Urmila Matondkar Was Bollywood's Nikki Before Obsession - Ram Gopal Varma Recalls Kaun While Praising Curry Barker's Horror Film

Curry

Barker's surprise horror hit Obsession has earned admiration from audiences and filmmakers around the world, and among its newest fans is Ram Gopal Varma. The director recently took to social media to express his 'obsession' with Barker's psychological horror film. In a series of detailed posts, the director praised Obsession's filmmaking techniques anddrew an intriguing comparison between the film's central character Nikki and Urmila Matondkar's iconic role in his 1999 psychological thriller Kaun.

RGV is obsessed with Obsession

Taking to X on June 7, Varma declared that he was 'obsessed with Obsession' and argued that the film has challenged long-held industry assumptions about what attracts audiences to theatres. According to the filmmaker, the industry had become convinced that only big-budget spectacles featuring major stars and extensive visual effects could succeed commercially. However, Obsession has proven otherwise.

Varma pointed out that the film features no major stars, lavish locations, expensive production design, or international shoots. He even suggested that despite reports of a larger budget, the actual production cost appeared remarkably modest, noting that much of the film unfolds across only a handful of locations.What impressed him most, however, was not the box office success but Barker's filmmaking style.The director praised Barker's visual approach, particularly his use of excessive headroom in shots, which he said unexpectedly enhances the film's unsettling atmosphere. He also highlighted the editing, describing it as a 'psychological weapon' rather than a conventional technical tool. He also singled out the film's sound design, noting how sharp audio cues such as door slams, laughter, and heartbeats create a rhythm that amplifies tension and unpredictability. Varma admired the lighting techniques used in the film, comparing Barker's approach to that of acclaimed filmmaker David Fincher while suggesting it felt even more effective within the context of the story.

Nikki Reminds RGV Of Urmila Matondkar's Kaun Character

In a separate post, Varma offered a theory for the film's widespread appeal. "My theory on the tremendous success of OBSESSION," he wrote. "Every woman has a little bit of Nikki in her, which she too knows. Every man sees a little bit of Nikki in his woman. Hence the connect."

The filmmaker later shared the memorable climax shot featuring Urmila Matondkar from his cult thriller Kaun, revealing that the character of Nikki reminded him of Urmila's unsettling and unpredictable protagonist. "I remembered this shot of Urmila from KAUN after watching OBSESSION," he wrote. The comparison is particularly noteworthy because both characters challenge audience expectations and blur the lines between victimhood, vulnerability and psychological instability.Released in 1999, Kaun is one of the most celebrated psychological thrillers in Hindi cinema. Directed by Ram Gopal Varma and written by Anurag Kashyap, the film starred Urmila Matondkar, Manoj Bajpayee and Sushant Singh. The story takes place almost entirely inside a house during a stormy night. Urmila's character is alone at home after hearing news reports about a serial killer on the loose. Her fears intensify when a mysterious stranger, played by Manoj Bajpayee, arrives at her doorstep seeking shelter.

As the night progresses, suspicion, paranoia, and mind games dominate the narrative. The film constantly shifts audience perceptions regarding who the real threat might be. Its shocking climax ultimately reveals that Urmila's seemingly frightened woman is actually the serial killer herself, turning the entire story on its head.The character's unpredictability, psychological complexity and chilling transformation have since become iconic among thriller fans, which likely explains why Varma immediately drew parallels between her and Nikki from Obsession.