The recent ‘sting’ operations by the news channel India TV, so far nabbing two people from the entertainment industry has certainly created a snowballing effect.

Would the fact that a journalist posing as a star aspirant managed to create a potentially embarrassing situation for Shakti Kapoor and Aman Varma have a bearing on the future of newcomers? Would this incident discourage filmmakers from meeting newcomers, thereby creating an even more cloistered and clannish atmosphere within the industry?

I spoke to Bollywood’s most prominent star-discoverer Ram Gopal Varma who has discovered or re-invented the careers of such known names as Urmila Matondkar, Manoj Bajpai, Fardeen Khan, Aftab Shivdasani and Vivek Oberoi.

As usual Varma had his own take on the subject. “The so-called sting operations don’t really seem to make any sense to me. I don’t know what they hoped to achieve beyond getting people interested in the news channel. Suddenly everyone has become aware of India TV. As for the repercussions of the sting operations, I don’t think producers would stop meeting aspirants just because someone has laid a trap for a couple of unsuspecting victims."

"The film industry constantly needs new talent to keep going. I’m introducing Mohit Ahlawat this year in James, and Randeep Hooda. I feel both have the potential to beome stars. In fact Ahlawat will shock the audience. As long as I need new exciting faces for my film I’ll continue to cast them. Such absurd scandals (India TV’s sting operations) don’t have anything to do with me. People say I’ve installed cameras in my office to make sure newcomers don’t make nasty accusations."

"That’s completely false. There’re no cameras anywhere in my office. I’ve full confidence in my own conduct. I don’t need to pre-empt some desperate newcomer’s behaviour and start acting paranoid. Scandals and accusations are a part and parcel of the entertainment industry. It’s how you conduct yourself that matters.”

But isn’t it a fact that Varma has stopped seeing aspirants? There was an incident recently where a young man tried to get the star-maker’s attention by telling the cops that he had over- heard a murder plan being hatched against Varma. Have such desperate strugglers put him off new talent?

Ramu demurs. “Not at all. I’m still as open to new talent as I used to be. I had to put an end to newcomers crowding outside my office for security reasons. Too many people with too many dreams began to believe I can make them come true. I’m neither a magician nor a star-maker."

"I don’t know why aspirants believe all they need is a film with me to become a star. I’ve only cast those newcomers whom I’ve found suitable for my films. Isha Koppiker for instance, shot to fame with the item song `Khallas` in my Company. I saw her in that number. I didn’t accommodate her just to make her a chance. I’m too selfish to give anyone a chance out of sympathy or for the future of Indian cinema.”

Does Varma think filmmakers are gravitating more and more towards talent from inside the industry? “There’s nothing wrong with a star-kid if he happens to be as talented as Abhishek Bachchan. Beyond a point contacts links or pedigree can’t take a newcomer anywhere.”

The views expressed in the article are the author's and not of Sify.com.