R. Madhavan, a celebrated Indian actor, has captivated audiences with his versatile roles and charismatic presence. This comprehensive biography delves into his life, career, and achievements, offering a detailed look at the man behind the iconic screen persona.

Wiki/Biography

R. Madhavan Balaji Ranganathan, popularly known as R. Madhavan, was born on Monday, 1 June 1970 (age 54 years as of 2024) in Jamshedpur, Bihar (now Jharkhand). His zodiac sign is Gemini. He completed his schooling at Jamshedpur’s D.B.M.S. English School before pursuing a B.Sc. in Electronics at Rajaram College, Kolhapur, Maharashtra.

Initially aiming for a career in the Indian Army, Madhavan actively participated in extracurricular military training throughout college. His dedication led to recognition as a leading NCC cadet in Maharashtra, earning him a trip to England for training with the British Army, Royal Navy, and Royal Air Force. Unfortunately, he was six months past the age cutoff for joining the program.

Upon returning to India, he transitioned into teaching public speaking and personality development in Kolhapur. He furthered his education, completing a postgraduate degree in Public Speaking at Mumbai’s Kishinchand Chellaram College. During his postgraduate studies, he represented India at the Young Businessmen Conference in Tokyo in 1992 and simultaneously built a portfolio for a modeling agency.

Physical Appearance

• Height: 5′ 10½”
• Hair Colour: Black
• Eye Colour: Light Brown

Family, Caste & Wife

Madhavan hails from a Tamil Brahmin family. His father, Ranganathan Seshadri, was an executive at Tata Steel, and his mother, Saroja, worked as a manager at the Bank of India. He has a sister, Devika, a software engineer. He met his wife, Sarita Birje, in 1991 at a public speaking workshop in Mumbai where he was an instructor. They married in 1999 and have a son, Vedaant, a talented swimmer who has achieved national and international recognition.

Career

Madhavan began his career in modeling in 1996, starting with a talcum powder commercial for a modest fee of Rs. 100. He then made appearances in television serials like “Yule Love Stories,” “Banegi Apni Baat,” and “Ghar Jamai.” His breakthrough came with Mani Ratnam’s “Alaipayuthey” (2000) in the Tamil film industry, followed by notable roles in “Minnale” and “Dumm Dumm Dumm.”

His Bollywood debut was in 2001 with “Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein.” He later garnered acclaim for his supporting roles in the critically acclaimed films “Rang De Basanti” (2006), “Guru” (2007), and “3 Idiots” (2009). He achieved further success with the lead role in the box-office hit “Tanu Weds Manu” (2011) and its sequel, “Tanu Weds Manu Returns” (2015).

Beyond acting, Madhavan has also worked as an anchor in the show “Tol Mol Ke Bol”.

Awards

Madhavan has received numerous accolades throughout his career, including:

• Filmfare Award for Best South Male Debut for “Alaipayuthey”
• Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Supporting Actor for “Aaytha Ezhuthu”
• Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Actor for “Irudhi Suttru”
• Filmfare Award for Critics’ Best Tamil Actor for “Vikram Vedha”
• SIIMA Critics Award for Best Actor (Tamil) for “Rocketry: The Nambi Effect”

Car & Bike Collection

Madhavan’s impressive car and bike collection includes a BMW 7-Series, a Yamaha V-max, a BMW K1600 GTL, and notably, he was the first Indian to purchase the Brixton Cromwell 1200.

Autograph

[Description of his autograph would go here]

Favourites

Madhavan’s preferences include:

• Food: Thayir Saadham, Pani Puri
• Actors: Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Kamal Haasan
• Actress: Deepika Padukone
• Films: Taare Zameen Par, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Baahubali
• Director: Mani Ratnam
• Musician: A. R. Rahman
• Colours: White, Maroon

Facts

• Hobbies: Playing golf and biking.
• Dietary Habits: Vegetarian.
• Philanthropic Activities: Supports The Banyan charity in Chennai, participated in charity events.
• Other Achievements: Climbed Mount Cook in New Zealand, served as a cultural ambassador in Canada, endorsed PETA, nominated as President of FTII, Pune, owns a yacht.

Madhavan’s multifaceted career and personal life showcase a fascinating individual who has achieved remarkable success in various fields. His journey from aspiring army officer to internationally recognized actor, philanthropist, and now President of FTII, is a testament to his drive, talent, and unwavering commitment to excellence.