Ram Gopal Varma and Vivek Oberoi patch up

Ram Gopal Varma is counted among the close friends of the Bachchan family, while Vivek Oberoi is considered neither close nor a friend of the family that his ex Aishwarya Bachchan married into, so it is interesting that Ramu has signed VO for a lead role in his next. And not very long ago, the director blasted the actor and called him unprofessional, starry, and swore never to work with him again; they had worked together in Company (and Ramu's home production Road).

Now the pair is coming together for Rakta Charitra. Ramu says he never had a problem with the actor, "It's just that he got busy with his work and I with mine. We met off and on. Also, after Company, I didn't have a better role for him."

He adds, "My decision to cast Vivek is a professional one as he's best suited to play the role of Paritala Ravi. It's a very complex role and Vivek has to play the man at different stages in life and differing ages. Rakta Charitra deals with the story of a rebel from the jungles rising to the position of a minister in NT Rama Rao's Cabinet. Ravi was a rebel, a political goonda, a killer of hundreds and yet a saviour of the thousands who still come to pay homage at his grave. After surviving several assassination attempts, Ravi was gunned down by a death squad allegedly put together by his arch rival Suri who wanted to avenge his father's and brother's deaths."

Ramu feels Vivek will do full justice to the role, "He has remarkable intensity in his eyes, and a voice which commands attention, an arrogance in his demeanour, power in his stance and a certain vulnerability in romantic scenes, which is what is needed to fit a role of Paritala Ravi's profile."
Ramu is also impressed with the actor's preparation for the part, "In just three days, he was ready with his research and look tests. I was sold on the look. I was absolutely convinced that my search had ended."

RGV adds, "Rakta Charitara will be shot at one stretch and will release in two parts (Rakta Charitra 1 and Rakta Charitra 2) three months apart. The first part will deal with Ravi going to the jungles and becoming a rebel and the second will be about his rise as a political gangster in mainstream politics."