Showing posts with label R Madhavan interview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label R Madhavan interview. Show all posts
Industry makes you believe that only solo leads succeed but parallel leads are the way forward-R Madhavan
11:28 PM
Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; January 12, 2026)
Beyond its mammoth box-office success, Dhurandhar has emerged as one of the most talked-about Hindi films in recent times. Everyone seems to have an opinion – some are raving about its craft and entertainment value and calling it a game-changer for Indian cinema, while others have divergent views about its political stance. In an in-depth conversation with us, R Madhavan, who plays Ajit Doval, India’s National Security Advisor, in the film, opens up about the film, his career choices and reinvention at 55.
‘DHURANDHAR SHOWS WHAT INDIANS ARE CAPABLE OF WHEN PUSHED TO THE EDGE’
Drawing a parallel with Hollywood, Madhavan explains, “America makes you believe that if there’s a problem anywhere in the world, only Americans can solve it. They’re always shown as having the answers, and that’s what turned Hollywood into a powerful form of soft power. Whether it’s an alien invasion or a global crisis, American films portray their people as powerful, intelligent and scientifically advanced. That’s why they command such a massive global following. In India, we have all of that too. Yet our stories have largely remained rooted in small towns and smaller mindsets. Dhurandhar shows what Indians are capable of when pushed to the edge; it all feels real.”
‘EVERYTHING SHOWN IN DHURANDHAR IS ROOTED IN REALITY’
The actor clarifies that the film clearly states at the outset that it is a fictional account inspired by real events.
He explains, “Everything shown is rooted in reality. We have been attacked, we have been bombed, a plane was hijacked in Kandahar, and 26/11 happened. So, who are these assailants? If they are our enemies, what are we doing about them? Crime must have repercussions, not just headlines. There are people in this country protecting us without our knowledge. Someone, somewhere, is doing their job right.”
He adds, “If, as a nation, we fail to acknowledge those who safeguard our freedom – be it the administration or the judiciary – we miss the larger picture. Yes, we have shortcomings and issues, but we are still a functioning democracy. Disagreements are natural, but nothing comes before the nation, and not everything is politically aligned.”
‘THE INDUSTRY MAKES YOU BELIEVE THAT ONLY SOLO LEADS SUCCEED, BUT THAT’S NOT TRUE’
From Alai Payuthey and Rehna Hai Tere Dil Mein to Shaitaan and The Railway Men, R Madhavan’s filmography reflects a consistently diverse set of choices. At 55, with the burden of being a solo lead no longer defining his career, is he in a better creative space?
He believes so. “The reinvention is happening because I still feel I’m only at the threshold of giving the industry all that I’m capable of. I haven’t even scratched the surface when it comes to the characters I can play. The films lined up will show you the faith directors and storytellers have in me,” he says.
Madhavan also challenges the long-held notion that only solo leads work. He says, “We’re products of conditioning. The industry makes you believe that only solo leads succeed. But if you look at Hollywood – Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Jack Nicholson – they’ve all played parallel leads. My role in Shaitaan was a parallel lead. Some might call it a supporting role, but it wasn’t. In Rang De Basanti, I was on screen for barely nine minutes, yet it was one of the leads. In 3 Idiots, we were all leads.”
‘True solo leads rarely work today’
The actor points out that even in Tanu Weds Manu, the narrative demanded restraint. “It was Kangana’s character that was aggressive and required to take the lead. My job was to step back and let that happen. Similarly, in Dhurandhar, would you say Ranveer Singh isn’t the lead? If you look purely at screen time, he has the most. But the maturity to step back and allow another actor to carry the narrative – that’s what creates iconic films. Parallel leads are the way forward. Storytelling has evolved,” he shares.
Madhavan credits fellow actors for enabling such storytelling. He says, “I’m in awe of Ranveer Singh for allowing that space in Dhurandhar, and of Ajay Devgn for making it happen in Shaitaan. Take me out of Guru, and there’s no one to oppose Abhishek. True solo leads rarely work today. Films like KGF or Kantara are exceptions, not the rule.”
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‘I knew Dhurandhar would be a game-changer’
While the actor had anticipated Dhurandhar’s massive success, Madhavan admits he didn’t fully foresee the intensity of the debates it would spark. “When I heard the narration, I knew immediately that the film would be a game-changer. I expected the discussion to focus more on a social discourse – on what India has become,” he says.
Makers never imagined me as an alpha male with a six pack-R Madhavan
10:39 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; August 7, 2025)
In an industry driven by vanity and youth, R Madhavan stands out for his honesty and quiet confidence. Whether it’s embracing his salt-and-pepper hair, stepping away from gym-culture aesthetics, or choosing roles that defy the norm, Madhavan remains unapologetically himself. In this candid conversation, he opens up about ageing gracefully, the joy of playing unexpected characters, and finding love in life’s simplest moments.
‘Ab safed baal aa gaye toh aa gaye. I have never dyed my hair, unless it is required for a role’
Madhavan, who is often referred to as Maddy by industry folks and fans, remains refreshingly real, sporting his grey strands with grace. “I am not good at carrying baggage, nor am I good at carrying lies. Ab safed baal aa gaye toh aa gaye. I have never dyed my hair, unless it is required for a role. I have learnt that from Rajinikanth sir. He doesn’t care about how he looks off screen, but on-screen, he is magic. Just like my friend Ajith (Kumar). I’ve learnt from my peers and seniors that it really doesn’t matter what your off-screen image is. I am very comfortable in my shoes, so I’m not going to project that I’m younger than anybody. I’m not competing with someone who’s younger than me. I’m competing with my own ability and my ability to bring out the best in me. There’s an acceptance of who I am.”
‘Makers probably never imagined me in an alpha male role with a six pack’
While actors across age groups are seen flaunting chiselled abs, Madhavan isn’t one who hits the gym and posts workout images on social media. “I did build up a certain kind of body for Saala Khadoos (2016), where I played a boxing coach, because it was required. If a script demands, I’m ready to do what it takes,” he says.
So, has he ever lost out on roles for not fitting the “alpha male” mould? “I wouldn’t know because probably such roles wouldn’t have come to me. They wouldn’t have probably imagined me playing an alpha male part with a six-pack. But I have done roles in movies where they didn’t expect me to say ‘yes’ and I have said yes and it has worked for me,” he adds.
‘One of my best emotions is when my wife and I hold hands and walk quietly’
Work aside, Madhavan’s personal life remains rooted. He’s been married to Sarita since 1999, years before he shot to fame. They met when he was teaching public speaking and she was one of his students. He shares, “We have our own set of challenges. But I think the respect and love that one has for each other helps you redefine love as you go along. Like, once your child is born, it’s a different sort of love. Once the child becomes a teenager, it’s a different sort of love. Twenty-five years does seem like a long time, and the relationship has gone through multiple metamorphoses. But even now, one of the best emotions for me is when we hold hands and walk quietly.”
Every actor has played a toxic man at some point-R Madhavan
10:40 AM
Actor R Madhavan urges audiences to see old characters in context
Akash Bhatnagar (HINDUSTAN TIMES; July 11, 2025)
R Madhavan may have charmed an entire generation with Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein (RHTDM, 2001), but he’s well aware that his character, Maddy, hasn’t aged well in today’s context. As the cult romantic film turns 24 this year, Madhavan gears up for his next release, Aap Jaisa Koi, where he plays an ageing man grappling with love and the burden of patriarchal conditioning.
Ask him how the portrayal of men with a patriarchal mindset has evolved on screen over the years, and he responds candidly: “If you look back at any Hindi film hero, you’ll find that he is completely flawed. That’s how Indian culture has been represented. There is no actor in the Hindi film industry whose one film or the other is not about toxic masculinity. Don’t single out RHTDM — take any film before that. Any hero who has slapped or abused a woman on screen is toxic. Name one who hasn’t. If you look at it retrospectively, you’ll only confuse yourself.”
Madhavan urges audiences to view such characters through the lens of the times in which they were created: “What were the circumstances when a guy fell in love back then? You didn’t have bars where people met, or mobile phones to get in touch. In villages, you met potential partners during social functions like weddings or festivals. Even in cities, it wasn’t easy to connect. If I saw a beautiful girl on a train, how would I reach her? Even if my intentions were noble, today it would be considered creepy to keep a letter from her. So our understanding of masculinity needs to evolve with time.”
He even brings up 2000’s Alai Payuthey (remade in Hindi as Saathiya)— another romantic hit that, in hindsight, shows signs of problematic behaviour:
“My character sees a girl at a wedding and doesn’t know how to find her, except that she’s a doctor from Chennai. He does the math: how many girls from that station go to that medical college, and which ones are from her hometown. He narrows it down to 65 girls. Today, you’d call him a stalker. But (filmmaker) Mani Ratnam didn’t see it that way then — it was considered romantic. So even a Mani Ratnam hero, by today’s standards, is flawed.” “And that’s why,” he concludes, “we must judge these characters in context”.
I haven’t found anything concrete to either do Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein 2 or Tanu Weds Manu 3-R Madhavan
10:18 AM
R Madhavan on choosing meaningful and bold roles over fame, staying grounded, and playing a 48-year-old lead in Aap Jaisa Koi
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; May 4, 2025)
Actors are often asked, “How do you know the pulse of the people?” While few have an answer to this, R Madhavan was refreshingly candid in his take on it. “By being alone with the people,” he tells us. With more than three decades in the entertainment industry, the actor has figured out how to make his complex on-screen characters relatable and true to the context. To ensure that he interacts with people from all walks of life, Madhavan doesn’t let his entourage tag along everywhere.
“I walk around as alone as possible. It keeps me in touch with common people. I want to know the price of lentils and potatoes from the local vegetable vendor. I want to sit with the tech geeks and learn about the next version of the AI. If I’m behaving like a star in front of them, those doors get closed quickly,” he explains.
He reveals that he learnt about black magic for Shaitaan (2024) and understood Indian aerospace scientist Nambi Narayanan for Rocketry: The Nambi Effect (2022) after a conversation with someone he met on a flight. “I never fear a good risk. Even if it goes wrong, at least you went down blazing. I’d rather go for glorious failure than compromised success any day.”
Despite his many years in the film industry, Madhavan has been selective with his work. He claims he would rather be remembered for a few good films than burden himself with repetitive roles.
“Early on in my career, when I heard people say that if it is an Aamir [Khan] film, the content is bound to be good — that’s something I was dying to have people say about my work. And I have tried to make those choices,” expresses the star.
He shares that 3 Idiots (2009) has reformed the thought process of an entire generation of parents, not just in India. “They come and tell me how it has changed their life,” he says, adding, “I try to not get stereotyped. The only sequel I’ve ever done is Tanu Weds Manu [2011] because the script was so justifiable. I haven’t had the luxury of doing a franchise film where I’m able to repeat the same characters because they worked. I would have loved to. So easy to just sit back and do five films like that till they fail and then do something else.”
No more romances for Maddy!
After decades of doing romcoms, R Madhavan is now avoiding the genre because “nothing is age-appropriate”. While most romcoms these days are associated with teenagers, he believes that people between the ages of 45 and 55 are more romantic. He has wrapped up Aap Jaisa Koi, where he plays a 48-year-old unmarried man romancing Fatima Sana Shaikh’s 29-year-old character.
When asked about the gossip surrounding a Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein sequel, he says, “They ask me too. I haven’t found anything concrete to either do Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein 2 or Tanu Weds Manu 3. It’s all speculation.” He also has De De Pyaar De 2, Dhurandhar, a Tamil sci-fi film Bridge and a Tamil series titled Legacy.
My role in Rang De Basanti was only for 9 minutes but it added to my immortality as an actor-R Madhavan
8:30 AM
R Madhavan, who moves on to Dhurandhar with Ranveer Singh after Hisaab Barabar, states ensemble films have enriched his career over the years
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; January 23, 2025)
You’ll see me a lot this year,” promises R Madhavan when we call him to speak about Hisaab Barabar. The ZEE5 thriller is his first project of what will be a busy year, with De De Pyaar De 2, a rom-com with Fatima Sana Shaikh, and Dhurandhar in the pipeline. Incidentally, each of his characters is different.
“I want to do roles that I can relate to. I’ve had such varied life experiences that I know how a railway man behaves, as well as how someone in Decoupled [2021] does. My wife says, ‘You’ve done a comedy in English, dramas in English and Tamil, and action. Why can’t you make up your mind about who you are?’ That’s exactly who I am, someone who can’t make up their mind,” he laughs.
What drew Madhavan to Hisaab Barabar, also starring Kirti Kulhari and Neil Nitin Mukesh, is the story’s relatability. Ashwini Dhir’s directorial venture revolves around how a ticket collector uncovers a bank scam.
“History has seen that the moment the regime starts derailing the common man’s life, [he will fight back]. This has been explored beautifully in the film,” shares the actor.
After Hisaab Barabar, Madhavan will star alongside Ranveer Singh, Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna and Arjun Rampal in Dhurandhar. The actor’s filmography is peppered with ensemble films despite the industry’s perception that they pose a risk to one’s stardom. Mention this, and he simply says,
“Imagine all the ensemble films that I’ve done. Now, imagine me not doing a Rang De Basanti [2006], or 3 Idiots [2009] or Vikram Vedha [2017]. Whose loss would it have been? Even though my role in Rang De Basanti was only for nine minutes, being part of such projects adds to my immortality as an actor. In 3 Idiots, I was playing second fiddle to Aamir Khan. But it didn’t upset my stardom in Tamil [cinema]. These are barriers that people in the industry draw around themselves to protect their own insecurities. I don’t have such insecurity.”
Madhavan recalls being advised against being a part of Anbe Sivam (2002) with Kamal Haasan. “Everyone said, ‘He is not known to share credit.’ But he bent over backwards to make sure that I got the role of a lifetime,” he recounts.
Critics said that I could have given it to a better director, but I couldn’t find someone who understood how ISRO works-R Madhavan
8:18 AM
R Madhavan discusses taking on the triple challenge of writing, acting and directing so that he could do justice to the story of the maverick behind India’s rocket age
Phorum Pandya (MID-DAY; July 10, 2022)
In one moment, you are enjoying light banter with your loved ones, and in the very next, you are arrested and slapped with the label of a spy.
Nambi Narayanan, director of the cryogenic project at ISRO, went through hell, after he was arrested in 1994 for being allegedly embroiled with a Maldivian woman and selling secrets of ISRO to Pakistan. What followed was years of character assassination and trauma. That he was also ISRO’s celebrated maverick scientist who led a team to Vernon, France, for three years, only to return and invent the Vikas engine that paved the way for the era of PSLV rockets, was conveniently sidelined.
“His story was like a James Bond movie,” says R Madhavan, of what inspired him to write, act in and direct Rocketry: The Nambi Effect, a film on the scientist that released on July 1. The actor, whom we meet over a video call, is dressed in a bright red hoodie and sporting an unshaven look—a stark difference from his near-perfect avatar in the film to resemble Nambi, whose character evolves from an ambitious and bright 27-year-old to a disillusioned 74-year-old.
“When I first narrowed down on this story, I thought it would be good fun to do; the fact that he was innocent was a cliffhanger for me. But when I met him, it was like [as if] somebody had hit me with a sledgehammer. From his demeanor… the way he was speaking, [I realized] he wasn’t just an ordinary scientist. It was only when he started talking about his achievements in life apart from the case, what I was missing stood out and loomed up like a giant,” says Madhavan.
“Here we have a celebrated scientist who made the Vikas engine, but all that Google throws up is the label of a spy. It wasn’t picking up on the Vikas engine or the meritorious things he had done,” says Madhavan, adding that Nambi’s story was already written. “I just had to focus on which part of the story I wanted to tell.”
Madhavan’s directorial debut unveils the genius of Nambi, beginning with his friendship with mentor Vikram Sarabhai at ISRO to his scholarly pursuit at Princeton and later, as the main man heading a team of 52 scientists to Vernon, France, to help develop the Viking-3 rocket engine.
The film wears a cloak of honest rawness that makes us laugh out loud at light-hearted moments, and cry at poignant turns. The personal trauma that the Narayanan family faced has been portrayed with depth. In one scene, Nambi’s distress to hail an auto in pouring rain to take his ill wife home is so real, the frustration is palpable. “Nobody wants to take up a directorial venture which is so mammoth in its philosophy. Critics said that I could have given it to a better director, but I couldn’t find someone who understood how ISRO works and was well-versed with the cryogenic engine, I just couldn’t. I didn’t have the budgets either,” he says, earnestly.
Then there was the challenge of making a film in three languages—Hindi, English and Tamil. “I knew all three, so I jumped in.”
Madhavan, himself, has a BSc degree in Electronics, and has nurtured a deep interest in aeronautics. He was recognised as a leading NCC cadet, which landed him the opportunity to receive training with the British Army, the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. He considered joining the forces, but missed the age cut-off by six months. “My entire life prepared me for this moment, truth be told,” he says.
To ensure his acting didn’t interfere with his direction, he saw that the team left the least amount of creativity for the set. “My characters were well defined, we had done the workshops and rehearsals, so we had minimum improvising liberties on the set. I was delivering what I had already set. I had the entire story and script in my head.”
It was imperative, Madhavan feels, to completely imbibe Nambi. “I was just spending time with him, observing him. He gave me one advice: select the right people and let them do their job. Make sure I had given them my vision, and just leave them alone. For every aspect of the film, from filmography to music, I gave them a vision of where I wanted to go, and then gave them complete freedom. That is exactly how he built the Vikas engine,” he adds.
The rest of the cast fit their roles with ease. Param, a fictional character played by Rajeev Ravindranathan, is a scientist and friend who stands by Nambi through his ups and downs. Another character that shines is Unni, played by Sam Mohan, who has the canvas to despise Nambi for a phase in his life, but becomes his support system post the arrest. “I didn’t want anyone to come on set and try to play an astro-scientist or make the effort to convince the audience. I am very proud of the intricacies of what we achieved,” says Madhavan.
The story is held together in the form of an interview conducted by Shah Rukh Khan; the Tamil version has Suriya in the role.
Playing his real-life self of a Bollywood star helps present the story in a digestible format. The charmer offers a platform for Nambi’s storytelling. The dialogues have a lot of scientific terms thrown in, but without the need to understand what specific impulse means to an engine, we are able to enjoy the excitement of an experiment. Madhavan, admits, he didn’t want to dumb it down. “It is really a conversation between scientists and geniuses,” he tells us, signing off, “Even if I don’t make as much money as other actors, I will never make a movie that will undermine my audience.”
In a nutshell
In 1998, the Supreme Court acquitted Nambi Narayanan in the case and awarded him a compensation of Rs 1 lakh. In 1999, Narayanan claimed compensation from the state for agony under the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). An interim compensation of Rs. 10 lakh was awarded. The SC awarded him a compensation of R50 lakh in 2018. In 2019, Nambi Narayanan was awarded the third highest civilian award, the Padma Bhushan for his contribution to India’s space research at the age of 80. In 2020, he was awarded an added compensation of Rs 1.3 crore.
Madhavan’s character evolves from an ambitious and bright 27-year-old to a disillusioned 74-year-old
With Nambi Narayanan (white shirt) on the set of Rocketry: The Nambi Effect
I asked Nambi Narayanan to share his worst qualities, and his answers blew my mind-R Madhavan
7:56 AM
Going beyond acting with Rocketry: The Nambi Effect, Madhavan says conviction to helm Narayanan’s biopic came from research-backed material
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; June 29, 2022)
Some stories leave a profound effect on you. The journey of former ISRO scientist S Nambi Narayanan had a similar effect on R Madhavan. He was so fascinated by the scientist’s contribution to ISRO, his 1994 arrest on charges of espionage and subsequent acquittal that he felt compelled to bring the story to the big screen, not only as an actor, but also as a writer-director. That led to the creation of Rocketry: The Nambi Effect, which sees Madhavan play the former aerospace engineer.
For an artiste who has faced the camera for over two decades, going behind it can be an unnerving experience. “I feel I am not qualified to be a director at all. I haven’t been to any [filmmaking] school, nor have I assisted any [director]. I don’t think I will ever venture into direction again. So, I don’t care about validation [for my directorial skills] at this point. Then again, I haven’t sought validation for anything. I have been one of those vagabonds who follow their hearts,” smiles Madhavan, far from nervous as the film’s release inches closer.
The biopic became a passion project for the actor-director, who dedicated six years to its making. Bringing Narayanan on board to share his life story was not easy. But after a few interactions, the scientist could gauge Madhavan’s honest intent with the film.
“Nambi sir is sharp. He is not just a scientist, he is a genius. He kept judging me when I went to meet him. When I said I wanted to learn about liquid fuel engineering, he said, ‘You are an actor. What do you know about physics? How much do you know about space?’ Thankfully, I passed muster.”
Biopics in Hind cinema tend to be hagiographies. However, the actor-director insists that his film is based on intense research and has remained true to the facts. “It’s all factual,” he asserts, before adding, “I made sure his bad qualities are showcased. That’s the first part of breaking the stereotype [of a biopic]. I asked him to share his worst qualities, and his answers blew my mind. He told me the kind of things that I cannot imagine human beings doing, but his reasons were justified.”
My mother and grandmother were matriarchs; the men were happy letting them do what they wanted to do-R Madhavan
8:10 AM
The actor says we must overcome the conditioning about gender stereotypes
Sugandha Rawal (HINDUSTAN TIMES; February 23, 2022)
The conversation around gender equality is not new, but it is still relevant, even more so as society continues to evolve. And actor R Madhavan feels men need to get on board with the discussion more actively to usher in a change in mindset.
“I think the most important thing is to get rid of our conditioning, even if you don’t do anything actively. But you can’t blame men as well, because they have been brought up and raised with this conditioning where a girl’s as well as a boy’s job is defined,” Madhavan shares, adding, “At that time, that was how the household was supposed to be. People didn’t think anything was wrong with it, and it was called a functional family. But then, there were things which were not right for the women.”
Last seen in the web series Decoupled, the actor asserts that strong women can change a lot of things for a household. And he cites his own family as an example. “In my house, we have very powerful women, including my mother and grandmother. They were matriarchs, and the men were happy letting them do what they wanted to do. And they were also happy about a woman taking care of them when they needed to be taken care of,” says the 51-year-old.
He goes on to assert, “Men need to understand that, however difficult it is for you to accept it, women are much stronger, physically and mentally, as you grow older.”
What makes him say that? “If you look at most households, you will realise that the grandmother is the last one left standing, compared to the grandfather. It’s a common thing in most homes... So, it will work well for men if they are able to invest in their future by being understanding to the ladies in their house,” concludes Madhavan.
I need to be fit like Hrithik Roshan to be able to star opposite Katrina Kaif-R Madhavan
8:28 AM
Actor R Madhavan wishes to work on happy projects, so that the sadness of the pandemic era doesn’t spill into his work
Sugandha Rawal (HINDUSTAN TIMES; January 15, 2022)
Actor R Madhavan doesn’t want the morbidness of the Coronavirus era to spill into his work, or reflect in the stories he narrates on screen. And that’s why he is on a lookout for ‘Covid-19-proof’ projects. “When it comes to selecting subjects, I am trying to select Covid-19-proof subjects right now. Something that doesn’t drag me back to being morose and sad, and feeling morbid about my life,” Madhavan tells us.
He continues, “I am open to taking on anything that is happy and cheerful. Like my recent show, Decoupled, was on those lines. It was right up my alley. It spreads cheer, like one of my friends tweeted, it’s a perfect antidepressant. So, that’s the kind of stuff I am heading for.”
Meanwhile, the Rang De Basanti (2006) actor is glad that he can traverse different languages as an artiste. “I have the liberty of selecting between Tamil and Hindi scripts. So, the choices are more. But, having said that, I don’t necessarily get the kind of stories I want to tell,” says Madhavan, who started his journey as an actor with the 90s TV show, Sea Hawks, which earned him tremendous acclaim.
Talking about the kind of work he wishes to do, the Tanu Weds Manu and 3 Idiots (2009) actor shares, “I want to do the kind of films (actor) Hrithik Roshan does. I’ve huge admiration for him. He looks like a Greek God even now and does phenomenal action. But merely desiring it won’t help me. I need to be fit like him to be able to star opposite (actor) Katrina Kaif. But I am fine with it.”
He goes on to highlight his talent and says, “I like to play to my strengths. And that, for me, is the script, story and character.”
I cover up my insecurities with some excuses-R Madhavan
8:09 AM
Madhavan, who plays a self-centred writer in Decoupled, discusses his insecurities as an actor — from wanting six-pack abs to finding age-appropriate roles
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; December 20, 2021)
At first, Arya Iyer can be quite a handful, almost unlikeable, as he rants about the barricades on city roads or emphasises his right to walk in the buff in the men’s locker room. But trust R Madhavan to lend his innate charm to the role and bring it alive in Decoupled. “I wanted to see how I could make Arya acceptable without making him a jerk. He is one of those guys who say things as they are; he does not have any filters,” says the actor.
The Manu Joseph creation, also starring Surveen Chawla, revolves around a married couple on the verge of separation. Not wasting its time on maudlin display of emotions, the Netflix series instead studies two individuals, who have grown apart, through the lens of humour. “You realise there is nothing wrong between Arya and Shruti [Chawla’s character] — there is no infidelity or abuse. They have become two different people over a period of eight years.”
The actor, married to Sarita for 22 years, knows the secret to a rock-solid marriage. “When we were getting married, I thought I am the rockstar and she is the sweet girl [in the marriage]. Within two years, I learnt it was the opposite. She seems to have 40 hours in a day, and gives me the freedom to pursue my lazy career. I have immense admiration for women because of people like Sarita, my mother and my sister.”
While the actor has enjoyed a flourishing career in Tamil and Hindi cinema over the past 20 years, he admits to battling his share of insecurities. “Whenever I see an actor put up a [picture] of his six-pack or eight-pack abs, I am like, ‘What the hell are you doing, Maddy? How did you even survive here?’ When I see them acting with phenomenal heroines like Deepika Padukone and Anushka Sharma, I think, ‘Tu kab aisi picture karega?’ Such insecurities are there. I cover them up [by telling myself] that I have to do age-appropriate roles, and I don’t want to do anything silly. My excuses keep me sane, but some of my excuses also make me lazy,” he says, before joking, “I need to work on my six-pack one of these days.”
I have never been the kind of guy known for my fashion sense-R Madhavan
8:09 AM
R Madhavan says he prefers to be known for his work and believes this approach has served him well over the course of his career
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; January 20, 2021)
After 2020, this year again seems to be a busy year for R Madhavan. Two of his films, one each in Telugu and Tamil, released directly on OTT in 2020, and Maara was the latest addition this year.
Recently, he was in the Capital, shooting for his next web project. The actor tells us, “I was shooting an original series for two months. I was apprehensive as 250 families are connected with this project, their livelihood is connected, I feel responsible. I didn’t step out of my room even once, and we finished 95% of the shoot. As artists everybody took responsibility, and never took anything for granted.”
Clearly, the web features big on his action plan. In fact, the show Breathe which he headlined was the first original web show from India, way back in 2018.
“I always knew the potential of OTT and I was definitely a pioneer who jumped into it. I think because of the Coronavirus situation, it has become much larger than we ever expected. Many platforms are cropping up, and thankfully have become revenue earners not just for actors but everyone involved in the industry — technicians, junior artists, etc. Unfortunately categories like dancers are still not much in demand,” says Madhavan.
The 50-year-old hasn’t been seen in a full-fledged role in Hindi films, in over five years now. What’s keeping him away? “Rocketry: The Nambi Effect, my trilingual film has consumed my entire time from Saala Khadoos till now. I did Breathe in between, and Vikram Vedha apart from that. Rocketry has been all consuming, and I’m hoping it’s worth the wait. I can’t wait to show it to the world,” he gushes.
Madhavan, unless a project is nearing a release, is nowhere to be seen, and practically vanishes. Social media updates, too, aren’t frequent.
He says he has never been otherwise. “I have never been the kind of guy known for my fashion sense or being in news for unqualified remarks that I make. So I prefer to be known for my work. I guess it’s served me well in terms of respect and I am happy with the positioning that it has got me,” he quips.
I decided that if I have to get into digital medium, it has to be with Breathe-R Madhavan
7:48 AM
Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; January 24, 2018)
R Madhavan, who started his acting career on TV before venturing into cinema, is now all set to make his debut on the digital platform with the web series Breathe. “I’ve played a baddie in Tamil films. But this will be my first outing as a dark character in the Hindi space. I don’t want to reveal much about the character except that it will be difficult for the audience to choose sides. You will be driven by conditioning and what is socially correct to decide,” he says mysteriously.
For those who have seen the trailer, it is evident that the 47-year-old plays a distraught father whose son is suffering from a terminal disease and needs an organ transplant. Consequently, people of a particular blood group get killed randomly.
As Madhavan has a son in real life, was it difficult for him also to choose sides? “Yes, because I know my character’s actions may not be morally correct, but what do you do when you are faced with something like that? God forbid anybody who has to make a choice like that, but epics are based on conflicts and this is one,” he reasons.
Ask him what prompted him to try the digital medium and he confesses that he wasn’t keen to embrace it so soon. “I always knew this is another big avenue for entertainment as India and China are two of the largest consumers of smart phones and digital right now. But I was waiting for the right opportunity because everyone who is watching web content is seeing international content as well. If we have to give them something, it has to be as good as if not better than foreign content. When I heard the script, I was impressed. I decided that if I have to take this huge step, it has to be with this series,” he explains.
However, Madhavan found that shooting for the web was tougher than that for cinema, so much so that he would write notes and maintain a diary! “For a film, you only have to prepare for two hours of content. This was 360 minutes that is equivalent to four movies and you are shooting at the same time frame as that of a feature. Hence, it was tough to keep track of the emotional graph, the story and performance. The story is so wide that the growth in the emotion has to be minuscule but apparent. So, I wrote notes in a diary and made sure I picked up (expressions) and dropped them at the right places. It was challenging and exciting,” he says.
The actor has also been in the news for the remake of his Tamil blockbuster Vikram Vedha. Speculations were rife that Shah Rukh Khan would play one of the lead roles — either a cop or a gangster — in the Hindi version. “I don’t know where this news came from. All I can say is that the remake is happening and right now, the dialogues are being written. It is backed by the same man who has produced the Tamil film, in association with somebody else and will be helmed by the director of the original,” he clarifies.
Ask him if he will reprise his role, that of an inspector in the remake, and he says, “It’s a tough call to take. Once I have done a film in another language, then I should look at the reasons for doing it in Hindi. And I’m still trying to justify to myself about how inventive it would be? In any case I don’t even know if they will approach me,” he shrugs. So, who would suit the roles of Vikram and Vedha? “Any of the top stars can play it. It requires a lot of studying of the characters and flair to play Vikram or Vedha. The casting has to be appropriate as it was in Tamil,” he states.
The 3 Idiots actor also has three Hindi movies lined up — a biopic on the controversial rocket scientist S Nambi Narayanan, the space odyssey Chandamama Door Ke and an untitled movie, which will see him as the main antagonist.
Breathe is the best piece of work that I have done in my life-R Madhavan
8:07 AM
In the spotlight for his debut web show —revolving around a father’s plight after his son is faced with a fateful incident — RMadhavan says he’s “exceeded his expectations”
Letty Mariam Abraham (MID-DAY; January 17, 2018)
Given that you are a father in real life, was it difficult to play this role for reel?
Honestly, when I kicked-off this series, I treated it like another project. But, as we progressed, I realised we were making something big. The director [Mayank Sharma] and I got along like a house on fire. That’s when I started focusing on the role. I have a son, and I began to questions what would happen if I was faced with a similar scenario. That’s when it became difficult as well as interesting, to play the role. I had to make things look real. That unnerved me. Fortunately, I was able to disconnect from the character before returning home. I’d have a drink before getting home so that I could transcend the morbid thought.
What were the challenges you faced?
Keeping a track of your expressions and emotions for such a long schedule was challenging. There are eight episodes, each being 40-minutes long. So, this was like shooting for four films. On the second day, we shot the climax. On the fifth, we canned the first episode. So, keeping the expressions on track was tough.
What do you take back from the project?
I believe this is the best piece of work that I have done in my life. So, I have this drive of further excelling in my next venture. When you exceed your expectations, and have to cross this yardstick, it is frightening.
How does it feel to be part of the web space?
Digital is going to be the next big thing, and I want to be a front-runner in that space. You don’t have to worry about [the project] every Friday night, like you do in films. When I accepted Breathe, I was doing Vikram Vedha [Tamil film]. To my luck, the film turned out better than expected. So, people won’t opine that I have taken up a web show because my films are not doing well.
We believe you and Amit Sadh got along really well...
He came on the set with a reverence for my work, which was frightening. He is the kind of guy I would have liked to be when I was his age. He has exceeded himself.
Letty Mariam Abraham (MID-DAY; January 17, 2018)
Given that you are a father in real life, was it difficult to play this role for reel?
Honestly, when I kicked-off this series, I treated it like another project. But, as we progressed, I realised we were making something big. The director [Mayank Sharma] and I got along like a house on fire. That’s when I started focusing on the role. I have a son, and I began to questions what would happen if I was faced with a similar scenario. That’s when it became difficult as well as interesting, to play the role. I had to make things look real. That unnerved me. Fortunately, I was able to disconnect from the character before returning home. I’d have a drink before getting home so that I could transcend the morbid thought.
What were the challenges you faced?
Keeping a track of your expressions and emotions for such a long schedule was challenging. There are eight episodes, each being 40-minutes long. So, this was like shooting for four films. On the second day, we shot the climax. On the fifth, we canned the first episode. So, keeping the expressions on track was tough.
What do you take back from the project?
I believe this is the best piece of work that I have done in my life. So, I have this drive of further excelling in my next venture. When you exceed your expectations, and have to cross this yardstick, it is frightening.
How does it feel to be part of the web space?
Digital is going to be the next big thing, and I want to be a front-runner in that space. You don’t have to worry about [the project] every Friday night, like you do in films. When I accepted Breathe, I was doing Vikram Vedha [Tamil film]. To my luck, the film turned out better than expected. So, people won’t opine that I have taken up a web show because my films are not doing well.
We believe you and Amit Sadh got along really well...
He came on the set with a reverence for my work, which was frightening. He is the kind of guy I would have liked to be when I was his age. He has exceeded himself.
It is wonderful to watch your body transform irrespective of your age-R Madhavan on prep for Saala Khadoos
7:44 AM
As told to Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 15, 2018)
In Sudha Kongara’s Tamil-Hindi bilingual Saala Khadoos, I played an ex-boxer-turned-coach who despite his talent falls prey to the politics of the boxing association. The challenge was to convincingly pass off as a boxer. Initially I didn’t know how much boxing would actually be there in the sports drama but I started training in Los Angeles anyway. I trained for about seven months, an hour-and-a-half every day.
In my head I was thinking that I’d pull it off, my hands were moving at a lightning speed and I thought the punches were power packed but I got a show when I saw the practise video. It looked so lame! It was a humbling and humiliating beginning, but I wasn’t disheartened. I kept going, working extremely hard on the sport.
To look the part I even acquired a muscular body, building it over nine months under the guidance of two trainers, Alexander and Scott. I started with light cardio, moving to elastic bands for muscle and strength training. I learnt new techniques while collaborating with the duo. They even monitored my diet. Since I’m a vegetarian, they ensured my meals were protein rich and that I avoided late night parties and slept well. It is wonderful to watch your body transform irrespective of your age. By the time I finished my training, my biceps were 17-and-a-half inches, which made it difficult for me to brush my teeth. And after all that, when I read the final script, I discovered that I wasn’t really required to box, only pad off punches with my hands while coaching. It is a different skill because as a coach you have to keep moving your hands in the direction the boxer attacks. Fortunately, the twomonth training before the shoot really helped.
There were a lot of injuries during the shoot, especially when I was training Ritika Singh with the band. It broke once and cut my bicep, I still had a great time shooting for the film. But I am a lazy man and stopped my training as soon as I finished the film.
More recently, I played a
police inspector, Vikram, in Pushkar Gayathri’s neo-noir action
crime-thriller, Vikram Vedha. Because of my previous defence training, I
knew how to air-shoot but wanted to know more about how to fire arms,
where to keep it, what is the best hand to shoot.More importantly, I wanted to know which pistol or a revolver I was using in the film and its calibre. So my training included learning the size of the magazine, the range of the firearm, how to dismantle and assemble, and also the cleaning process, among many other things. I enjoyed my prep for both films thoroughly. I am now going to learn horse-riding and sword-fighting for my next film. I can’t wait to begin…
Spacesuits are my new toys-R Madhavan
2:28 PM
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; August 22, 2017)
Space odyssey Chandamama Door Ke won't be an easy film to make, but the actors are up for the challenge. Soon after leading man Sushant Singh Rajput returned from the USA after his elaborate training at NASA, his co-actor R Madhavan has headed to the US Space & Rocket Centre in Alabama to do his share of homework.
"I felt like a kid in Disneyland," says Madhavan, with glee, about his experience at the centre. "Over the first few days, I was putting on different space suits and learning all about their functionality. I was shocked when I heard how much a space suit costs! They are my new toys."
The actor, who, much like Sushant Singh Rajput, plays an astronaut in the Sanjay Puran Singh Chauhan-directed drama, is currently stationed for a week in Alabama. Keeping him company is John Palmer, the special effects director, who is helping the actor get into the skin of his character.
"John helped me understand the technical aspects of each suit. Since he has worked on a bunch of Hollywood films — Geostorm [2017], Apollo 18 [2011] and The Astronaut Farmer [2006] — he gives me a great reference point to work on. Be it taking me through the process of getting into the suits or explaining safety measures, or helping me train under water, John has done it all."
R Madhavan feels he has developed a keen eye for detail with this film. "That's what being with experts like John does to you."
You can enjoy the fruits and vegetables of your labour, literally-R Madhavan
9:29 AM
Lakshmi V (BOMBAY TIMES; June 5, 2016)
It has been three years
since R Madhavan got addicted to his new passion - organic farming. His
balcony garden boasts of a wide variety of vegetables and fruits - ladies
finger, aubergine, broccoli, tomatoes and cucumber among others - and
the actor believes everyone has to grow at least one vegetable on his
own to understand the plight of farmers. On World Environment Day today,
he talks about the importance of eating organic food and also shares
his expert farming tips. And I listen on, munching peppered muskmelons
freshly plucked from his garden and washing it down with a tall glass of
chilled buttermilk.
What prompted you to try out organic gardening?
I've always wanted to take this up, and my decision was driven by a few solid facts. Today, to get the same amount of nutrition that you derived from an apple back in the '40s, it's believed that you need to consume 41 of them. Everything is genetically modified and most of the organic vegetables have almost phased out. So, I decided to grow my own veggies in the most natural way possible. I was working on a script and used to stay at home a lot. So, I used this time to read up on organic farming and I must say, it has been extremely rewarding. My terrace garden takes care of almost 70 per cent of my seasonal vegetables requirements. I use just about 120th of water that is usually needed through drip irrigation. Especially at times like this, when the state is reeling under the effects of the drought, this is a great way to sustain yourself.
If someone wants to grow their own vegetables at home, what are the things they need to keep in mind?
Firstly, you need organic soil. It can be difficult because a majority of the land has been sprayed with insecticides and mosquito repellents. So, the best bet would be to dig a one feet hole near a farm to extract soil and mix it with some from a river bed. Next, you need to source organic seeds. Strangely enough, I bought my first bunch from Europe, and some of the varieties are of Indian origin. Back home, most villagers have stocks of organic seeds. Of course, you can always order them online. Remember to allow enough light and air once you sow the seeds. Don't overwater it and ensure rats don't get the small plants. When they are just beginning to sprout, cover them. You can soon enjoy the fruits and vegetables of your labour, literally.
If not pesticides, how do you protect the plants?
A fruit or vegetable that a worm can't eat, how can you? Birds and insects are part of the ecosystem and help in pollination. I don't see any problem in having fruits and vegetables that birds want to eat, as opposed to the perfect shaped tomato that only you can eat, and which, by the way, could also be cancerous. The thing about organic farming is that the produce will not look the same. Your tomato will not resemble the rich red one from the textbook and that's the beauty of it. If you still want to control the insects and worms, spray a mixture of neem oil and water over the plants. It will become too bitter for them to eat.
Which vegetables can first timers try growing at home?
The easiest ones to grow are the tomatoes, brinjals, beans, peas, broccoli, cauliflower, muskmelon, bitter and snake gourds and lettuce. It's ideal to start with salad vegetables like spinach and lettuce. Of course, don't spray neem oil because your salad will taste bitter (laughs).
Talking about food and organic farming, do you feel awkward if people comment on your weight gain or compliment your weight loss?
I'm a Gemini and my attention span is limited. So, I don't dwell on long term goals. If you ask me to get a six-pack in the interim between signing a film, I will not do it. I enjoy food and will be happy to feed myself a pizza or two and gorge on cakes. But, I have good control over my body. I need two months to get the kind of physique that I had in Guru and seven months to look like how I did in Saala Khadoos. I also have no great vices that show on my face. I'm 46 and have a fairly decent lifestyle. I don't have wrinkles, don't require botox and my hair is in place, though grey.
While you are investing a lot of time in organic farming, don't you want to nurture your film career too with as much passion? There is usually a long gap between your films in Bollywood.
I'm very lazy and there are few and far between subjects that I can do. I don't think I'm that good an actor as people make me out to be. I associate my characters with my life experience and that's why playing the husband in the Tanu Weds Manu series was interesting. I've now finalised two films in Tamil and one in Hindi - a biopic that should take off by the end of this year. I feel insecure to take up any role that's not well written. And naachke logon ka mann behlana hai toh meri haalat kharab ho jaayegi. That said, I now want to do total nonsensical comedy.
What prompted you to try out organic gardening?
I've always wanted to take this up, and my decision was driven by a few solid facts. Today, to get the same amount of nutrition that you derived from an apple back in the '40s, it's believed that you need to consume 41 of them. Everything is genetically modified and most of the organic vegetables have almost phased out. So, I decided to grow my own veggies in the most natural way possible. I was working on a script and used to stay at home a lot. So, I used this time to read up on organic farming and I must say, it has been extremely rewarding. My terrace garden takes care of almost 70 per cent of my seasonal vegetables requirements. I use just about 120th of water that is usually needed through drip irrigation. Especially at times like this, when the state is reeling under the effects of the drought, this is a great way to sustain yourself.
If someone wants to grow their own vegetables at home, what are the things they need to keep in mind?
Firstly, you need organic soil. It can be difficult because a majority of the land has been sprayed with insecticides and mosquito repellents. So, the best bet would be to dig a one feet hole near a farm to extract soil and mix it with some from a river bed. Next, you need to source organic seeds. Strangely enough, I bought my first bunch from Europe, and some of the varieties are of Indian origin. Back home, most villagers have stocks of organic seeds. Of course, you can always order them online. Remember to allow enough light and air once you sow the seeds. Don't overwater it and ensure rats don't get the small plants. When they are just beginning to sprout, cover them. You can soon enjoy the fruits and vegetables of your labour, literally.
If not pesticides, how do you protect the plants?
A fruit or vegetable that a worm can't eat, how can you? Birds and insects are part of the ecosystem and help in pollination. I don't see any problem in having fruits and vegetables that birds want to eat, as opposed to the perfect shaped tomato that only you can eat, and which, by the way, could also be cancerous. The thing about organic farming is that the produce will not look the same. Your tomato will not resemble the rich red one from the textbook and that's the beauty of it. If you still want to control the insects and worms, spray a mixture of neem oil and water over the plants. It will become too bitter for them to eat.
Which vegetables can first timers try growing at home?
The easiest ones to grow are the tomatoes, brinjals, beans, peas, broccoli, cauliflower, muskmelon, bitter and snake gourds and lettuce. It's ideal to start with salad vegetables like spinach and lettuce. Of course, don't spray neem oil because your salad will taste bitter (laughs).
Talking about food and organic farming, do you feel awkward if people comment on your weight gain or compliment your weight loss?
I'm a Gemini and my attention span is limited. So, I don't dwell on long term goals. If you ask me to get a six-pack in the interim between signing a film, I will not do it. I enjoy food and will be happy to feed myself a pizza or two and gorge on cakes. But, I have good control over my body. I need two months to get the kind of physique that I had in Guru and seven months to look like how I did in Saala Khadoos. I also have no great vices that show on my face. I'm 46 and have a fairly decent lifestyle. I don't have wrinkles, don't require botox and my hair is in place, though grey.
While you are investing a lot of time in organic farming, don't you want to nurture your film career too with as much passion? There is usually a long gap between your films in Bollywood.
I'm very lazy and there are few and far between subjects that I can do. I don't think I'm that good an actor as people make me out to be. I associate my characters with my life experience and that's why playing the husband in the Tanu Weds Manu series was interesting. I've now finalised two films in Tamil and one in Hindi - a biopic that should take off by the end of this year. I feel insecure to take up any role that's not well written. And naachke logon ka mann behlana hai toh meri haalat kharab ho jaayegi. That said, I now want to do total nonsensical comedy.
Unless I have a triple role, I won't do Tanu Weds Manu 3-R Madhavan
11:40 AM
R Madhavan gets candid about his drama-less life, the significance of good writing and conditions he's set for Aanand L Rai for their next collaboration
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 2, 2016)
In a classic case of life imitating art, R Madhavan's off-screen persona seems to have taken after his hapless onscreen characters (Tanu Weds Manu, 3 Idiots), or so the actor grouses jokingly. "I have a boring image. There'd be more to write about if I had a string of affairs but there is no smoke because there isn't any fire. Either I am genuinely satisfied with my boring life or I am clever enough to keep all my scandals hidden. Hmmm... it's the latter," he quips.
His candour and upbeat voice over the telephonic chat belie his last screen turn, as the volatile boxing coach in Saala Khadoos. Madhavan confesses that if he had to put down his entire life on paper, it would manifest into an autobiographical trilogy of sorts which begins with a rigorous NCC cadet training in England to being appointed the Indian cultural ambassador to Canada and living with a dozen cowboys on a farm, and probably ending with living a star's life.
"I enjoy writing that is well-researched and layered. Like the scene in Tanu Weds Manu Returns, where the groom wants to walk directly to the mandap instead of mounting a horse first and the ladki ka baap says, aapki toh dusri shaadi hai, lekin mere beti ki pehli hai... one line, packed with meaning. That's the kind of writing I am looking for," Madhavan asserts, adding that Rajkumar Hirani, with whom he worked on 3 Idiots, follows the same storytelling technique as Tanu Weds Manu director Aanand L Rai. "Rajkumar Hirani is from a small town, he's a brilliant storyteller and an even better editor. He explains the boldest of issues in simple language and that's why his work is phenomenal," the actor smiles, pointing out that he always contributes to scripts he signs.
According to him, the fundamental mistake Bollywood filmmakers make is judging their audience's sensibilities. "Punjab main yeh nahi chalega, South main nahi chalega... we underestimate concepts. It took Tanu Weds Manu eight months to find takers. We need to start trusting our audience," Madhavan reasons.
Next up, he has begun prep for a Tamil action-drama in which he plays an encounter specialist. "I have to become lean and mean. It's a lot tougher than building muscle. I suffer withdrawal symptoms and feel lethargic because of all the cardio. It's going to be a tough six-month journey to becoming thin without letting age catch up," he sighs.
Madhavan's last Tamil release, Irudhi Suttru, the Tamil version of Saala Khadoos, has grossed a staggering Rs 100 crore down South. "Contrary to popular belief, it had nothing to do with my popularity down South. In fact, I had a Tamil film releasing after four years and we were off to a slow start at the box office. Then it picked up. I also worked hard at promoting the film, with lots of events and channel appearances. I believe promoting a film right is most of the job accomplished. If a film doesn't last the first three days at the box-office, it won't make it," he explains.
Is a third Tanu Weds Manu film in the offing? The actor is quick on the uptake, saying, "I am sitting across Aanand L Rai as we speak. We are tormented by this question but I have made it super clear --unless I have a triple role, I won't do the film," he guffaws.
I know there are 23-year-old girls who lust after me-R Madhavan
8:13 AM
R Madhavan about having a loyal fan following despite taking up age-appropriate roles; insists he doesn’t want to project himself as an alpha male
MID-DAY (February 12, 2016)
Let’s begin with your latest outing, Saala Khadoos. Has it made money at the box office? A. We made money, but I thought we’d make a lot more.
Even for my super flop film, Jodi Breakers, we made Rs 2.5 crore on day one and Rs 7 crore over the weekend. Raju (Rajkumar Hirani, coproducer of Saala Khadoos) is stunned at the figures. We barely had any publicity. People didn’t know when the film was releasing. In Tamil the film went berserk. It made more money in week two — almost a 40 per cent jump.
Is it true that Sudha Kongara Prasad wanted to make the film with you because she is a fan?
No, we used to fight like cats and dogs. She was Mani Ratnam’s assistant, one of the last ones working when I was a star there. She would come up to me and talk about continuity and I’d ask her shut up. I am always skeptical when I work with Mani Ratnam’s assistants because they would come with my mentor’s sword over their neck, and I have to be careful. But when I read Sudha’s script, I was completely blown away with the kind of research that she had done for it.
Given that she is a debutante director, how much did you all have to work on the film?
She had a basic story, so I worked on the screenplay with her for the first two years before we pitched it to Raju. We had to work on it; she was inexperienced to an extent, but she would take suggestions from everybody and mould it. Whatever films I do, I submit myself to my director because they decide how I should perform. I date my directors, take them out for dinners, debate and discuss, throw red herrings at them just to see how they function under pressure and if they accept all my suggestions or have their own point of view. Sudha was acing all of that like Aanand L Rai (maker of Tanu Weds Manu).
Do you also pitch ideas to makers?
No, I don’t pitch ideas; I give them full-bound scripts. Either the maker and I finish it and pitch it to producers, or there is an idea that I have and we work on it. But mostly, I don’t have original ideas, so I wait for the director to come to me. I have a bit of expertise in screenplay writing.
Do you feel Saala Khadoos’ release with Mastizaade affected the business?
No, because they released with 1800 prints and we went ahead with 500. The strategy.
What’s next?
I will take a break and decide whether I should keep my hair and moustache, or take it off. There’s a script I am doing on encounter specialists. The research is underway, and I will soon undergo arms training to make sure that I look like an arms specialist. We are meeting people involved with the police and Defence forces. For my kind of films, there is a little bit of research that goes into it, because I don’t think I can entice people with the way I dance or show them my six packs now.
You are known to be a good motivational speaker. Why don’t you pursue it?
I do that every time I have to convince a producer to back my films. That’s all I need. I recently gave a speech at a Coimbatore college which went viral. Since then I have been getting a lot of offers, but I don’t think I am qualified for that right now. I want to act and be in front of the camera.
People have appreciated you for your movie choices. But how do you regard the award system in the industry?
I am someone who gives enough respect to the media and award organisers to decide whether they need to give me an award or not. I cannot and I will not lobby for awards. I think if professional friendship is going to influence all that then it is not earned in the first place. It makes me think that I am better than I actually am. I know I have found a place for myself in the industry and will be walking into the archives; they will never forget that there was an actor like me — that much I know. I just have to make sure that I keep pushing myself. The awards system works the same way in the South as well. If you get an Oscar, your standing in Hollywood goes up. So, if you were charging 2 million dollars, you can charge 5 million dollars post that, but that doesn’t happen with any award here in India. However, the National Award has suddenly got a lot more importance now.
Is it a challenge to find age-appropriate roles?
I have always done age-appropriate roles except for 3 Idiots (2009). That’s the best part; you can make a Piku and get Rs 100 crore out of it. I have no qualms playing my age and that’s what the audience likes. If I were to dye my hair and behave like a 31-year-old and romance a girl, doing the scene would have felt obscene, let alone the audience watching it. Having said that, I know there are 23-year-old girls who lust after me. But that’s a one-off thing as they are not lusting after the Maddy that I am right now; it is just about the image of who I was and what I had been — that I can’t take seriously. The moment I do that, I will become a dirty old man. But as an actor, I can’t look for a non-age appropriate role just to prove I am the alpha male around.
I went through the lowest point in my life for Saala Khadoos-R Madhavan
7:58 AM
R Madhavan on spending his life’s savings on the film
Latha Srinivasan (DNA; January 20, 2016)
He has dedicated three years of his life for this film
and is now set to release on January 29. R Madhavan’s sheer faith in
the script and director Sudha Kongara saw him produce Saala Khadoos in
Hindi and get Rajkumar Hirani on board. The trailer of the Hindi-Tamil
bilingual has created a buzz thanks to the actor’s new avatar and his
role as a boxing coach. Here, Madhavan opens up about the film and what
he went through to make the film.
There’s hype suddenly around you and Saala Khadoos...
I would like to take the credit completely for myself but the truth of the matter is if I had come with any other film, I don’t think the anticipation level would have been the same. It is the very reason why I took the sabbatical to work for my look — mostly the script motivated me and the director. I think half the hype is because of my new avatar.
Tell me about transforming yourself for the role?
Complacency sets in when you do what you’ve been doing well and it’s very easy to walk down that path. I get bored easily and I was getting bored with myself. My wife told me that she could see the passion go out of my eyes. She said, “Maddy, if you’re that bored, change your profession or revamp yourself.” I needed somebody to tell me that. The mental makeover was far tougher than the physical one. It was really tough to push myself into a corner, stop feeling like a star, be humiliated and humbled, make myself unrecognisable and travel with the public. I just felt what it was to be a common man all over the world. I started rebuilding myself. The hard work was very tough but it was great knowing that one is capable of doing that.
When the director Sudha Kongara narrated the script, did you think it would be a life-changing role?
Oh yes! Right away. My instinct has been my greatest tool. Scripts that other heroes don’t touch or see the light of day are the ones I knew will work for me. In this movie, I’m doing the most anti-hero thing. I’ve grey hair, I’m seen in bed with a woman who’s not my wife, I’m letting the heroine say you’ve a bulky stomach but a cute smile. When the script comes to you, it just motivates you to take these leaps of faith which you normally wouldn’t do. That’s why I felt I should put not just my blood and soul but also my money in it to make sure it sees the light of day in the glory with which it was written. Full marks to Sudha for having been able to pull that off.
This is your first time with a female director.
When you imagine a woman director, you always think she’ll come to you with a emotional story. Sudha, came up with a script on women’s boxing in India. You’re obviously going to read the script with a little bit of apprehension. But the amount of research and interviews she had done and the visuals she had included in the presentation to substantiate the story was astounding. That I didn’t expect from a female director or any director for that matter. There was no way I was going to let something like this go.
Why did you want Rajkumar Hirani on board?
I told Sudha I’ll take responsibility of seeing the film go on floors and producing it. I then tried to find people who will see the film in the same light as me and finance the film as well. But whoever I went to couldn’t see the film the same way. No one was willing to invest in the film as is. It was then that I came to the lowest point in my life and career. I had completely depleted my bank account and was living on wafers. Raju Hirani is a close friend and someone I respect a lot and taking the script to him would have been the obvious thing to do. He kept asking me what I was working on and he asked me why I was talking a sabbatical. He was in the middle of PK so I told him I didn’t want to bother him. I was talking to this dear friend of mine in the US who’s like a brother and I told him I’m going to drop this film. He had seen me every step of the way in this film as I was staying at his place in the US for my training regimen. He told me that I couldn’t drop the project and that there was nothing called failure but just various degrees of success. He said if I don’t take the risk now then I wouldn’t the next time round. He told me, “Maddy, see it to the end. Irrespective of the outcome, you’ll benefit from it in the long run. ” That afternoon I made up my mind to meet Rajkumar Hirani but I didn’t want to put any pressure on him. I narrated the story to him in 20 minutes — the defining 20 minutes of this film. He said he hadn’t heard a script like this in 15 years. Raju asked me, “Tell me, what do you want me to do for this film.” I told him to be the wind beneath our wings and that we would make the film and if he thought it was worthy of his name, then to help us get it released. But he did much more than that. Sashikanth of Y Not Studios also had the exact same reaction and he wanted to produce the film in Tamil. He stood like a rock and when Rajuji happened to come on board, I think it was worth all the effort.
Why cast a real-life boxer (Ritika Singh) instead of an actress?
We wanted someone who was a world champion boxer, around 17, who knew how to act, whose parents would allow her to act, hold her own, look like a heroine and speak in Hindi and Tamil. To find a girl who can speak in Tamil is a big challenge in Chennai. My friend Raj Kundra invited me to the Super Fight League. I saw Ritika there and knew in 15 minutes that I had found my heroine. When Sudha met her, she was euphoric. Ritika took to acting like fish takes to water and reiterated what I always believed in — acting is an innate skill. I believe that the power of the right script draws only the right people to it and this film has done that over and over.
Shah Rukh Khan also played a coach in Chak De! India. Do you think there’ll be comparisons?
Obviously. The comparisons will be in the filmy section of the audience and the filmy people. We’ve had 40 screenings but no one came up with Chak De! India. Secondly, the first day first show audiences who would have seen that film then aren’t the same ones today. Thirdly, there’s no similarity in the form, sport or characterisation themselves. My movie is more about the relationship between a man and a woman — two broken people who support each to get to the glory they are capable of. Chak De! Is about a man who was vindicated after he was assumed to be a traitor. If we are to compare every film that had a coach, then even Million Dollar Baby is one.
I can’t say some words properly because of my braces, lisp-R Madhavan
7:53 AM
Harshada Rege (DNA; May 21, 2015)
R Madhavan believes in getting under the skin of the
character he is playing. Even if that means going to crazy lengths of
physical transformation to get it right.
The actor is playing a boxer in the Hindi-Tamil bi-lingual, Saala Khadoos on a boxer’s life called Laal. Playing a boxer means bulking up, and the actor did put on almost 15 kgs for the role. But that isn’t where it ended. The role required him to acquire a lisp. So instead of faking a lisp, like most actors do, he decided to take a rather painful route. He got himself some braces. He says, “Most boxers have trouble talking because they are hit on their jaw very often during boxing matches. That’s why you will notice that many boxers have trouble speaking normally. And to play a boxer I had to get that correct and make it seem natural. So instead of faking a lisp, I got these braces, which are called lingual braces. They are fixed behind your teeth and others can’t see them.”
Maddy has been living with the braces for almost a year now. “Yes, I am kind of used to them by now. Faking a lisp couldn’t be so natural.” Wearing the braces sure has helped the actor, but it does come with its share of troubles too. “I have cut my tongue in the initial phase. Also I can’t say some words properly. There’s a faint whistling sound that you can hear when I speak certain words.”
The actor believes that the pain has been worth it. “It definitely has made a lot of difference.” And though the shooting for the movie is over, Maddy still has his braces on. “As soon as I finish my dubbing next month, I’ll take them off.”
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