Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma is shocked at the killing of gangster-politician Gangula Suryanarayana Reddy alias Maddelachervu Suri, who was a key inspiration for his film "Rakta Charitra".

Suri was shot dead by a close aide in Hyderabad Monday.

"By the time I finished 'Rakta Charitra', the reality became a film for me and now this incident jolted me back into reality. It's shocking to see a person with whom I have been interacting with for over a year for research of 'RC' just lying there still and lifeless, " Varma posted on his Twitter page Tuesday.

Varma visited Anantapur jail in 2009 to meet Suri before producing "Rakta Charitra", a two-part series based on the rivalry between Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader Paritala Ravi and Suri.

Suri was a key accused in Paritala Ravi's murder in 2005.

"Rakta Charitra" was released in October, and its sequel "Rakta Charitra II" hit the screens last month. In fact, Suri even visited Bangalore last month to watch the preview of "Rakta Charitra II" and was satisfied with the way he was portrayed in the movie.