminals are, at times, victims of their surroundings,” he argues.
While planning and executing the film, Varma says he did not anticipate the verdict of the Maria Susairaj and Neeraj Grover case to be announced. “No one can predict the judiciary. It was just incredulous coincidence that the verdict came when my film was nearing completion,” he says.
He maintains his statement that he is open to casting Maria Susairaj in a film if there is a suitable role. At the same time, he is all praise for Mahie Gill for her “terrific” performance in the role inspired by Maria. Not a Love Story was shot in the Dheeraj Solitaire building where Neeraj Grover was murdered. Ram Gopal Varma defends his choice of location, “The building became the centre of media attention during the case. I wanted to shoot there to maintain the authenticity. I spoke to the building authorities and they agreed.”
Post Not a Love Story , Varma's production Shabri will see the light of the day on August 26. On the five-year long wait for Shabri's release, he says, “The delay is because of the sum total of many reasons, both technical and otherwise. The genre (the story of a female crime lord in Mumbai) was new and I was also busy with other projects. Now is the right time to release it.”
