THE RADIANCE OF MADHAVAN

The 55-year-old actor speaks on embracing aging, the evolution of modern fatherhood, and why a book is the fastest way to put him to sleep.

- SANJANA RAY

R MADHAVAN FLEW TO DUBAI just to ring in his 55th birthday with his family. When we catch up for this interview, it’s 8pm the next day, and soon after, he's flying again to Chennai, but there's not a trace of fatigue on him. His secret? Smart nutrition, a body-clock-free routine, generous sleep aided by a book (his version of a melatonin gummy), and an innate ability to surrender to the moment.

As for that salt-and-pepper look the internet can't get enough of, Madhavan's formula is simple: keep it natural. For over 25 years, the actor, who has built an impressive filmography across Hindi and Tamil cinema, has relied on morning sunshine, sesame oil and freshly made meals to keep him looking effortlessly charming.

It’s hard to imagine Madhavan now without his glorious beard, which he keeps stroking unconsciously throughout our conversation. But he only grew it in 2014, during a hiatus from films, when he set off on a soul-searching trip across India. Today, the beard has a main-character energy of its own—anyone who's watched Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh can attest to that. The story goes that it took the film's hair designer three attempts to get the shade right, and thanks to a tight schedule, it had to be coloured overnight in a hotel room.

Madhavan didn’t mind. He enjoys experimenting with his thick, voluminous hair and well-groomed beard—both extensions of his personality—for a project, and he’s got plenty of that lined up. “I'm really looking forward to spending the next two, three years doing some fun films with a lot of good style that embodies the older, modern Indian man,” he says.

In an industry where youth is currency, Madhavan is ageing on his own terms—gracefully and unapologetically. In this chat, he opens up about his skin and haircare rituals, the disciplinary lessons he's learned from his athlete son Vedaant, and what it truly means to be comfortable in your own skin.