Satya to Police Company: Ram Gopal Varma films that explored Mumbai’s underworld

New Delhi: Few filmmakers have returned to Mumbai’s crime landscape as consistently as Ram Gopal Varma. From the gangsters and fractured loyalties of Satya and Company to the encounter-policing narratives of Ab Tak Chhappan and Department, his films have repeatedly explored the uneasy space where organised crime, ambition, power and the police intersect.

With Police Company in 2026, this recurring cinematic preoccupation enters another chapter, this time drawing inspiration from Mumbai’s encounter squad and the story of encounter specialist Daya Nayak. Together, these films trace Varma’s evolving engagement with one of the city’s most complex and controversial worlds.

Satya (1998)

Set amidst the underworld of Mumbai, Satya (1998) stood out as a gritty crime drama. The film follows a young man who arrives in the city and gradually gets drawn into the dangerous world of organised crime. Alongside the criminal underworld, the film also explores relationships, love and the fight for survival. The film featured J. D. Chakravarthy as Satya, Urmila Matondkar and Manoj Bajpayee who rose to popularity for playing Bhiku Mhatre.

Company (2002)

Company explored the functioning of an organised crime network and its power struggles, while also portraying its confrontation with the police and the law. The film starred Ajay Devgn, Vivek Oberoi and Mohanlal. Mohanlal played the role of a senior police officer in the film. Company ultimately emerged as one of the most acclaimed and celebrated works in Ram Gopal Varma’s filmography.

Ab Tak Chhappan (2004)

The film drew inspiration from Mumbai’s encounter-policing culture and featured Nana Patekar as an encounter specialist. Directed by Shimit Amin and produced by Ram Gopal Varma, the film focused on the life and working methods of a police officer involved in encounters with criminals. A sequel, Ab Tak Chhappan 2, was later made, with Aejaz Gulab taking over as director. However, the sequel failed to make a significant impact at the box office.

D (2005)

Produced by Ram Gopal Varma and directed by Vishram Sawant, D featured Randeep Hooda, Chunky Panday and Isha Koppikar. The film drew loosely from the Mumbai underworld and the rise of the D-Company, presenting the journey of a young man who enters the criminal world and gradually establishes his position within it. It became another film associated with Varma’s long-standing interest in Mumbai’s gangster milieu.

Satya 2 (2013)

Satya 2 returned to the gangster genre with a new protagonist arriving in Mumbai at a time when the traditional underworld was losing its hold over the city. The character of Satya once again finds himself pulled into the world of organised crime. While the premise carried echoes of the earlier Satya, the film presented a different story and setting within the changing landscape of Mumbai’s underworld. The film featured Puneet Singh Ratn, Sharwanand, Anaika Soti and Mahesh Thakur in prominent roles.

Department (2012)

Directed by Ram Gopal Varma, Department focused on a controversial side of policing, drawing from accounts surrounding unofficial and covert police teams that operated against organised crime. The film portrayed the tensions between the police force, criminal networks and officers working beyond conventional methods. It featured Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt and Rana Daggubati in prominent roles.

Police Company (2026)

Police Company takes this long-running cinematic association with Mumbai’s underworld and encounter-policing world a step further. The film is inspired by the encounter squad and draws from the story of one of its members, Daya Nayak, with Harshvardhan Rane portraying the character. The film features a large ensemble cast, with details of the other actors and their characters expected to be announced soon.