From the quintessential lover boy in Rehna Hai Terre Dil Mein to a brooding psycho in Shaitaan, a devoted dad in De De Pyaar De 2, and now an intelligence officer in Dhurandhar, R. Madhavan has spent 32 years effortlessly reinventing himself. Every role carries his signature authenticity, proving he can command romance, drama, and high-octane thrillers with equal ease. “I’m actually feeling like a kid in a candy shop,” he says. “I feel I’m on the threshold of all that I can show and showcase in the years to come.”
We sat down with him to chat about everything from Dhurandhar to his acting process and more. Excerpts:
With De De Pyaar De 2 and Dhurandhar, it's been a great year for you at the box office. After 32 years in the industry, do you feel more liberated as an actor compared to when you started?
Even when I did Rehna Hai Terre Dil Mein, I felt the same sense of liberty and freedom, because it was coming as part of my life experiences. In Mani Ratnam’s Alaipayuthe, it was almost autobiographical in nature, because that’s how I was in college. The fear started when people started calling me a good actor, which came much later. I didn’t expect they would call me a good actor; with Mani Sir, all the credit went to him—I was just one of the characters in his film. But right now, I've realized that I have been set free only because I have only depicted about 50% of my life experiences on the screen, and people are accepting it.
Dhurandhar is on a box office blitzkrieg, but there have been polarised opinions. Were you anticipating this kind of hype and reactions?
I have had the good fortune of being part of some iconic films that are socially relevant. From Rang De Basanti, 3 Idiots, Tanu Weds Manu, and even Rocketry, I’ve seen the power of these films and how they have the ability to impact and change society. Rang De Basanti actually opened up the entire scope of media and having their voice heard all over the country. 3 Idiots changed the way parents looked at how they were advising their children.
When I heard Dhurandhar and saw the immaculate research that had been done by Aditya Dhar, the fearlessness of the man, the uniqueness of his storytelling—these were the signs I got before the release of my film. I knew that this was going to impact society. There will be people who will first give it very bad ratings, and then there will be people who will suddenly go and wonder, “Wow, this happened.” I’m not saying this out of spite, but it’s time to evolve as actors. I don’t want people to see me as the hero—I think I am. So how do I change? I think that change is required by everybody in the industry, which is why I knew that this is going to be iconic. Full credit to the makers for visualising me in the role they did.
But having said that, you are free to express your opinion, but even before the film was released, obituaries have been written, and on its release you have posted a review calling it a disaster—one wonders if there is an agenda. But as actors, we thrive on this situation. Please don’t forget, irrespective of whatever your opinions and agendas are, we are a very lonely family, and it is our job, no matter how much you like or hate a product or a person. Don’t take a jibe at the industry like an outsider. We have enough of them already.
What can we expect from Dhurandhar Part 2?
I can’t say much, but the first part was just a trailer. You have seen nothing yet.
Has your process changed? Are your choices instinctive?
Every passing year, the fear of getting into the role and becoming successful with it is exorbitant. The first day on set is probably the worst day of my life, because I always keep thinking how nobody’s going to forgive me for getting the first day wrong and taking time to get into character, because you never know which part of the film that scene is coming in. So be it the last day or the first day, you have to be in absolute character, which is why the process has changed over a period of time—finding the soul, the reason why you’re playing the character, and what it is that makes you get into the look of it, so that it doesn’t look like you made an effort to get into that look.
Having said that, very few people are as good with screenplay as I am, even if I say so myself. My films might do well or not, but the screenplay will seldom be horrible. From my first film to now, the screenplay—I have not gone wrong with. So if I hear a script, my first idea is: Will I want to see this as an audience in the theatre? Is the pacing right? Is it intelligent? I don’t look at the characters or who is part of the rest of the film, or how meaty or non-meaty my role is. Is the screenplay smart? Is a screenplay likely to make this into an iconic film? If the answer is yes, then absolutely.
What’s an acting job you really want to do?
I’ve not been exploited, and I know I have so much to give in terms of comedy, in terms of just playing a vampire, and playing a superhero. All these three things are now next on my list.