R. Madhavan, also known as Madhavan or Maddy, is an Indian film actor, writer, producer, and television host. He has twice received the Filmfare Award in Hindi cinema and the Tamil Nadu State Awards.
Madhavan Wiki
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ranganathan Madhavan |
| Screen Name | R. Madhavan (nicknamed “Maddy”) |
| Date of Birth | June 1, 1970 |
| Place of Birth | Jamshedpur, Bihar (now Jharkhand), India |
| Age | 55 years (as of 2026) |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Ethnicity | Tamil Brahmin |
| Family | Father: Ranganathan Iyengar (Tata Steel executive); Mother: Saroja (Bank of India manager); Sister: Devika (software engineer) |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Wife | Sarita Birje (married 1999) |
| Children | Son: Vedaant (born August 21, 2005; swimmer) |
| Education | BSc in Electronics, Rajaram College, Kolhapur |
| Height | Approximately 5’10” (1.78 m, estimated from visual references) |
| Profession | Actor, Director, Producer, Writer, TV Host |
| Debut Film (Acting) | Shanti Shanti Shanti (1998, Kannada, supporting role) |
| Breakthrough Film | Alaipayuthey (2000, Tamil, as Karthik; directed by Mani Ratnam) |
| Hindi Film Debut | Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein (2001, as Maddy) |
| Directorial Debut | Rocketry: The Nambi Effect (2022) |
| Total Films (Acting) | Over 50 (Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, English; exact count varies by source) |
| Total Films (Directed) | 1 (Rocketry: The Nambi Effect) |
| Notable Films | Alaipayuthey (2000), Minnale (2001), Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein (2001), Kannathil Muthamittal (2002), Rang De Basanti (2006), 3 Idiots (2009), Tanu Weds Manu (2011), Tanu Weds Manu Returns (2015), Vikram Vedha (2017), Rocketry: The Nambi Effect (2022), Shaitaan (2024) |
| Recent Film | Hisaab Barabar (2025, OTT release on ZEE5, January 24, 2025) |
| Upcoming Films | Aap Jaisa Koi (2025, Netflix, with Fatima Sana Shaikh), De De Pyaar De 2 (2025), The Test (2025), Adhirshtasaali (2025), Shankara (TBD), untitled psychological thriller with Kangana Ranaut (TBD) |
| Production Company | Leukos Films (co-owned with Sarita Birje; produced Evano Oruvan (2007), Irudhi Suttru/Saala Khadoos (2016)) |
| Awards | National Film Award (Best Feature Film, Rocketry, 2022), 4 Filmfare Awards South (e.g., Best Actor, Irudhi Suttru), 1 Tamil Nadu State Film Award, IIFA, SIIMA awards; Filmfare nominations (3 Idiots, Rang De Basanti) |
| TV Career | Early roles in Banegi Apni Baat (1996), Sea Hawks, Ghar Jamai, Saaya (1998); Hosted Deal Ya No Deal (2005) |
| Net Worth (Estimated) | ₹100-150 crore (speculative, based on 25+ year career, real estate, endorsements; bought ₹17.5 crore BKC flat, 2024) |
| Recent Property | Luxury 4BHK apartment in Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai (₹17.5 crore, July 2024) |
| Health | Shoulder surgery (early 2024); lost 20 kg post-Rocketry (2022) via intermittent fasting |
| Social Media | Instagram: @actormaddy (1M+ followers); active with family, fitness, and film updates |
| Recent Appearance | Clean-shaven look at Rohini Iyer’s dinner (October 2024); nostalgic RHTDM vibes (Times of India) |
| Public Recognition | PM Modi praised his Bengaluru airport video (2024); cultural ambassador to Canada (1988) |
| Hobbies | Golf, swimming, public speaking, travel (owns homes in Mumbai, Dubai) |
| Son’s Achievements | Vedaant: 5 gold medals (Malaysian Open, 2023), gold in 800m freestyle (Danish Open, 2023), Khelo India 2023 medals |
| Latest Update | Shooting Aap Jaisa Koi (Netflix, announced February 2025); Hisaab Barabar OTT premiere January 24, 2025 |
| Legacy | Pan-India star; transitioned from romantic hero to intense roles; directorial acclaim with Rocketry |
Early Life
Ranganathan Madhavan, popularly known as R. Madhavan, was born on June 1, 1970, in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, India, into a Tamil Brahmin family. His father, Ranganathan, served as a management executive at Tata Steel, while his mother, Saroja, worked as a manager at the Bank of India. Madhavan grew up with his younger sister, Devika, a software engineer, in a Tamil-speaking household in Jharkhand.
Education and Childhood
Madhavan excelled in school from the start. In 1988, he was allowed to represent his college (Rajaram College, Kolhapur) as a cultural ambassador in Canada. He was also a standout cadet during his college years.
He was also named Maharashtra’s Best Cadet. Due to this, he went to the UK for training, where he was trained with the Royal Army, Navy, and the Air Force. Madhavan never aspired to be an actor; instead, he aspired to be an army officer.
In February 2021, Madhavan was awarded the Doctor of Letters (D. Litt.) by the DY Patil Education Society, Kolhapur, for his contributions to the arts and cinema.
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Marriage Life and Madhvan’s Wife
After the study, Madhvan began his career as a public speaking and personality development trainer. He met his wife, Sarita Birje, who was his student. His wife was an Air hostess. Both got married in 1999. They have a son named Vedanta, who was born in 2005.
Son
Vedant, Madhavan’s son, is making headlines these days. He also first placed in the male 800m freestyle at the Danish Open. He had previously won a silver medal in the 1500m freestyle. In an interview with Doordarshan, Vedanta stated, “My parents have worked very hard to get to this point.” He also said that I did not want to live in my father’s shadow.
Career Of Madhavan
Madhavan began his career in 1997 with a Chandan TV commercial. Following that, director Mani Ratnam offered him a role in one of his films and requested a screen test, but later removed him from the film, citing that he did not fit the role.
He then appeared on several teleshows on the small screen. People admired his work, and in 1998, Madhavan played an Indian police officer in the English film Inferno.
However, he achieved extraordinary fame and became popular with audiences after Madhavan starred in several South Indian films. In addition, he received the South Film Fair Award.
Madhavan rose to prominence in Hindi cinema with the film Rehnaa Hai Tere Dil Mein, in which he starred alongside Diya Mirza. Although the film did not perform well at the box office, Madhavan gained recognition in Bollywood.
Madhavan received a slew of Hindi film offers. He then starred in the film Guru, in which Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan played the lead roles. The film performed very well at the box office, and critics also praised Madhavan’s performance.
3 Idiots, directed by Rajkumar Hirani, starred Aamir Khan in 2009. The screenplay was adapted from Chetan Bhagat’s novel Five Point Someone (What Not To Do at IIT).
In addition to Madhavan, Aamir Khan, Sharman Joshi, and Kareena Kapoor, this film featured lead roles, and it went on to gross a record-breaking amount at the box office.
Following that, in 2011, he appeared in the film Tanu Weds Manu, co-starring National Award-winning actress Kangana Ranaut. The film was a box office success, and its sequel was also made.
In 2016, Madhavan appeared in a boxing movie, which was simultaneously made in Hindi and Tamil and released on the same day. The Hindi name of the film was Saala Khadoos, and it was also known as Irudhi Suttru in Tamil.
Controversies
In 2019, Madhavan was criticised on social media for sharing photos of himself wearing a sacred thread (Poonal/Yajnopaveetham), a traditional Brahmin symbol, leading to accusations of promoting casteism. He did not publicly address the backlash.
In 2023, an old video resurfaced where Madhavan made a lighthearted comment about polygamy in a Muslim context, prompting accusations of racism and bigotry from some X users. He did not respond to these claims.
In 2025, Madhavan clarified rumours of flirtatious Instagram interactions with young fans, explaining that his polite responses to compliments were misconstrued after screenshots were shared out of context. He emphasised the need for caution in digital interactions during a parental control app launch.
Additionally, in 2022, while promoting Rocketry: The Nambi Effect, some criticised him for referring to Nambi Narayanan’s espionage case, though Madhavan clarified the film focused on Narayanan’s achievements, not controversies.
Madhavan’s vocal support for PETA, including an 8-minute video against meat consumption, also drew criticism from some quarters for not addressing caste-related violence.
Some Interesting facts about R. Madhavan
- Madhavan was born in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, on June 1, 1970. His full name is Ranganathan Madhavan, and his father’s name is Ranganathan.
- Madhavan’s fans and colleagues frequently address him as ‘Maddy Bhai,’ ‘Maddy Paji,’ ‘Maddy Bhaijaan,’ ‘Maddy Sir,’ ‘Maddy Chetta,’ and ‘Maddy Anna.’
- After finishing his studies, Madhavan worked as a teacher in Kolhapur. He received his postgraduate degree in Public Speaking from KC College in Mumbai.
- Madhavan started modelling for extra money.
- In early 1996, Madhavan advertised a sandalwood powder. He also did a screen test for famous director Mani Ratnam’s film ‘Iruvar,’ but he was not chosen. Nonetheless, Madhavan later collaborated with Mani Ratnam on the film Guru.
- Before his film debut, Madhavan appeared in TV shows such as ‘Banegi Apni Baat,’ ‘Toll Mol Ke Bol,’ ‘Ghar Jamai,’ and ‘Sea Hawks.’ ‘Is Raat Ki Subah Nahi’ was Madhavan’s first film in which he had a small role.
- In the 2001 Tamil film Minale, Madhavan co-starred with South actress Reema Sen. The film was director Menon’s debut, and it was later followed by the Hindi remake, Rehna Hai Tere Dil Mein, in which Madhavan reprised his lead role, accompanied by Diya Mirza and Saif Ali Khan.
- Madhavan has also appeared in ‘Rang De Basanti,’ ‘3 Idiots,’ ‘Tanu Weds Manu,’ and, most recently, ‘Tanu Weds Manu Returns.’
FAQs
Is R Madhavan a Brahmin?
Yes, Madhavan is a Tamil Brahmin born in Jharkhand (then Bihar).
Is R Madhavan an engineer?
Yes, Madhavan is an electronics engineer, and he has completed a B.SC in electronics.
What is the net worth of R Madhavan?
Madhavan’s net worth is around 103 crore rupees.
What is the age of R Madhavan?
On June 1st, 2021, Madhavan will be 51 years old.
Where is R Madhavan from?
He is originally Tamil but was born and raised in Jamshedpur, where his father worked at Tata Steels.
Does Madhavan eat non-veg?
No, he is vegetarian, as he is from a Tamil Brahmin family.
Is Madhavan a doctor?
No, rather, he is an engineer who wanted to join the army in childhood.
What is the height of R Madhavan?
He is 5 feet 10 inches tall.
Does actor Madhavan drink alcohol?
No, he doesn’t drink alcohol.
Who is the father of R Madhavan?
Ranganathan, an ex-employee of Tata Steel.
Who is Madhavan’s brother?
He does not have a brother but a younger sister named Devika Ranganathan.
Complete Filmography
(Sorted chronologically, including upcoming projects)
| Year | Title | Role | Language(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin | Singer | Hindi | Guest appearance in the song “Chup Tum Raho” |
| 1997 | Inferno | Ravi | English | Credited as “Mahadevan” |
| 1998 | Shanti Shanti Shanti | Siddhartha | Kannada | Debut in Kannada cinema; dubbed in Tamil as Relax |
| 2000 | Alai Payuthey | Karthik Varadharajan | Tamil | Breakthrough role; directed by Mani Ratnam |
| Ennavale | James Vasanth | Tamil | Mixed reviews but praised for Madhavan’s performance | |
| 2001 | Minnale | Rajesh Shivakumar | Tamil | Romantic hit; directed by Gautham Menon |
| Dumm Dumm Dumm | Aditya | Tamil | Produced by Mani Ratnam | |
| Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein | Madhav “Maddy” Shastri | Hindi | Cult classic; Hindi remake of Minnale | |
| Paarthale Paravasam | Madhava | Tamil | Guest appearance | |
| 2002 | Kannathil Muthamittal | Thiruchelvan | Tamil | Directed by Mani Ratnam; critically acclaimed |
| Run | Siva | Tamil | Action drama | |
| Dil Vil Pyar Vyar | Krish Kumar | Hindi | Musical romance | |
| 2003 | Anbe Sivam | Anbarasu | Tamil | Co-starred with Kamal Haasan; cult classic |
| Lesa Lesa | Deva Narayanan | Tamil | Cameo appearance | |
| Nala Damayanthi | Ramji Narayanaswami Iyer | Tamil | Comedy-drama | |
| Priyamaana Thozhi | Ashok | Tamil | Musical drama | |
| Jay Jay | Jagan | Tamil | Romantic film | |
| 2004 | Aethirree | Subramani | Tamil | Comedy |
| Aaytha Ezhuthu | Inbasekar | Tamil | Directed by Mani Ratnam; ensemble cast. | |
| Nothing But Life | Thomas Roberts | English | Bilingual film | |
| 2005 | Priyasakhi | Sandhana Krishnan | Tamil | Romantic drama |
| Ramji Londonwaley | Ramnarayan Tiwari | Hindi | Co-writer; black comedy | |
| 2006 | Rang De Basanti | Ajay Singh Rathod | Hindi | Patriotic drama; critical acclaim |
| Thambi | Thambi Velu Thondaiman | Tamil | Political drama | |
| Rendu | Sakthi, Kannan (dual role) | Tamil | Dual role | |
| 2007 | Guru | Shyam Saxena | Hindi | Biopic on Dhirubhai Ambani; co-starred with Abhishek Bachchan |
| Evano Oruvan | Sridhar Vasudevan | Tamil | Also producer and dialogue writer | |
| 2008 | Mumbai Meri Jaan | Nikhil Agarwal | Hindi | Drama on Mumbai train blasts |
| 2009 | 3 Idiots | Farhan Qureshi | Hindi | Highest-grossing Indian film at release; cult classic |
| Yavarum Nalam | R. Manohar | Tamil | Horror-thriller; bilingual (released as 13B in Hindi) | |
| 2011 | Tanu Weds Manu | Manoj “Manu” Sharma | Hindi | Romantic comedy; box-office hit |
| 2012 | Vettai | Thirumurthy | Tamil | Action-drama; co-starred with Arya |
| 2015 | Tanu Weds Manu Returns | Manoj “Manu” Sharma | Hindi | Sequel; one of 2015’s highest-grossing films |
| 2016 | Irudhi Suttru/Saala Khadoos | Prabhu Selvaraj/Aditya Tomar | Tamil/Hindi | Sports drama; also producer |
| 2017 | Vikram Vedha | Vikram | Tamil | Neo-noir thriller; critical acclaim . |
| 2022 | Rocketry: The Nambi Effect | Nambi Narayanan | Tamil/Hindi/English | Directorial debut; National Award winner |
| 2024 | Shaitaan | Vanraj Kashyap | Hindi | Supernatural thriller |
| 2025 | Hisaab Barabar † | Radhe Mohan Sharma | Hindi | Satirical drama; OTT release |
| Test † | Saravanan “Sara” | Tamil | Sports thriller; streaming on Netflix | |
| Adhirshtasaali † | TBA | Tamil | Fantasy film; completed | |
| Dhurandhar † | TBA | Hindi | Espionage thriller; filming |