Happy Birthday R Madhavan: Inspiring Journey, Movies, Web Series, Songs and What's Next

R Madhavan, affectionately known as Maddy by his fans, is celebrating his 54th birthday today, June 1. Renowned for his exceptional performances and success in Bollywood, R Madhavan has established a unique place for himself in the film industry.

From his breakout role in Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein to the recent hit Shaitaan featuring Ajay Devgn, Madhavan has consistently delivered box-office successes, delighting audiences. His talent extends beyond Hindi cinema, as he has also made a significant impact in regional films and the OTT space with acclaimed projects such as Breathe, Decoupled, and The Railway Men.

As Madhavan celebrates his special day, it’s the perfect time to reflect on his journey in the entertainment industry, his top movies, web series, songs and upcoming projects.

Madhavan’s Inspiring Journey

Born in Jamshedpur, Bihar, to a Tamil family, his father Ranganathan was a management executive at Tata Steel and his mother, Saroja was a manager at the Bank of India. The actor shined in both school and college, as he actively participated in various activities, including military training.

He showed strong interest in the NCC and led cadets in Maharashtra. His passion for joining the military led him to England, where he had the opportunity to train under the Royal Army, Navy and Air Force.

Later, Madhavan chose to learn public speaking and attended classes in Kolhapur, Maharashtra. Interestingly, he met his wife, Sarita Birje, who was a student in his speaking class.

Madhavan was introduced to the entertainment world as he debuted in the English film Inferno followed by his Indian cinema debut in the Kannada film Shanti Shanti Shanti in 1998. He went on to deliver consecutive hits and in 2022, Madhavan achieved another milestone by making his directorial debut with Rocketry: The Nambi Effect, a film that received multiple awards.

R Madhavan’s Top Movies

1. Rocketry: The Nambi EffectIn 2022, R Madhavan released his passion project, Rocketry: The Nambi Effect. The biographical drama is based on the life of former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan. Interestingly, Madhavan wrote, directed and produced the film, which premiered at Cannes in 2022. He also bagged the Best Feature Film Award at the 69th National Awards.
2. 3 IdiotsIn 2009, R Madhavan landed one of his major roles in Rajkumar Hirani’s 3 Idiots. The film became a massive hit and was among the highest-grossing Bollywood movies ever. The actor received numerous awards for his performance of Farhan Qureshi.
3. Tanu Weds ManuR Madhavan featured in Anand L Rai’s directorial Tanu Weds Manu alongside Kangana Ranaut. The film was a Bollywood sensation, where he played Manu, an NRI doctor who falls in love with Ranaut’s character, Tanu.
4. Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil MeinR Madhavan’s most loved movie came in 2001, titled Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein, where he played Maddy. The romantic drama, also starring Saif Ali Khan and Dia Mirza, has become a fan favourite for its story, performances, songs and emotional appeal.
5. Vikram VedhaIn the Tamil film Vikram Vedha, R Madhavan played Vikram, a no-nonsense police officer on a mission to bring down a gangster played by Vijay Sethupathi. This crime thriller was inspired by Baital Pachisi and was later remade in Hindi with Hrithik Roshan and Saif Ali Khan in the lead roles.

R Madhavan’s Web Series

1. DecoupledThe romantic comedy series quickly became one of India’s top web series on Netflix upon its release. Madhavan starred alongside Surveen Chawla as a married couple, who decide to announce their divorce with a party.
2. The Railway MenFeaturing Madhavan, Kay Kay Menon, Divyendu Sharma and Babil Khan, is an intense drama about railway workers at Bhopal station, who were the unsung heroes during the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy that killed many.
3. BreatheR Madhavan and Amit Sadh teamed for a psychological thriller, about a father willing to go to any lengths to save his child from danger. The series kept viewers intrigued until the very end.

R Madhavan’s Songs

1. Sach Keh Raha Hai DeewanaThe soothing track from Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein (RHTDM) is sung by KK and composed by Harris Jayaraj. The romantic song holds a special place in our hearts.
2. Saadi GaliThis super energetic and fun song from Tanu Weds Many captures the magical chemistry of R Madhavan and Kangana Ranaut.
3. All is WellReleased in 2009, the 3 Idiots song has unique music and youthful charm that resonated with youngsters. Starring Madhavan, Aamir Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Sharman Joshi and Boman Irani.
4. Zara ZaraAnother track from Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein picturised on Madhavan and Dia Mirza is on every Bollywood lover’s playlist.
5. Kunwara Hoon KunwaraThis party song from Jodi Breakers shows the flirtatious side of R Madhavan with Bipasha Basu. Despite mixed reviews, Madhavan’s natural performance stood out.

Upcoming Projects

1. ShankaraDirected by Vikas Bahl, Madhavan is set to star alongside Akshay Kumar and Ananya Panday in the biopic of C Sankaran Nair.
2. De De Pyaar De 2Following the success of Shaitaan, Madhavan will team up with Ajay Devgn. Directed by Anshul Sharma, the movie is scheduled to release on May 1, 2025.
3. AdhirshtasaaliMadhavan will star in the biopic of inventor GD Naidu, known as the Edison of India. The actor will be sharing the screen with Sharmila Mandre and Radikaa Sarathkumar.