Ram Gopal Varma sparks outrage for naming Amitabh Bachchan and Dawood Ibrahim together in Teachers’ Day post

Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma, no stranger to controversy, has drawn heavy criticism for his Teachers’ Day post on September 5. Instead of honouring only artistic or literary influences, Varma listed underworld don Dawood Ibrahim among those who inspired his work, prompting sharp backlash online.

The director shared a note on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “Here’s a BIG SALUTE to all the GREATS who inspired me to become whatever I became and to make whatever films I made, starting from AMITABH BACHCHAN, STEVEN SPIELBERG, AYN RAND, BRUCE LEE, SRIDEVI and DAWOOD IBRAHIM. HAPPY TEACHERS DAY.”

It was the final name on that list that angered users. Dawood Ibrahim, one of India’s most wanted fugitives, has long been accused of terrorism and organised crime. Many argued that invoking him as a “teacher” on a day dedicated to educators and mentors was insensitive.

The comment section filled quickly with disbelief and sarcasm. One user wrote, “Dawood’s teacher should also be really proud… sometimes they also teach how to be in the underworld.” Another bluntly asked, “What did you learn from Dawood Ibrahim?” Others turned caustic, suggesting Varma add Osama bin Laden to his list.

For many, the post appeared to trivialise the idea of Teachers’ Day itself. “You’re making a mockery of inspiration while calling Dawood your teacher,” one user commented.

This isn’t the first time Varma has referenced Dawood in his creative journey. In 2021, he released *D Company*, a film exploring the rise of Mumbai’s underworld empire. In earlier interviews, he admitted his fascination with gangster stories, saying, “I owe my living to Dawood Ibrahim. I built my career on gangster films because I have always been fascinated by the darker side of human nature.”

His acclaimed 2002 film *Company* was also loosely inspired by the split between Dawood and his former aide Chhota Rajan. Varma has previously claimed he received insights into the underworld “straight from insiders.”

While Varma often insists that his films study human complexity rather than glorify criminals, his Teachers’ Day message has revived criticism about the thin line between artistic inspiration and admiration.

So far, the filmmaker has neither apologised nor explained his choice of words, leaving the controversy to swell online.