PRIME & PROPER

R Madhavan is having the time of his life playing age-appropriate, as well as grey-shaded characters. He shares his enthusiasm with Srijani Roy Chowdhury

- Srijani Roy Chowdhury

I'm at the Dharma office, nursing my second coffee, waiting for him. He walks in casually, green T-shirt, jeans, and a smile that reaches his eyes. There's something about R. Madhavan that instantly puts you at ease. No airs, no starry affectations. Just a quiet warmth, a gentle voice, and eyes that always seem to be hiding a joke. His latest release, Kesari: Chapter 2, may not set the box office on fire, but Madhavan insists he's in the most exciting phase of his career. And I agree. From the moment he walks in, I know this won't be a routine interview. Effortlessly warm, disarmingly funny, and entirely at ease, he has me laughing more than taking notes. When I hesitantly ask for a photo, discouraged, of course, from playing the fan, he doesn't miss a beat. "I'd be offended if you don't take one," he grins. I'm floored. He plays the affable hero, the layered villain, and everything in between, yet he retains the wide-eyed enthusiasm of someone new to the game. With Kesari: Chapter 2, a roster of edgy filmmakers keen to work with him, and a slate of fresh roles lined up, Madhavan seems more energised than ever.

We sit down to talk and the conversation flows freely. He's at his candid best as I ask:

YOU PLAVED A FICTIONAL CHARACTER IN KESARI: CHAPTER 2. WHAT REFERENCES DID YOU DRAW UPON TO MAKE YOUR PORTRAYAL AS AUTHENTIC AS POSSIBLE?