Michael Rousseau has faced calls to resign for not speaking French in his message after the LaGuardia crash, which killed two Air Canada pilots.
Air Canada CEO 'deeply saddened' his poor French skills distracted from victims of crash
This Beat Gets Hard: Why Desi Hip-Hop Is Having a Moment
turn the volume up. India is in the midst of an epic hip-hop takeover. Music – in English and regional languages – was among the top four most streamed genres in the country with 490 billion streams. Since Billboard launched its awards in India this year, they are already preparing to formally track DHH (Desi Hip-Hop). India got its own edition of Rolling Loud, the world’s biggest hip-hop festival, last year. This year, it is also organizing regional warm-ups, club nights and events throughout the year. Delhi duo Straight Death are taking their sound to Singapore, France, the US and seven other countries this summer. And indie labels are busy signing the Ahmadabad sound from Gujarat, desert folk rap from Rajasthan, Gaana rap from Tamil Nadu, Dakhini rap from Hyderabad and Karnataka, Koshur rap from Kashmir and others.
Gully Boy reference? Leave them back in 2019. The genre is evolving, moving forward and changing the way we think about Indian music. Let’s break it down.
admission is free
There is less gatekeeping in hip-hop than in classical or jazz. “This is a genre you can participate in without huge investment or years of training,” says Vidya Venugopal, director of Chennai-based label Eighty Culture. “You can go on YouTube, find a beat, pick up a pen and start writing.” The DIY vibe also extends to recording. Sales of home-studio gear have surged since the pandemic. Most artists start with a Focusrite interface and a condenser mic, and take it from there.
Chennai-based creator Ofro, who developed Asal Kolar and Arivu, says free apps like BandLab offer a rapper in a small town the same publishing capabilities as a legacy studio in Mumbai. “At its core, hip-hop is about people feeling empowered,” he says. “The feeling of listening is the first step.” Next, often, there is something new to say. Hence, new genre-mashups like Dapang, which blends global hip-hop with the Koothu folk beats of Tamil Nadu, are one of the many sonic cocktails that exist only here.
bid connection rules
In the South, Dabanggs rule, as does song rap, which uses the Madras Bashai dialect of the streets of Chennai in its viral songs. In the North, hip-hop holds the power of hillbilly practice. In the west, there is a bass-heavy surge of Konkani flow. In the North-East, where local music has long been missing from the mainstream, hip-hop has changed the situation. “The youth want to express the struggle of not being accepted,” says Borkung Hrangkhol, a 38-year-old rapper from Tripura. “Hip-hop is the language of this generation.
Area artists have played Lollapalooza. “When they hear us spitting in English, they think we’re from outside India,” says Hrangkhol. The musicians perform in traditional attire, turning what was once a problem into a fantastic flexibility. Meghalaya rapper and songwriter Rebel (aka Daifi Lamare) is 24 years old. But his work has already featured on the soundtracks of Dhurandhar (2025) and Dhurandhar: The Revenge (2026). He also rapped in Khasi and Jaintia at the Rising India Summit 2026. In neighboring Nagaland, Moko Koza has gone viral for rapping about his hometown Kohima in Nagami and English on the 2025 track Kevahira (Remix).
Marathi House is a style in itself. Shreyas Sagvekar’s Tambdi Chamadi is based on traditional Marathi rhythms and features a local kaka (uncle) in the music video. It has received over 54 million views on YouTube and has been streamed over 28.5 million times on Spotify. It has also been picked up by global giants KSHMR and Spinnin’ Records. When Sagvekar was growing up, he played the dholak. He did not adopt the Marathi language – it was always the language of his music. “When you see someone comfortable in their language, you feel like, ‘This is my brother,'” he says.
little fires are everywhere
Dalit hip-hop has existed for about 15 years, but there’s still a lot to resist. Vipin Tatad, 28, from Amravati, Maharashtra, doesn’t sing about cars, women and the gangsta life. Tatad says, “Rap is rebellion; it’s about speaking the truth.” Dalit rap, in particular, is about reclaiming the legacy of social reformers like Gadge Baba and Ambedkar. His 2018 track, Problem Mere Desh Ki, talks about how drinking water pipes have merged with sewage lines. It got so much publicity that Tatad spoke about it at universities. They have since given themselves an appropriate stage name: VIP. And he rapped on the track Crack in the Wall from the 2022 film Jhund and Chakka Jam in the 2022 series Murder in a Courtroom.
Vedan, 31, raps about caste discrimination, the “lived reality” of the oppressed and religious hypocrisy in his Malayalam track Voice of the Voiceless. Additionally, a new subgenre of protest hip-hop is rapidly growing. Rapid-response rap addressed specific national crises. Stream Gorjon Kare Jabo (We Will Roar On) by Deeksha Dev and Aurako Sengupta. The Bengali and English track pays tribute to the 2024 rape-murder victim at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College.
god is watching
Devotional music already has a 10% to 15% share of the Indian music market across all platforms including YouTube, Spotify and regional streaming services. 2026 Plot twist: Bhakti or bhakti rap, in which ancient shlokas are mixed into 808 beats.
In 2020, amid the first COVID lockdown, Chandigarh-based rapper Narsee (aka, Shanti Swarup, 32) released a rap retelling of the Ramayana, as if the epic was being re-enacted on screen. Narci’s version drew on the familiar bell sounds from the show’s opening theme, and compressed the epic’s key moments into a ten-minute hip-hop narrative. It received 20 million views on YouTube and 8 million streams on Spotify, inspiring other artists to explore devotional themes. Ranjha and Smokey’s 2025 track, Rudra Mahakal, follows the lives of great warriors. It has more than 12 million views on YouTube.
“People don’t always have time to read the scriptures in depth,” says Narsee. “If we can communicate those feelings through modern forms like rap, it can help them connect.” This explains the current popularity of bhajan parties – youth-focused devotional events that blend mantra-based music with club-style staging and high-energy sound design. College festivals and venues in cities like Ghaziabad, Bengaluru, Noida and Lucknow are extremely popular for artists like Raghav Raja, who perform shlokas and Shiv bhajans over hip-hop and drill beats.
Location sharing is on
The songs and scenes are based on the wrestling grounds of Haryana (Chhore Hariyane Aale by Elvish Yadav and Ankit Baiyanpuriya) and the main streets of Shillong (Set It Off by Kim the Beloved and Rebel). “This change happened a decade ago,” says Raghu Babbal, 27, a video director in Mumbai. Naezy is owned by Bombay 70 – an area code that no one considers expensive. For Khamma Ghani, Babbal worked with Rajasthan-based artist UD, shooting in Jaipur, Jodhpur, Osian, Jawai and Mumbai, using the Nahargarh Fort, Amer Stepwell and the blue roofs of Jodhpur to match the Marwari-Hindi texture of the song. In Balti and Lapgun’s Lime Tikka, scenes cover everything, from a satellite crash in a village to warding off evil with lemon and chilli, “the most Indian thing ever”, says Babbal.
Bollywood is listening
Rebel, who contributed tracks to the cult films, says hip-hop’s place in mainstream cinema is a sign of “great progress”, “coming together as a nation”. It reflects the linguistic diversity of India, at the same time it binds us all in a common rhythm. When filmmakers hear this, they know a good thing. The title song of Saiyaara was released last year in a rap version by Rohit Kumar Chaudhary (RCR), an independent rapper and singer from Amritsar. Film after film, from 2022’s An Action Hero to the film Dussehra (2023) to Netflix’s 2025 Inspector Jhende, hip-hop numbers have been introduced.
loyalty is gold
Gen Z fans were in school when they discovered Yo Yo Honey Singh and Mafia Mundir in 2012-13. They cheered for Devine’s 2017 breakout. They directly followed the 2024 diss-track battle between Death and Kashmiri hip-hop duo SOS. Gen Z accounts for 70% of India’s hip-hop listeners. “They are a spending audience now,” says Naman Singh, 27, co-founder of music distribution label Sarvinark. This means that they are not looking for pirated tracks; They have premium Spotify accounts and can pay for concert tickets. Monthly listeners of the scene’s breakout stars have increased from 5 million to 15 million, indicating a massive shift in spending power.
And brands are infiltrating
In February 2026, snacks company Farmly launched its makhana flour-based snack with a hip-hop song titled Makha Shaka Laka Boom Boom. The campaign featured street-style dance crews like @FeelCrew_Official and @Crew._X_Official to attract young buyers. Knorr collaborated directly with Mouat to introduce K-Pot, a Korean-flavored food pot, in May 2023. In 2014, Dumb Biryani featured the flavor of cardamom in the track of the same name made by Char Diwari and Yash Raj.
But Converse emerged as a brand that really “got it.” In August 2024, its Connect with the Unexpected campaign paired unlikely duos to create new music. Hit films like Karun and Nanaku’s Capital came out; Hulia by Pho and Baghi Munda; Creamery and Express Ways by Dhanji; and his holidays by the axomaniac and the siege. As far as Converse was concerned, it remained in the background. However, the music was exactly where it needed to be: in the spotlight.
From HT Brunch, March 28, 2026
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IPL 2026: Gujarat Titans middle order a concern? GT head coach Ashish Nehra opens up
Gujarat Titans head coach Ashish Nehra said the team’s middle order is not a concern heading into the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. Last season, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill and Jos Buttler did the bulk of the scoring for the 2022 champions, amassing 1,947 runs across 15 matches.
On the back of their performances, the Titans won nine of their first 12 matches and looked set to finish at the top of the table. However, defeats in their final two league games pushed them out of the top two, and their campaign eventually ended with a loss to Mumbai Indians in the Eliminator.
Nehra dismissed concerns around the middle order, arguing it was unfair to call it a weakness when the top three often batted deep into the innings. He added that the finishers had limited opportunities and were frequently left with difficult roles late in games.
Also Read: IPL 2026: Are teams prioritising second home? RCB vs MI in Raipur tells a story
MIDDLE ORDER WASN’T COLLAPSING
“First things first, as a coach, I don’t feel the middle order was collapsing. Yes, the top three scored heavily and often batted through 17-18 overs, which is one of the main reasons the team was in such a strong position after 13-14 games,” Nehra said in a press conference.
“It was a disappointing end to the tournament, no doubt, but when your top three are scoring that many runs, the middle order naturally faces very few deliveries, and that’s not an easy role. There may have been one or two occasions in 14 games when Nos. 5 or 6 could have finished the match and didn’t, but that’s part of the game. Whether it was Rahul Tewatia, Shahrukh Khan or Sherfane Rutherford, they did their job, and that’s why we were where we were,” Nehra said.
“It’s always easy to talk about finishers, but it’s not simple when someone walks in at the 18th over needing 35 off two, especially if Jasprit Bumrah or Jofra Archer is bowling,” Nehra added.
In the mini-auction last December, the Titans bolstered their squad by signing Jason Holder (Rs 7 crore), Tom Banton (Rs 2 crore), Ashok Sharma (Rs 90 lakh), Luke Wood (Rs 75 lakh) and Prithviraj Yarra (Rs 30 lakh). However, Prithviraj has since been ruled out due to injury, with Gujarat Titans bringing in left-arm pacer Kulwant Khejroliya as a like-for-like replacement.
The Titans will begin their IPL 2026 campaign against Shreyas Iyer’s Punjab Kings on March 31 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh.
IPL 2026 | IPL Schedule | IPL Points Table | IPL Videos | Cricket News | Live Score
– Ends
Dhurandhar 2's ‘Pinda’ Udaybir Sandhu says he improvised many of his dialogues, calls Ranveer Singh a secure co-actor
Udaybir Sandhu is going viral for his ‘Ghar ki yaad nahi aayi, Jassi (Did you not miss home)’ dialogue from Dhurandhar 2. The actor plays Pinda, a key character whose arrival sets up an intense scene with Ranveer’s Hamza in the Aditya Dhar film. In a conversation with Pinkvilla, Udaybir spoke about playing Pinda and shared his experience of working with Ranveer on the film. (Also read: Aamir Khan says he is yet to watch Dhurandhar 2, congratulates makers on the success: ‘I hear only praises of the film’)
What Udaybir said
During the chat, when Udaybir was asked about the time he met Ranveer on set and the equation formed with him, the actor said, “He is such a warm person, makes you feel really comfortable that after a point, one feels that yes, we can do this scene. It becomes a cakewalk. He also gives a lot of feedbacks which worked a lot for me. As a co-actor, he is very secure, which usually actors aren’t. They think, oh, the other actor is overpowering and showing better… But he is such a sweet soul, such a good actor. I think it is the best quality for an actor, that he is secure of his art.”
He continued, “Both Aditya Dhar, sir and Ranveer gave me so much space during the scenes. Most of my dialogues were improvised, almost 30-40%. Ranveer used to tell me to do another take, and it was never like we had to hurry. He was so invested in it and never left the set. He was in no hurry. He used to say his dialogues with so much intensity, even when the camera was on me. That was so helpful for me.”
About Dhurandhar The Revenge
The spy action thriller traces the origin story of Ranveer Singh’s character, Jaskirat Singh Rangi, and how he transforms into Hamza Ali Mazari, an undercover operative who infiltrates Pakistan’s underworld. The film also takes forward the story left unfinished in the first part, following Hamza’s rise through the ranks of Lyari’s criminal world as he inches closer to becoming its kingpin while carrying out his mission to dismantle the terror network operating from within Pakistan.
Helmed by Aditya Dhar, the film also stars Rakesh Bedi, Arjun Rampal, R Madhavan and Sanjay Dutt in lead roles. The film opened to positive reviews from the critics as well as the audience. In a week, the film has crossed ₹600 crore at the domestic box office and ₹1000 crore worldwide.
Energy shock from Middle East war may lift US inflation to 4.2% this year; OECD warns of weaker global growth
The escalation of the Middle East conflict could push US inflation to 4.2% this year–the highest among G7 economies– while also slowing global growth, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has said, underlining the widening economic costs of the US-Israel war with Iran, the Financial Times reported.In its interim economic outlook, the Paris-based body cautioned that rising oil and gas prices triggered by disruptions to energy exports are likely to increase inflation across major economies and create “significant downside risks” to global expansion if the conflict intensifies.The OECD expects US inflation to climb sharply from 2.6% in 2025, with countries such as China, South Korea and India also facing stronger price pressures due to the energy shock. “The breadth and duration of the conflict are very uncertain, but a prolonged period of higher energy prices will add markedly to business costs and raise consumer price inflation, with adverse consequences for growth,” it said.The report projected that higher living costs could weigh on US household spending and slow economic momentum. US growth is forecast to ease to 2% this year and further to 1.7% in 2027.Globally, economic activity is also expected to moderate. The OECD said world GDP growth could slow from 3.3% last year to 2.9% in 2026, before recovering slightly to 3% in 2027.Earlier in the year, the global outlook had appeared more resilient, supported by strong investment in artificial intelligence and buoyant equity markets. However, the conflict that began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February has pushed up energy prices and triggered ripple effects across commodities including metals and fertilisers.The organisation noted that the resilience of the global economy is now being tested, particularly because of the strategic role of the Strait of Hormuz, which typically handles about one-quarter of global seaborne oil trade and one-fifth of liquefied natural gas shipments.Supply-chain risks have also increased. Gulf countries account for 34% of global urea exports and roughly half of sulphur exports, while the Middle East produces more than one-third of global helium and two-thirds of bromine, both vital for industrial uses including semiconductor manufacturing.“A prolonged period of disruption could also result in the emergence of significant energy shortages that would lower growth further,” the OECD warned.The outlook indicates that earlier improvements in global growth projections have been reversed. Indicators at the start of the year had pointed to a 0.3 percentage point upward revision in global GDP forecasts, but the conflict has effectively erased that boost.Inflation projections have also been revised higher. The OECD now expects headline inflation in the G20 to reach 4% in 2026, an increase of 1.2 percentage points compared with its December forecast, and 2.7% in the following year.Growth prospects in Europe remain subdued, with the eurozone economy projected to expand by 0.8% this year before improving to 1.2% next year.In the US, the organisation said weakening household demand could reduce growth momentum heading into 2026. Despite the inflation risks, it expects the Federal Reserve to keep interest rates unchanged, while the European Central Bank may implement a single rate increase.Members of the US Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) still anticipate rate cuts this year, although Federal Reserve chair Jay Powell has acknowledged that forecasts have become more uncertain because of geopolitical tensions.The FOMC recently raised its projections slightly, saying headline and core personal consumption expenditures inflation may end the year at 2.7%, compared with earlier estimates of 2.4% and 2.5%. It also lifted its US growth forecast for this year to 2.4% from 2.3%, citing productivity gains.The OECD’s inflation outlook is significantly higher than that of the Federal Reserve and many private forecasters, reflecting expectations of a more persistent energy price shock and continued effects from earlier US tariff increases. It also suggested that the US economy may already be operating under capacity constraints linked to lower immigration.In a downside scenario where oil prices average around $135 per barrel in the second quarter, the OECD estimates global output could be 0.5 percentage points lower than its baseline forecast, while consumer prices could be nearly 1 percentage point higher.While some countries are considering emergency support for households facing higher energy bills, the OECD said such measures should be “well-targeted” towards the most vulnerable households and financially viable firms.
‘We are VIPs’| India News
Nothing brings Indians together like cricket does — even across political boundaries. Karnataka has presented the latest example of this. Steeped in “VIP” culture, though.
Legislators from both the state’s ruling Congress and the opposition BJP want free tickets — one MLA set the bar at five each — for the Indian Premier League (IPL) inaugural match to be held in Bengaluru.
The issue came up in the legislative assembly, raised by Leader of Opposition R Ashoka, who got support from across the board.
Deputy CM DK Shivakumar referred to a legendary Mauryan king as he said he would raise it with the Karnataka State Cricket Association. “I will surely tell them this is a request from ‘Samrat Ashok’,” he said in jest inside the assembly, NDTV reported.
IPL 2026 starts this Saturday with a match between home team Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Vijayanand Kashappanavar, the Congress MLA from Hungund, later explained why KSCA must give special treatment to MLAs. “They (cricket association) are taking all the facilities from the government. They are getting all the security, everything… But they are not respecting MLAs,” he told the media, as per the report.
“We are VIPs. We can’t go in the queue and stand there. We went last time… They are sending us to a gallery with the public. It’s not going to happen,” he further said.
(In case you did not know from context, VIP is short for ‘Very Important Personality’, used in government protocols too.)
Kashappanavar laid out the demand in numbers as he explained how he supported the BJP’s R Ashoka inside the assembly. “We requested the Speaker to take necessary action and issue a minimum of five tickets for the MLAs,” he said. He also claimed the KSCA was “collecting money and enjoying”.
Inside the House, R Ashoka also slammed the KSCA. “We have given them 16.32 acres of land at a nominal price of just about ₹1,600 a month; but they charge us thousands for match tickets. They have crores of rupees and they loot us; and the government wants to build another stadium for such people. They need to be taught a lesson,” he said.
Speaker UT Khader told the government to hold discussions with the KSCA “regarding this issue that MLAs are raising”. “They sometimes give just one ticket to MLAs… they should give a minimum of four tickets to the MLA and family,” Khader said, tempering the demand to a number lower than five.
At this, deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar said: “I will speak to the KSCA president and sort this out. I’m a member there too.”
Former Team India pacer Venkatesh Prasad is the current president of the KSCA.
Exclusive | ‘Not my cup of tea’: Divya Agarwal on The 50 experience
Divya Agarwal recently opened up about her experience on The 50, calling the season far more chaotic and disappointing than she had expected. In an exclusive conversation, the actress didn’t hold back as she spoke about the show’s environment, alliances, and the impact it had on her.
Divya Agarwal calls the season disappointing
Reflecting on her initial expectations, Divya admitted, “It was quite confusing to be very honest. The show was not the kind of turnout I was expecting.” She went on to criticise the way the game unfolded, adding, “The concept was quite screwed by our own lovely contestants. The alliance game was taken too seriously. It felt like some parliament political parties fighting against each other.”
She further expressed disappointment over the lack of entertainment value. “It wasn`t really looking like influencers, YouTubers and actors are giving something for the fans in terms of entertainment. It was quite violent. It was not what I expected,” she said.
Divya also highlighted how difficult it was to stand out in the game. “There was no opportunity to stand out. The minute you stand up for anything, you are out the very next day,” she revealed. She pointed out that the environment was especially challenging for women, saying, “It was quite a male-dominant show… if I say there were only seven to eight contestants, rest everybody were followers… it was like an entire ecosystem of their own.”
Despite the challenges, Divya chose to focus on some positives. “This time, I made some new friends. I got some love inside the house,” she shared, adding that interacting with multiple contestants and hearing their stories was a valuable experience. “For my personal growth… the growth in my mental health, growth in my emotional intelligence… everything has gotten in place.”
On her personal matters being out on national TV
However, the experience has made her reconsider future reality shows. “It’s a great message to my fans that they should not force me into any more reality shows because now it`s not my cup of tea,” she stated.
She also criticised the changing nature of reality television. “They are creating these fights… to just look cool, to just sound cool. And I smell that from far away,” she said, adding that her perspective has evolved over time.
Recalling the seriousness of past conflicts, she noted, “In Bigg Boss, it involved names from the industry… who could jeopardize my career… that was a serious topic to be fighting for.”
Speaking about safety concerns, Divya said, “The violence we faced in the beginning… it was a very unsafe environment… where they are holding each other`s neck.” She concluded, “It was not a pleasant sight… there is no host here,” summing up her troubling experience on the show.
Shubman Gill joins criticism of Impact Player rule, says ‘It takes the skill out’ | Cricket News
Gujarat Titans’ captain Shubman Gill (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill has joined the growing list of Indian players voicing concerns over the Impact Player rule in the Indian Premier League, stating that it “takes the skill out of the game.” Gill’s remarks come shortly after similar criticism from players like Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel. During the IPL captains’ meeting held in Mumbai, a majority of team leaders, including Gill, reportedly pushed for a review of the rule, which was first introduced by the BCCI in 2023 and has since been extended until at least 2027. Speaking a day after the meeting, Gill was clear in his stance against the regulation, which allows teams to introduce an extra batter or bowler at any point during a match. “Personally for me, I don’t think there should be an impact player. I think cricket in general is an 11 players’ game and on wickets where we play on the grounds that we play, adding an extra batsman is I think it takes the skill out of the game,” Gill said. He further explained that the traditional balance of the sport is being affected, especially in pressure situations where teams are expected to adapt with limited resources. “There’s a certain skill in the game that you need to have. When you have a certain amount of batters and if a couple of your batters get out, there’s an amount of skill that you need to have to still get the scoreboard moving and get your team to a good score.” Gill also argued that the rule is making matches more predictable and less competitive, particularly on batting-friendly surfaces. “With that one extra player, it’s making the game more one-dimensional and it’s taking a little bit of the skill out of the game. Chasing 180 on a challenging wicket or 160 on a challenging wicket is for me, it’s personally way more exciting than chasing 220 on a flat wicket,” he added. Despite the criticism from several players, the rule is set to remain in place for the foreseeable future, with any potential review expected only after the 2027 season. “It’s gonna be there till 2027. It’s something that we also spoke about in the captain’s meeting yesterday. I understand it makes the game a bit more entertaining, but let’s see. It’s there. It’s up to them what the BCCI is going to do, they’re gonna take their decision, but personally I don’t like it,” Gill said.
Ram Gopal Varma says ignoring Dhurandhar 2 is a `suicidal blunder`
Ram Gopal Varma has been one of the most ardent admirers of Aditya Dhar’s blockbuster spy thriller franchise Dhurandhar. His praise has only grown manifold after the release of the sequel. The filmmaker has called the film a benchmark shift and revealed how it has pushed him to rethink his storytelling approach and reinvent himself. He also confirmed his next project, Syndicate, putting the Sarkar franchise on hold.
Ram Gopal Varma confirms Syndicate
Ram Gopal Varma reflected on how his aspirations and creative influences evolved over time, from wanting to be an auto rickshaw driver to eventually becoming a director. He shared how literature and cinema constantly reshaped his perspective, with benchmark inspirations like The Sound of Music, The Exorcist, and The Godfather influencing many of his films, especially the latter.
The director also lauded the recently released Ranveer Singh-starrer Dhurandhar: The Revenge and shared that he has made a conscious decision to put the upcoming part of the Sarkar franchise on hold and work on Syndicate.
WHY SYNDICATE and not SARKAR?
SYNDICATE is based on a premise “ What if the entire law and order of INDIA collapses in just one single day”
It will be almost like a HORROR film , not because of any super natural elements , but because it will bare open the horrors that exist in…
— Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) March 26, 2026
He shared, “WHY SYNDICATE and not SARKAR? Syndicate is based on a premise: ‘What if the entire law and order of India collapses in just one single day?’ It will be almost like a horror film, not because of any supernatural elements, but because it will bare the horrors that exist in some human minds, which they can enact terrifyingly. Syndicate is about the rise of an organisation so powerful, so integrated, and so maniacally driven that it threatens the very existence of India. I believe that Syndicate is something which will match up to the post-Dhurandhar 2 era, and that is the reason for my decision. Here’s my take on why I want to wipe out my entire past and be a newborn or a reborn director post watching Dhurandhar 2 (sic).”
Ram Gopal Varma lauds Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar 2
He expressed his wish to be inspired by the new school of Aditya Dhar, writing, “But now, after seeing Dhurandhar 2, all my earlier films look like nothing. If The Godfather was my earlier benchmark in this genre, I now feel Dhurandhar 2 is like The Godfather’s Godfather in the way it redefined and reinvented everything—whether it’s craft, storytelling style, character design, background music, emotional landscapes, performances, or action choreography. So it’s common sense that I need to abandon the lessons learnt from the old schools of Coppola and join the new school of @AdityaDharFilms, and that’s the only way one can stay updated.”
“It will be a suicidal blunder on the part of any filmmaker, writer, or star not to shed their egos and do an intensive academic study of Dhurandhar 2, then take a deep relook and rework whatever they believed so far, and drastically adapt. By not doing so, and if you still stick to the same old cinematic beliefs, which were brutally killed on March 19, 2026,” he added.
When RGV confirmed Sarkar 4
National Award-winning filmmaker-producer Ram Gopal Varma had earlier confirmed the next instalment of his political crime franchise, Sarkar 4, while speaking on the opening day of the Red Lorry Film Festival. He had said that Amitabh Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan will reprise their roles, while Aishwarya Rai Bachchan will not be part of the franchise.
