It’s going to get dark, gritty, and bloody when Ram Gopal Varma dives into the underbelly of Mumbai’s crime world, where the line between law and outlaw is razor-thin. Industry sources tell mid-day that early discussions are underway for the filmmaker to direct a biopic on celebrated Mumbai encounter specialist Daya Nayak. Multiple insiders indicate that the project will be backed by a big studio. 

“The idea has been around for a while, but in recent months there has been renewed movement on it. Right now, the priority is getting the screenplay right and deciding the lens through which Daya Nayak’s story should be told,” says a source familiar with the development. The film could potentially be positioned as a revival of the ‘Company’ franchise. Varma had once planned to make ‘Company 2’, centred on encounter specialists, with Nayak reportedly serving as a consultant, says another insider.

“In 2010, there were conversations around fitting it organically into the larger world of ‘Company’. While nothing has been decided yet, it has come up during discussions.”