CINE STAR MADHAVAN - CITY'S LATEST HEART-THROB

An electronics graduate, Madhavan was selected to represent India as a cultural exchange student in Canada, through Rotary International in 1989. He has won the National Championship for Public Speaking, organised by the Junior Chambers and was selected to represent India at the Young Businessmen Conference in Tokyo, Japan in 1992.

We began the interview with a refreshing coffee.

I am an electronics graduate. I was selected to represent India as a cultural exchange student in Canada, through Rotary Internationalin 1989. After that I was selected the Best NCC (National Cadet Corp) Cadet in Maharashtra and sent to represent India at England as a defence cadet with the Royal Army, Navy and Airforce. I also won the National Championship for Public Speaking, organised by the Junior Chambers and was selected to represent India at the Young Businessmen Conference in Tokyo, Japan in 1992.

After this, based on my experience I started teaching Public Speaking and moved to Mumbai in 1993-94. There, one of my students suggested I try modelling, as it would give me fast money to set up my own office in Mumbai. I took his advice, mailed my snaps to a few people, got into Television. And four years later landed a film with Mani Sir. Whew...some journey eh...but now that I am here, I intend to stay here as long as I enjoy myself.

I never, not even in my wildest dreams, thought that I would act in films, and a Mani Ratnam film at that. It still seems like a dream to me.

Yes, it has helped. It has helped me in romances in real life. It also contributes a lot to my acting today.

"Very Thrilled" is an understatement. I was absolutely ecstatic. I probably felt like how a 12th standard computer student would have felt when suddenly asked to come and work with Bill Gates...(laughs)...Seriously, it was the single most rewarding experience of my life.

I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the shoot. The sad part for me is that the shoot got over so soon. I was having such a ball. I completely lived the character that I was asked to assay. Identified with most of his emotions and later to my surprise, discovered that in real life, I was almost exactly like him. I went through almost all that he goes through except for the climax of the film.

Nothing. All the credit goes to Mani sir. I did what he told me to do and it has come out well.

Did you go to the theatres to see the audience's reaction?

Yes. I went four to five times to Devi Theatre.

You didn't get mobbed?

I was wearing a beard and glasses. No one recognised me.

I don't know. Some girls were whistling, so I closed my eyes.

Well it is very flattering. I do get embarrassed sometimes by all this hype.

They are so kind. But Kaho na pyaar hai ran because of Hrithik, while in my case it was a team effort and the genius of Mani sir.

Very much. I miss going in trains and stuff like that. But I take it in my stride. I feel I am still the same person. Nothing has changed as far as I am concerned. I still dress the same way I did before.

I'd love to do any film, provided I am excited about the script. Even a Japanese film, provided I like the story line and my character. Also, I am very fluent in Hindi, so if a good story comes along, I will definitely do it.

I am doing a film called Minnaley,directed by Goutham Menon. And one more film, tentatively titled Dhool. I am doing the next film of Madras Talkies.

On what criteria do you select a film?

I first see how convincing the director is about the subject. Then how much I like my role. Total sincerity of the project and the storyline are also important.

Well, my favourite place happens to be my home. (pauses) I love Marina beach. I love walking there.

I read people very well and am very adaptable. I tend to be finicky and choosy. Also impatient, I get a little irritated when people cannot keep pace with me.

I will ask for 12 hours sleep, every day.

Somewhere in the mountains, with my wife, for a couple of days.

I am a vagabond. Let me see where life takes me.

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