Born in Bihar, Raised Tamil Though he belongs to a Tamil family, Madhavan was born and raised in Jamshedpur, Bihar (now Jharkhand), giving him a unique cultural blend of North and South India.

Top NCC Cadet with Military Dreams Madhavan was a top NCC cadet in Maharashtra and even received training from the British Army, Royal Navy, and Royal Air Force in England. He aspired to join the Indian Army but missed the age cut-off by just six months.

Public Speaking Champion In 1992, he represented India at the Young Businessmen Conference in Tokyo after winning the Indian Championship for Public Speaking. He also taught personality development and public speaking in Kolhapur.

Started with TV and Ads Before films, Madhavan appeared in TV shows like Banegi Apni Baat and Sea Hawks. His first break came from a sandalwood talc ad directed by Santosh Sivan, which led to his audition with Mani Ratnam.

Rejected by Mani Ratnam Initially Although Mani Ratnam later launched him in Alaipayuthey, he initially rejected Madhavan for Iruvar because his eyes looked “too young” for the role.

Voice Actor in Animated Films Madhavan has lent his voice to animated films, including one that premiered in San Diego in 2015, showcasing his versatility beyond live-action roles.

Vegetarian and Animal Rights Advocate A committed vegetarian, he was named PETA’s ‘Cutest Male Vegetarian’ in 2006 and continues to support animal welfare causes.

International Film Experience He acted in the English film Inferno (1997) and the crossover film Nothing But Life, shot in Las Vegas and Albuquerque.

Sabbatical Due to Injury In 2012, he took a break from acting due to a knee injury sustained during the filming of Vettai, which led to a condition called chondromalacia patellae.

Met His Wife Through Teaching Madhavan met his wife Sarita Birje during a public speaking workshop he was conducting. She was one of his students, and they married in 1999 after eight years of courtship