R Madhavan: You need to feel desired by women, only then you feel like a hero

Ostensibly, R Madhavan’s UP connection is next to none. But having acted in 'Tanu Weds Manu' and now its sequel, both of which were set in the Hindi heartland, a Lucknow angle can’t entirely be dismissed in an interview with the actor.
“When we started Tanu Weds Manu, which was six years ago, half the cast of the movie was from Lucknow and Kanpur at that time,” he says, “But I was skeptical, I was a little worried, I had never shot in Uttar Pradesh and stories we had heard about the state – how people get around actors, you are not able to shoot comfortably.But as far as I was concerned, it was a honeymoon! I mean the love of the people and the mohalla we shot in, the love of the people who were actually part of the film was spectacular. We felt like we were leaving a bit of us back, when we went to Punjab to shoot.” For the sequel, Madhavan had no scenes to shoot in Lucknow, and came here only for the muhurat shot. “So, I am a little upset that Anand (L Rai, the director) didn’t have too many scenes to film with me in Lucknow, but 'Tanu Weds Manu' is essentially a very Lakhnawi film,” adds Madhavan.
READ: Kangana Ranaut and R Madhavan back with 'Tanu Weds Manu Returns'
You will return to the screen with Tanu Weds Manu Returns after a break of three years.
I took a break because I wasn’t very happy the way I was looking, feeling or doing my movies. More than that I wanted to do my kind of movies. I was not content with movies that people thought I fit in and I wanted to do my own kind of films. So I prepared for three years for a film called 'Saala Khadoos', directed by Raj Kumar Hirani, which is now ready. I had built my body to look like a boxer, then I lost it completely for 'Tanu Weds Manu Returns'. It was really tough gaining weight, building muscles and then loosing it completely for another film. That break was essential for me to go to my grass roots, go back to my basics and learn to act all over again and I think I am very happy with the way the break has worked out for me.
Was there greater pressure in making the sequel to TWM, considering that it was a hit?
When we make a film like TWM Returns, it is important that we don’t think of bettering anything. It’s like a baby being born, all you can hope for is the best. But you can’t decide how the baby is going to look. Similarly with the movie – you can’t think of making it better, you only can think of making the best film possible. As far as Tanu Weds Manu Returns is concerned, it’s like an extra sword on our head because the original one was a big hit, it was an underdog which became a big hit, and now the expectations are very high. We are nervous more than anything else, the trailers seem to have created quite a stir, and I am hoping that this gets better than the original one.
What do you see in a film before saying yes to it?
I am going to try and answer it in a very different way . Films are my life, I don't think there is anything that I would not do for the sake of the movie. So when you see a script that needs to be made and that somebody has offered you...like 'Saala Khadoos', when the director offered the movie to me I knew that this is something that only I can do, only I should do it. So I took a break I beat myself up, I humiliated myself enough to know that I have the fire in my belly to do this film. I think I am a very selfless actor, I think I am one of those guys who wants the film to win, I will never go to see or do a shot where I want to beat another actor in doing something, because it never works for the movie. I am very proud of the fact that I am a selfless actor and I work towards the whole movie looking the best it can. So if you ask me what kind of films I like to do, I would like to do the kind of films which the director, the producer, the cameraman, the junior artist, everybody sees as one film, and they contribute to that film to make it happen. Any story , any screenplay can only happen if the whole unit is professionally working towards it.And most importantly , I see the fire in the belly of the director, the guy who is going to be directing the film. The script is important, but sometimes as an actor you are not wise enough to select the right thing, but you are smart enough to see what reasons are there for the film to be made ­ are you doing it for the sake of the money , or you want to work with that particular director, the films he has done before? I mean, what are the reason for you to do a film.So I have understood that as an actor the only reason I want to do a film is that it can be the most amazing film made by the team, and that's how I select films.
You have several hits in the South to your credit. But you have only two films in Hindi that you're remembered for ­ Rehna Hai Tere Dil Mein and Tanu Weds Manu. Do you feel your potential has not been tapped well in Bollywood?
Not at all... I don't think I have given even 20% of what I am capable of doing. But that's a great thing ­ after being in the industry for 15 years, people still think that I have a lot more to give to the film industry .If the media and audience are looking forward to some more interesting stuff from me, then I think I have set the platform correct, I think I have shown them what I am capable of doing while promising them more. No other place in the world can be better for an actor. Generally , after 15 years you fade away , and people who came after me are on the way out. I am almost 11 films old in the Hindi film industry but I am still doing solo leads.My proudest moment is to be called Maddy paaji, Maddy bhai jaan, Maddy bhai sa'ab and Maddy anna or Maddy cheta. If I go to Sikkim, they call me Maddy sir, if I go to Kerala, they call me Maddy cheta, which is I think ­ I don't know how many people re alise it ­ a great achieve ment for me.
Do you see a pattern in the kind of roles offered to you in Bollywood?
In Bollywood, somehow or the other I am still per ceived as a lover, somebody who is a nice guy , like in Tanu Weds Manu it's Maryada Puroshottam, but in Rehna Hai Tere Dil Mein I was a mix of lover and rowdy . So I always get those kind of role, but I think everything will change af ter people watch me in Saala Khadoos. I trained for about nine months in Los Angeles for that role, I also worked on my physique to make it look unbelievable, I grew my hair, I grew a beard. So I am very excited that I am capa ble of doing that after being so long in the industry , it makes me feel like I have achieved something big. The shooting is finished and it will probably release in July-August.
You transitioned from the South Indian film industry to Bollywood. Do you see any difference between the two film industries?
There is a huge difference. Earlier, it used to be like go ing from unit to unit. Over time, I have realised that Bollywood has become a lot more demanding, a lot more professional and a lot more precise in what they want from a film. Not just Bollywood, even the Hindi film audience has changed dramatically . So now they are very clear: it doesn't matter how big a star you are. How your last film has done, and if they like the promos of your new film, they will come and spend money in watching your movie in the theatres. If you don't satisfy them, if you don't make them happy , then you are in big trouble. The Tamil audience loves its actors, even if you make five-six mistakes, they will forgive you. But in Hindi cinema, the audience is very strict in its demands.
Do actors from the South face problems being ac cepted in Bollywood?
Nobody accepts you if you don't give what they want, it doesn't matter where you are from. I was born and brought up in Bihar. I am a South Indian, there are peo ple from Bengal, and there are people from Orissa, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, and Punjab. We all are do ing well in the film indus try. So for me it was like go ing back and forth: I have done a lot of television, did serials like Sea Hawks, Banegi Apni Baat, Aaaya, Ghar Jamai, then I went South to do movies. So over there. they say he is a guy from Mumbai coming to do Tamil films, over here they say he is a guy from South coming to do Hindi films. But basically , I am happy that I am accepted. I think it has a lot to do with my up bringing, the fact that I am more Bihari in my outlook than I am South Indian.
Two decades in the industry, and not a single link up? How have you man aged that?
Maybe because I am such a boring guy! (laughs) No, to be very honest, I think it's important for a guy to be wanted by girls, especially if you are a hero. You need to feel desired by women, only then you feel like a hero on the sets. But while I am completely attracted towards girls, I think I am a darpok, I don't want to lose what I have as a wife, my family . Or maybe I am very secretive and no body knows!
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Watch: Kangana and Madhavan back with 'Tanu Weds Manu Returns' - TOI