Everyone knows Bollywood loves Shiv Sena supreme Bal Thackeray. And it's common knowledge that Thackeray loves movies and the movie folk in return.

His association with cinema goes back a long way, so it would seem appropriate if Bollywood paid homage to the politico by making a film around his life and times.

So, is Ram Gopal Varma's Sarkar based on Thackeray? Ramu chuckles at the speculation, saying, "Mr Bachchan's character is based on someone real, that's for sure.

If a man like Bal Thackeray can evoke the respect, awe and fear of thousands of people to the extent that they are ready to lay down their lives for him, then yes, Sarkar is a man who evokes the same passionate loyalty from people around him."

The director says the plot is fictional in certain aspects.

Ram Gopal Varma also reveals that Bachchan plays the opposite of Mahatma Gandhi.

"What Gandhi achieved a lot for the people through non-violent means, Mr Bachchan's character achieves through violence.

He plays an incredibly self-righteous man. He does what he believes in, regardless of society or law. Amitji and Abhishek's roles are inspired by Marlon Brando and Al Pacino in The Godfather.

But Brando played a man who uses the loopholes in the law to run organised crime." Pausing for thought, Ramu adds, "I think Mr Thackeray will be very happy with Sarkar. I've written the character for my childhood hero. If Mr Amitabh Bachchan is playing the role, how can it not be heroic?

I don't think the audience will want to see Mr Bachchan in a negative light. At least I wouldn't. I've essentially built on the Vijay persona that Salim-Javed wrote for him in the 1970s.

Personally, Mr Bachchan is a superstar. I'm not interested in seeing him as an actor. I want to see him as a larger-than-life persona."