In a recent candid chat featuring Ram Gopal Varma (RGV)<\/strong>, Nagarjuna Akkineni<\/strong>, and Sandeep Reddy Vanga<\/strong>, the conversation took an unexpected turn when RGV revealed how SS Rajamouli<\/strong> reacted after watching Animal<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The revelation came during promotions for the re-release of Nagarjuna\u2019s cult classic Shiva<\/em>, which is set to hit theaters again on November 14, 2025<\/strong>, marking its 36th anniversary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While reminiscing about filmmaking and storytelling, RGV shared Rajamouli\u2019s blunt yet fascinating reaction to Vanga\u2019s film \u2014 a reaction that perfectly captured the kind of shock and admiration Animal<\/em> evoked in both audiences and industry insiders alike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Recalling Rajamouli\u2019s call, RGV said, \u201cAfter the release of Animal<\/em>, SS Rajamouli called me and said, \u2018I compared Sandeep Reddy Vanga with you earlier. I take my words back, he is the Ram Gopal Varma ka baap<\/em>.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n RGV laughed as he narrated the story, adding that he wasn\u2019t even aware Rajamouli had ever compared Sandeep to him before. But he agreed that the Animal<\/em> director had certainly earned the title with his bold, no-holds-barred approach to filmmaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n RGV continued, \u201cSandeep is unique in his attitude. The way he constructs characters and frames scenes shows how fearlessly he challenges cinematic norms.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n While RGV praised Sandeep Reddy Vanga\u2019s unapologetic style and emotional intensity, he didn\u2019t shy away from criticizing parts of Animal<\/em>. He admitted that while the film pushed boundaries, certain moments \u2014 particularly the controversial scene where Zoya (played by Triptii Dimri<\/strong>) is asked to lick the protagonist\u2019s shoe \u2014 felt \u201cinconsistent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n RGV\u2019s critique echoed what many filmgoers had debated \u2014 that while Animal<\/em>\u2019s raw energy and visual spectacle were compelling, its portrayal of relationships, especially between father and son, raised questions about emotional coherence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He noted that Animal<\/em>\u2019s depiction of toxic masculinity and violent father-son dynamics may have gone overboard at times, but acknowledged that Sandeep Reddy Vanga\u2019s courage to provoke conversation<\/strong> was what truly set him apart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Directed and co-written by Sandeep Reddy Vanga, Animal<\/em> starred Ranbir Kapoor<\/strong> as Ranvijay Singh<\/strong>, a man haunted by his troubled relationship with his father, Balbir Singh<\/strong> (played by Anil Kapoor<\/strong>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n After years abroad, Ranvijay returns home when an assassination attempt on his father\u2019s life pulls him into a violent, emotional spiral. The film\u2019s combination of stylized brutality, raw emotion, and dysfunctional family ties created an intense cinematic experience that polarized audiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite receiving mixed reviews, Animal<\/em> went on to become one of the biggest box-office blockbusters of 2023<\/strong>, proving that Vanga\u2019s fearless storytelling resonated deeply with the masses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The ensemble cast \u2014 including Rashmika Mandanna<\/strong>, Bobby Deol<\/strong>, and Triptii Dimri<\/strong> \u2014 helped amplify the film\u2019s emotional core. Bobby Deol, in particular, was widely praised for his chilling portrayal of the antagonist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That SS Rajamouli \u2014 one of India\u2019s most celebrated filmmakers, known for mega-blockbusters like Baahubali<\/em> and RRR<\/em> \u2014 would compare Vanga to RGV, and then call him his \u201cbaap,\u201d speaks volumes about how Animal<\/em> shook up the creative landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The comment, while humorous, also symbolized the passing of the torch between generations of directors who dare to break rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n RGV\u2019s early films, like Shiva<\/em> and Satya<\/em>, revolutionized Indian cinema with their gritty realism and fearless storytelling. Similarly, Vanga\u2019s films (Arjun Reddy<\/em>, Kabir Singh<\/em>, Animal<\/em>) have redefined the modern cinematic language of aggression, love, and obsession.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In essence, Rajamouli\u2019s quip acknowledges Vanga\u2019s arrival as a filmmaker who wields shock value as skillfully as storytelling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After Animal<\/em>\u2019s roaring success, fans are eagerly waiting for its sequel, Animal Park<\/em>. The post-credits scene of Animal<\/em> teased the next chapter, hinting at an even darker, more complex continuation of Ranvijay\u2019s story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While plot details are still under wraps, Vanga has hinted that Animal Park<\/em> will delve deeper into Ranvijay\u2019s psyche and family legacy \u2014 possibly exploring the generational effects of violence and ambition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Given how Animal<\/em> divided critics but dominated theaters, the sequel is already one of the most anticipated projects in Bollywood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, SS Rajamouli himself is gearing up for another cinematic spectacle. His next film, tentatively titled SSMB29<\/strong>, stars Mahesh Babu<\/strong>, Priyanka Chopra Jonas<\/strong>, and Prithviraj Sukumaran<\/strong> in leading roles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Described as a global jungle adventure<\/strong>, the film is expected to blend myth, exploration, and action in Rajamouli\u2019s signature larger-than-life style. The grand title reveal event is set for November 15, 2025<\/strong>, and the project is already creating huge buzz across the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The conversation between RGV, Nagarjuna, and Sandeep Reddy Vanga also marked a nostalgic moment for Indian cinema fans. Nagarjuna\u2019s Shiva<\/em>, directed by RGV in 1989, is set to re-release on November 14, 2025<\/strong>, in 4K format.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The film is widely regarded as one of the most influential works in Telugu and Hindi cinema \u2014 not just for its story but for introducing a new style of realism, camera work, and background score that changed how action films were made in India.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The reunion between Nagarjuna and RGV, with Sandeep Reddy Vanga joining the conversation, symbolized a generational bridge \u2014 from RGV\u2019s gritty realism to Vanga\u2019s visceral intensity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When SS Rajamouli \u2014 India\u2019s most visionary director \u2014 calls Sandeep Reddy Vanga \u201cRam Gopal Varma ka baap,\u201d it\u2019s more than a joke. It\u2019s a statement about cinematic evolution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It reflects how filmmakers like Vanga are redefining storytelling for a new era, just as RGV did decades ago. Whether you love or hate Animal<\/em>, there\u2019s no denying its impact \u2014 and Rajamouli\u2019s reaction only reinforces that Vanga has become a creative force impossible to ignore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As RGV summed it up, Sandeep Reddy Vanga\u2019s confidence and audacity may divide opinions, but they\u2019ve brought back the kind of raw, fearless filmmaking that once made Indian cinema legendary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SS Rajamouli\u2019s Big Compliment to Sandeep Reddy Vanga In a recent candid chat featuring Ram Gopal Varma (RGV), Nagarjuna Akkineni, and Sandeep Reddy Vanga, the conversation took an unexpected turn when RGV revealed how SS Rajamouli reacted after watching Animal. The revelation came during promotions for the re-release of Nagarjuna\u2019s cult classic Shiva, which is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3454,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[972,378,974,930,978,975,971,377,632,379,973,750,976,977],"class_list":["post-3451","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-entertainment","tag-anil-kapoor","tag-animal-movie","tag-animal-park","tag-bobby-deol","tag-mahesh-babu","tag-nagarjuna-akkineni","tag-ram-gopal-varma","tag-ranbir-kapoor","tag-rashmika-mandanna","tag-sandeep-reddy-vanga","tag-shiva-re-release","tag-ss-rajamouli","tag-ssmb29","tag-triptii-dimri"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thebombaydurpun.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3451","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thebombaydurpun.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thebombaydurpun.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thebombaydurpun.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thebombaydurpun.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3451"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/thebombaydurpun.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3451\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3455,"href":"https:\/\/thebombaydurpun.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3451\/revisions\/3455"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thebombaydurpun.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3454"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thebombaydurpun.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3451"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thebombaydurpun.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3451"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thebombaydurpun.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3451"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n\n\n\n\u201cSandeep Reddy Vanga is the Ram Gopal Varma ka Baap\u201d<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nPraise and Criticism: RGV on Animal<\/em>\u2019s Bold Choices<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nAnimal<\/em>: The Film That Redefined Sandeep Reddy Vanga\u2019s Image<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nRajamouli\u2019s Reaction Reflects Industry Admiration<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nThe Road Ahead: Animal Park<\/em> and Vanga\u2019s Next Chapter<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nRajamouli\u2019s Own Next Big Project<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nShiva<\/em> Returns to the Big Screen<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nConclusion<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"