R Madhavan has often stood out for choosing substance over appearances, both in his performances and his approach to life away from the camera. At a time when actors are frequently expected to maintain a particular image, Madhavan has spoken about being comfortable with ageing naturally and accepting himself without trying to appear younger than he is.
Madhavan on accepting grey hair
In an interview with ETimes, Madhavan opened up about his decision to keep his natural appearance and revealed that he has never regularly coloured his hair unless a character demanded it. For the actor, grey hair is simply a part of growing older and something he has no interest in hiding.“I am not good at carrying baggage, nor am I good at carrying lies. Ab safed baal aa gaye toh aa gaye. (Now that I have grey hair, I have grey hair) I have never dyed my hair, unless it is required for a role,” he said. Madhavan also explained that his perspective was influenced by two senior actors he deeply admires, Rajinikanth and Ajith Kumar. “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),” he added.
What Madhavan learnt from senior actors
According to Madhavan, an actor’s appearance away from films does not necessarily have to match the image created for their characters. He said watching established stars maintain that distinction helped him become more comfortable with his own identity.“I’ve learnt from my peers and seniors that it really doesn’t matter what your off-screen image is,” Madhavan said. The actor further stressed that he does not see age or younger performers as something he needs to compete against. Instead, his focus remains on improving his own craft.“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,” he said.
Madhavan’s journey from romantic roles to varied characters
Over the years, Madhavan has moved well beyond the romantic roles that initially made him a household name. Films such as ‘Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein’, ‘Rang De Basanti’, ‘Tanu Weds Manu’ and ‘Rocketry: The Nambi Effect’ have showcased different sides of his acting abilities.His willingness to age naturally also reflects the changing nature of the roles he has chosen. Rather than holding on to a fixed screen image, Madhavan has increasingly embraced characters that demand different physical appearances and emotional registers.
Madhavan’s latest release ‘G.D.N.’
Madhavan’s approach to taking on diverse real-life personalities can also be seen in his latest film, ‘G.D.N.’, which released today. Directed by Krishnakumar Ramakumar, the biographical drama features him as Gopalaswamy Duraiswamy Naidu, popularly known as GD Naidu, the renowned inventor from Coimbatore.The film also stars Vinay Rai and Dushara Vijayan and explores the life and achievements of one of India’s notable innovators. With ‘G.D.N.’, Madhavan once again takes on a role that requires him to step away from a conventional star image and inhabit the life of a real historical figure.
