Roja Actor Madhoo On Not Giving Mani Ratnam Credit After Roja: 'I Didn’t Feel He Did Me A Favour...'

Madhoo, still remembered for her role in the 1992 film Roja, recently spoke about her strained relationship with filmmaker Mani Ratnam after the movie’s success. She admitted that her attitude at the time prevented her from forming connections in the industry and explained why she initially did not credit Ratnam. Madhoo now recognises Ratnam’s contributions and regrets not acknowledging him sooner.

In an interview with Siddharth Kannan, the actress was asked about not starring in Mani Ratnam films after Roja and Iruvar. To this, she said, “Mani sir might have felt a bond with different artists and I tried to reach out many times. I sent messages. I am very fond of him. At that time, I never considered anyone to be my godfather. I didn’t feel Mani sir did me a favour. ‘Mani sir wanted to make Roja, he found his Roja in me. What’s so special about that?’ This was my attitude.”

When asked if she had grown arrogant after the film, she explained that she didn’t receive much support in her career and claimed sole responsibility for everything, from makeup to costumes.

“It came from a place of pain. There was an element of ‘I’. I did it all. I refused to give credit to anybody,” she said.

The actor admitted that her attitude may have rubbed some people the wrong way. “Mani sir deserves the credit. I should have told him at that time. Now I give him all the credit. He gave me an identity. I didn’t make many good bonds, that’s why I was not repeated in films.”

On the work front, Madhoo was last seen as Menaka in Samantha Ruth Prabhu’s Shaakuntalam. She also starred in the Tamil web series Sweet Kaaram Coffee.

Filmmaker Mani Ratnam’s terrorism trilogy — featuring Roja (1992), Bombay (1995), and Dil Se (1998) – are still considered one of his best works to date.