/> Here's something that no one knows as yet. Ram Gopal Varma, a.k.a Ramu has been a big fan of Shatrughan Sinha, a.k.a Shatru, for the longest time.

"Ram Gopal Varma told me that when he came to offer me Rakta Charitra, " said Shatrughan Sinha from Jaipur where he was attending a wedding on Wednesday.

"He said he has enjoyed my films from his college days when he saw Kala Patthar. It's providential that Ram and Shatrughan are coming together. But Rakta Charita—I love the title—is more like the Mahabharat in spirit than the Ramayan. "

And now the Kala Patthar actor will be directed by Ram Gopal Varma in his Hind-Telugu bio-pic Rakta Charitra based on the life of the alleged outlaw Paritala Ravi which starts shooting in Hyderabad this month.

Ram Gopal Varma confirms that Shatrughan Singh plays the Telugu Desam party-chief N. T. Rama Rao who was also the chief-minister of Andhra Pradesh. Paritala Ravi who was wanted in several serious cases contested and won elections on a Telugu Desam ticket.

Says Shatrughan Sinha, "I've been a big fan of the film The Godfather. Rakta Charitra is similar in mood to The Godfather. And like I said it's also very similar to the Mahabharat in tone and spirit. I think Ram and Shatrughan will create something special."

Adds Ram Gopal Varma, "I basically chose Shatruji because he has the larger-than-life personality required to play NTR. He played a very important part in the life and political career of Paritala Ravi."

Veteran Telugu actor Mohan Babu will play the role in the Telugu version of Rakta Charitra.