Actor R Madhavan revealed how his wife Sarita’s blunt advice during the pandemic pushed him back to work after a four-year break. Her observation about his detached approach to acting prompted him to reassess his priorities and embrace creative growth. Now, the actor is gearing up for Dhurandhar 2, directed by Aditya Dhar.
R Madhavan as of now is enjoying one of the busiest phases of his career, but the actor says there was a time when he had to pause, step back and rethink his bond with work. In a recent interaction, Madhavan opened up over a lighter yet meaningful moment from his life amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, when a blunt remark from his wife, Sarita, pushed him to get back into action.
In the course of time, Madhavan has established a reputation as a versatile actor, comfortably moving amid Tamil, Hindi and English projects. In 2025 alone, he appeared in six films across different languages, making it one of his most productive years.
But, this momentum followed a phase of introspection, amidst which the actor chose to take a four-year break from acting.
Madhavan shared that stepping away from films helped him gain clarity about his priorities and creative choices. The break allowed him to return with renewed focus and a stronger sense of what excited him as an actor. He also spoke about gradually embracing OTT platforms, which offered him diverse roles and meaningful storytelling beyond traditional cinema.
While looking back at the phase, Madhavan recalled a humorous incident involving his wife amidst the pandemic. Speaking to a channel the actor said Sarita was surprised to see him at home regardless
long-standing reputation for being constantly busy. He jokingly shared that she reminded him of the wide range of work he usually does, from Tamil films to Hindi and English projects, and questioned why he was suddenly sitting idle.
Madhavan further went on to share that
in the midst during COVID in 2020, his wife bluntly asked him to step out and get back to work, even telling him to earn some money instead of staying home.
Beyond the joke, Madhavan explained that Sarita’s honest observation about his state of mind made him pause and reflect. He recalled her asking what was bothering him and pointing out that he seemed to approach work with the intention of finishing quickly and returning home, rather than enjoying the process. According to Madhavan, that simple remark struck a chord and helped him reassess his attitude towards his career.
The actor further said this shift in mindset played an important role in how he approached projects after the break. He became more selective, choosing work that genuinely excited him and allowed him to grow creatively.
On the workfront Madhavan is currently receiving praise for his performance in Dhurandhar, which features Ranveer Singh in the lead role. The film’s sequel, Dhurandhar: The Revenge, is scheduled for a theatrical release on March 19, 2026. In addition to this, he was part of several projects this year, including Shaitaan, Hisaab Barabar, Test, Kesari Chapter 2, Aap Jaisa Koi and De De
Pyaar De 2.
Adding to his achievements, Madhavan was recently honoured with the Padma Shri on the eve of Republic Day.
News Edit KV Raman