Ram Gopal Varma

I would say Ram Gopal Varma is the catalyst for changing the face of Bollywood. Not just in the creative aspects, but also in the business sense. Before Ramu, there were many acclaimed directors, many acclaimed producers, many acclaimed writers. But story telling was not what used to drive the industry. It was all what the industry calls as 'proposal making'. The producer will go around to find who is the IN hero, IN director, IN music director etc... and it's about stars and making money. Then ascended Ramu for the south. Successful or unsuccessful, his movies are about telling a story than about star value or music or gloss. And that set the wheel in motion with other willing to do movies that are not bound by commercial constraints. The came the big push, that put the industry on a race car. Ramu, the producer. Probably the first time in India, movies are being produced by a 'Creative' person who understands cinema and not by deal makers. He started giving directing opportunities to his assistants who are also driven by story telling. Though he is not highly successful overall, that opened the gates. Yash Chopra's yashraj, Yash Johar's Dharma productions, Ghai's Mukta, Bhatt's Visesh films, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Shankar and Maniratnam (wow, that was a list) also got into production. They are the best and they are the most successful directors. They know the talent of their assistants, they drive the projects and the change in the quality of cinema is for all to see. Indian Cinema has made a big leap.
I think with out the fearless Ramu, taking the big stride to become a producer, Indian Cinema would not have come this far.