Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

R Madhavan: Strongly feel my best is yet to come

R Madhavan: Strongly feel my best is yet to come

R Madhavan has been entertaining audiences with his variety of performances for close to three decades, acting across various industries and languages, but the actor says he is still waiting to deliver his best performance.

Madhavan started off as a model and later ventured into acting with TV shows like Banegi Apni Baat, Ghar Jamai, Saaya and Sea Hawks.  His first major hit in movies was Mani Ratnam's Tamil romantic film, Alaipayuthey (2000). He followed it up with films like Minnale (2001), which was remade in Hindi as Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein (2001), Kannathil Muthamittal (2002), Anbe Sivam (2002), Vikram Vedha (2017), Nishabdham (2020) and Maara (2021).


Apart from cementing his position in Tamil and Telugu cinema, the actor also actively pursued a career in Bollywood and attained success with supporting roles in Rang De Basanti (2006), Guru (2007), 3 Idiots (2009), Tanu Weds Manu (2011) and Tanu Weds Manu Returns (2015).

Reflecting on his illustrious journey, the 51-year-old star said he still craves for diverse roles.  “I feel very inadequate right now. I don't think I will ever reach that stage ever. When a big star or politician or leader, who embraces and says and means that he likes my work or I meet people from different generations, maybe that time I feel I am on the right path. But I still strongly feel that my best is yet to come. I don't know if it is a safety mechanism or that is a fact. I have never sat around... The fact that I have also financially never (been) super settled at any given point of a time, the hunger to create a star life has always kept me wanting more,” Madhavan said during a virtual session on day three of the India Film Project.

The actor believes he would hardly ever reach a stage in his life where he would feel he has made it. “I have realised that I can never live like a star, I am a terrible star. I don't wear designer clothes. I can't afford to have people around me all the time. I also realise that your demeanour and the way you walk at the airport or in public kind of decide how many people mob you and how many leave you. I am very hungry. I don't think I have ever reached a stage where I feel I have made it.”

He recalled when he started out in the Tamil film industry, he was very conscious of his age as he was doing a love story when he was 30-year-old. “As soon as I finished Alaipayuthey, I (felt) needed to get into a bracket of age group where I will be able to play that sort of role over and over again because it becomes easier to catch a particular genre and keep making movies in that genre when it works. And people have done that before and it has worked for them. But I realized that maybe I won't be this young teenager looking for a long time. Hence, I jumped into Kannathil Muthamittal (2002), where I played the father of three children. Most guys told me (it was) suicide that time.”

He also added that the fear of not being able to shake a leg and punch the bad guys on screen made him realise that he can't be like the other heroes. “I was very conscious that I had to find a niche for myself where I am not competing in areas that are not strong for me. In that attempt, I started doing roles that were very varied, which were not in the mainstream realm of films but had the ability to earn a lot more than what was invested. That became an addiction over a period of time and I started picking up roles that people normally would not associate with commercial heroes. I started playing to my strength and here I am today and my absolute desire to do something different,” he said.

Next for Madhavan is his directorial debut Rocketry: The Nambi Effect, which is based on the life of Nambi Narayanan, a former scientist and aerospace engineer of the Indian Space Research Organisation.

More For You

Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey set to dazzle Brighton Pride 2025 with a show-stopping performance at Preston Park

Getty Images

Mariah Carey to headline Brighton Pride 2025: Iconic comeback set to break records

This summer, music legend Mariah Carey is set to light up the stage at Brighton Pride, marking her first UK performance since her 2019 Royal Albert Hall shows. Scheduled for August 2, 2025, at Preston Park, Carey’s highly anticipated appearance follows the cancellation of the 2020 event due to COVID-19. Known for her chart-topping hits like "Fantasy" and "Always Be My Baby," her performance is expected to draw massive crowds. Tickets go on sale February 20, and demand is expected to be high.

Paul Kemp, Brighton Pride’s Managing Director, shared his excitement, recalling the disappointment of 2020. “We’re thrilled to finally welcome Mariah this year,” Kemp said. “Pride is a celebration of love, diversity, and unity, and having a global icon like her headline makes this year’s event even more special.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Are Kanye West and Bianca Censori breaking up after the viral Grammys stunt?

Kanye West and Bianca Censori at the Marni Fall/Winter 2024 Fashion Show during Milan Fashion Week

Getty Images

Are Kanye West and Bianca Censori breaking up after the viral Grammys stunt?

Kanye West, now legally known as Ye, and his wife, Bianca Censori, are once again at the centre of divorce rumours, this time following a series of controversies surrounding Ye. Reports suggest that the couple’s relationship has been strained due to Ye’s recent actions, including allegations of antisemitism and the backlash from selling swastika-themed merchandise.

Sources claim that Censori, 30, reached a breaking point, unwilling to be associated with Ye’s controversies any longer. The tension reportedly escalated after Censori’s near-nude appearance at the 2025 Grammy Awards, which drew widespread criticism. While Ye defended her bold outfit, calling her “smart, talented, brave, and hot,” the incident allegedly deepened the rift between them.

Keep ReadingShow less
'Chhaava's' mixed twitter reactions: Vicky Kaushal shines, but does the film deliver?

The official poster of 'Chhaava,' the historical drama starring Vicky Kaushal as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj

Instagram/maddockfilms

'Chhaava's' mixed twitter reactions: Vicky Kaushal shines, but does the film deliver?

Vicky Kaushal’s latest period drama, Chhaava, has sparked mixed reactions from audiences following its theatrical release. While Kaushal’s portrayal of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj has been widely praised, opinions on the overall execution of the film remain divided.

Social media has been flooded with reactions, with many hailing Kaushal’s intense performance and Akshaye Khanna’s chilling presence as Aurangzeb. One viewer called Kaushal “fire,” while another remarked that Khanna’s performance would “give you goosebumps.” The film’s dramatic battle sequences, emotional depth in the second half, and powerful climax have resonated with audiences, with some calling it Bollywood’s first major hit of 2025.

Keep ReadingShow less
Selena Gomez & Benny Blanco’s 'I said I love you first': The love story behind 'Scared of loving you'

Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco at the 2nd Annual Rare Impact Fund Benefit in Los Angeles, October 24, 2024

Getty Images

Selena Gomez & Benny Blanco’s 'I said I love you first': The love story behind 'Scared of loving you'

Selena Gomez is stepping back into the music scene—but this time, it’s more personal than ever. Alongside her fiancé, producer Benny Blanco, she has announced their joint album, I Said I Love You First, set to release on March 21, 2025. To mark the moment, they unveiled the first single, Scared of Loving You—a raw, emotional ballad that lays bare Gomez’s deepest fears about love and loss.

Written by Gomez, Blanco, and Finneas, the song captures the fragile side of love with lyrics like, “I’m not scared of loving you / I’m just scared of losing you.” It also hints at lessons from past relationships, reflecting on youthful missteps: “When I was young, I would love too fast / Hope I don’t repeat my past.” A lyric video featuring candid moments between the couple adds to the song’s emotional weight, offering fans a rare glimpse into their private world.

Keep ReadingShow less
Rakul Preet Singh on love, laughter and her journey in cinema
Rakul Preet Singh

Rakul Preet Singh on love, laughter and her journey in cinema

ASJAD NAZIR

RAKUL PREET SINGH’S versatility as an actress has enabled her to take on diverse roles across genres and languages. The in-demand cinema star has won glowing reviews for her ability to embrace different challenges. Rather than basking in her success, she is looking forward to crossing more creative horizons with forthcoming films, including the highly anticipated sequel De De Pyaar De 2, which will be released later this year.

She will next headline Mere Husband Ki Biwi, alongside Arjun Kapoor and Bhumi Pednekar. The film, due for release on February 21, offers a fresh take on love and marriage for Hindi cinema audiences.

Keep ReadingShow less