Indian actor, screenwriter, film producer, and director R. Madhavan was born on 1 June 1970 (56 years old) in Jamshedpur, Bihar, now in Jharkhand, India.
He is best known for his work in Tamil and Hindi cinema. Over the years, he has acted in many successful films and has become one of the well-known Indian actors of his generation.
Madhavan started gaining wide attention with the Tamil film Alai Payuthey in 2000. He later became popular in Hindi cinema with films such as Rang De Basanti, Guru, 3 Idiots, and Tanu Weds Manu.
Apart from films, Madhavan has also worked in television, brand campaigns, and public causes, and has also served as the President of the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune.
Quick Facts of R. Madhavan
| Full Name | Ranganathan Madhavan |
| Profession | Actor, screenwriter, film producer, and film director |
| Age | 56 years old |
| Date of Birth | June 1, 1970 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Zodiac/Sun Sign | Gemini |
| Birthplace | Jamshedpur, Bihar, now in Jharkhand, India |
| Current Address | Dubai |
| Gender | Male |
R. Madhavan Early Life and Education
R. Madhavan was born in Jamshedpur, Bihar, now in Jharkhand, India. He grew up in a Tamil-speaking family in Jharkhand.
Madhavan spent his early years in Jamshedpur. His childhood was linked to education, discipline, and cultural activities.
He later studied in Jamshedpur before moving to Kolhapur for higher studies.
Education
Madhavan completed his schooling at D.B.M.S. English School in Jamshedpur. He later studied at Rajaram College in Kolhapur and graduated with a B.Sc. in Electronics.
In 1988, he received a scholarship to represent India as a cultural ambassador and spent one year in Stettler, Alberta, Canada, through a Rotary International exchange program.
During college, Madhavan also took part in NCC training.
At the age of 22, he was selected among the leading NCC cadets in Maharashtra. This gave him a chance to travel to England and train with the British Army, Royal Navy, and Royal Air Force.
He later studied public speaking at Kishinchand Chellaram College in Mumbai.
| School | D.B.M.S. English School, Jamshedpur |
| Alma Mater | Kishinchand Chellaram College |
| Highest Qualification | B.Sc. in Electronics |
R. Madhavan Personal Life
R. Madhavan is married to Sarita Birje.
He first met her in 1991 at a communication and public speaking workshop in Maharashtra.
Sarita attended his class, and later used the training to clear an interview for an air hostess job.
After the course, they began dating. They got married in 1999, before Madhavan became a mainstream film actor.
Son
Madhavan and Sarita Birje have one son, Vedaant Madhavan.
Vedaant was born on 21 August 2005. He is an Indian swimmer and has taken part in national and international swimming events.
He has competed in freestyle events such as 50m, 100m, 400m, 800m, and 1500m.
Vedaant has won medals at events like the Danish Open, Malaysia Invitational Age Group Swimming Championships, and Khelo India Youth Games.
In 2023, he won five gold medals and two silver medals at the Khelo India Youth Games.
In 2021, Madhavan and his family moved to Dubai to support Vedaant’s swimming training.
Vedaant is currently focusing on swimming, and he aims to win an Olympic medal for India.
Father
R. Madhavan’s father is Ranganathan Seshadri. He was a former executive at Tata Steel.
Mother
His mother is Saroja. She worked as a manager at the Bank of India.
Siblings
Madhavan has a sister named Devika. She is a software engineer.
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Wife | Sarita Birje |
| Children | Son: Vedaant Madhavan |
| Parents | Father: Ranganathan Seshadri Mother: Saroja |
| Siblings | Sister: Devika |
R. Madhavan Career
R. Madhavan began his acting career in the early 1990s with Hindi television shows.
He appeared in shows such as Banegi Apni Baat, Sea Hawks, Ghar Jamai, and Saaya.
Breakthrough with Tamil Films
Madhavan became popular in Tamil cinema after Alai Payuthey in 2000. He played the lead role in the Mani Ratnam film with Shalini Ajith as his main co-star.
After this, he acted in Minnale with Reema Sen and Abbas.
Madhavan later appeared in Anbe Sivam with Kamal Haasan and Kiran Rathod. He also acted in Aayutha Ezhuthu with Suriya, Siddharth, Trisha, Meera Jasmine, and Esha Deol.
Work in Hindi Cinema
Madhavan’s first Hindi film as a lead actor was Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein in 2001. His main co-stars in the film were Dia Mirza and Saif Ali Khan.
He later worked in Rang De Basanti with Aamir Khan, Siddharth, Sharman Joshi, Kunal Kapoor, Soha Ali Khan, and Atul Kulkarni.
He also acted in Guru with Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, Vidya Balan, and Mithun Chakraborty.
In 2009, Madhavan played Farhan Qureshi in 3 Idiots. He worked with Aamir Khan, Sharman Joshi, Kareena Kapoor, and Boman Irani in the film.
Success with Romantic Comedy Films
Madhavan gained more attention in Hindi cinema with Tanu Weds Manu in 2011. He played Dr. Manoj “Manu” Sharma opposite Kangana Ranaut.
He returned in Tanu Weds Manu Returns in 2015.
His main co-stars included Kangana Ranaut, Jimmy Sheirgill, Deepak Dobriyal, Swara Bhasker, and Eijaz Khan.
Strong Roles in Tamil and Bilingual Films
Madhavan later took roles with a stronger focus on action, drama, and character performance.
In Irudhi Suttru, also released in Hindi as Saala Khadoos, he played a boxing coach opposite Ritika Singh.
In Vikram Vedha, he played Inspector Vikram. His main co-stars were Vijay Sethupathi, Shraddha Srinath, Kathir, and Varalaxmi Sarathkumar.
Director and Producer
In 2022, Madhavan made his directorial debut with Rocketry: The Nambi Effect. He also wrote, produced, and acted in the film.
He played Indian scientist Nambi Narayanan. Simran was his main co-star in the film.
Recent Films and OTT Work
Madhavan has also worked in streaming projects and recent films. He acted in The Railway Men with Kay Kay Menon, Divyenndu, and Babil Khan.
He also appeared in Shaitaan with Ajay Devgn, Jyothika, Janki Bodiwala, and Anngad Raaj.
Upcoming Projects
- G.D.N.: Madhavan will play inventor and industrialist G. D. Naidu in this biographical drama. The film also stars Sathyaraj, Dushara Vijayan, Jayaram, Priyamani, Vinay Rai, and Yogi Babu. It is scheduled to release on 17 July 2026.
- Tanu Weds Manu: The Next Chapter: This is the next film in the Tanu Weds Manu series. It has been announced, and filming is expected to start in 2026. Full cast details are yet to be updated.
- Circle: Madhavan and Kangana Ranaut are reported to be working together in this psychological thriller directed by A. L. Vijay. The film has been reported as completed, but the confirmed release date has yet to be updated.
Awards and achievements
- R. Madhavan was named for the Padma Shri in 2026 in the field of Art.
- Rocketry: The Nambi Effect won Best Feature Film at the 69th National Film Awards.
- Madhavan won the IIFA Award for Best Director for Rocketry: The Nambi Effect.
- He won the Filmfare Award South for Best Actor for Irudhi Suttru.
- He won the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor Tamil for Vikram Vedha.
- He won the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor Tamil for Rocketry: The Nambi Effect.
- He won the SIIMA Best Actor Critics for Irudhi Suttru.
- He won the SIIMA Best Actor Critics for Rocketry: The Nambi Effect.
- He won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor for Irudhi Suttru.
Controversies
Panchang comment on ISRO Mars Mission: In 2022, R. Madhavan faced online criticism during the promotion of Rocketry: The Nambi Effect. He had said that ISRO used Panchang for its Mars mission. Many social media users criticized the comment. Madhavan later clarified that it was his mistake to call the almanac “Panchang” in Tamil and accepted the criticism.
Dhurandhar 2 scene issue: In 2026, a complaint was filed over a scene in Dhurandhar 2. The objection was linked to a scene where Madhavan’s character was seen near a cigarette while lines from the Dasam Granth were recited. Madhavan later clarified that the cigarette had been put out before the lines were spoken, and said there was no intention to hurt Sikh religious feelings.
R. Madhavan Net Worth
R. Madhavan’s net worth is estimated to be around ₹125 crore.
His income comes from films, OTT projects, advertisements, production work, and brand deals.
It is known that he charges around ₹6 crore-₹10 crore ($636,000-$1.06 million) per film and up to ₹2 crore per advertisement.
Madhavan also owns valuable assets. His Mumbai home in BKC is estimated at around ₹17.5 crore, and his Chennai home is estimated at around ₹18 crore.
He also owns cars and bikes such as Mercedes-Benz, Range Rover, BMW, Audi, Yamaha V-Max, BMW K1600 GTL, Ducati Diavel, and Roadmaster cruiser.
| Net Worth (Approx.) | $13.25 million |
| Salary (Approx.) | ₹6 crore-₹10 crore ($636,000-$1.06 million) per film |
R. Madhavan Height, weight, and Physical stats
Below are the physical stats of R. Madhavan:
| Height | In centimetres: 179 cm In meters: 1.79 m In feet & inches: 5 feet 10½ inches |
| Weight | In kg: 74 kg In lbs: 163 lbs |
| Body Measurements | Yet to be updated |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Brown |
R. Madhavan Instagram, X, Facebook, LinkedIn
 @actormaddy | |
| X |  @ActorMadhavan |
 @RMadhavans | |
 @madhavan ranganathan |
FAQs
What is R. Madhavan’s full name?
R. Madhavan’s full name is Ranganathan Madhavan.
What is the age of R. Madhavan?
R. Madhavan is 0 years old as of 1 June 2026. He was born on 1 June 1970 in Jamshedpur, Bihar, which is now in Jharkhand, India.
What is R. Madhavan’s profession?
R. Madhavan is an actor, screenwriter, film producer, and film director.
Who is R. Madhavan’s wife?
R. Madhavan’s wife is Sarita Birje.
Does R. Madhavan have children?
Yes, R. Madhavan has one son named Vedaant Madhavan.
What is R. Madhavan’s son known for?
R. Madhavan’s son, Vedaant Madhavan, is known as a competitive swimmer.
Which film made R. Madhavan popular in Tamil cinema?
R. Madhavan became popular in Tamil cinema with Alai Payuthey in 2000.
Which was R. Madhavan’s first film as a director?
R. Madhavan’s first film as a director was Rocketry: The Nambi Effect.
What post does R. Madhavan hold at FTII?
R. Madhavan is the President of the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune.
