R Madhavan wasn’t expecting the kind of love his film Rocketry: The Nambi Effect (2022) received. And the actor’s happiness has grown manifold ever since the film made it to the Oscars Reminder List. “We never expected to get this far,” he says, adding, “It has always been a dream, and now to get this validation is a shot in the arm.”

The 52-year-old is proud that the film received love in India and abroad. “The international response has been breathtaking. The number of shows we did before the release resulted in people coming out, sobbing and hugging Nambi (Narayanan, scientist; the film is based on his life).”

Madhavan says the film only aimed to make Nambi’s story known: “We have achieved everything we set out to. To see sir being mobbed by children at airports feels like the biggest award. Of course, we like it when a film makes a lot more money and gets bigger, but that’s just greed and not desire.”

Besides acting in the film, Madhavan also directed and produced it. “It all happened like it was meant to be. Even now, the Oscar eligibility is something I am looking at with amusement with the entire team. I feel very grateful,” he signs off.