R. Madhavan Quick Facts
| Full Name | Ranganathan Madhavan |
| Profession | Actor, director and producer |
| Date of Birth | 1 June 1970 |
| Age (as of 2026) | 56 |
| Birthplace | Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Education | D.B.M.S. English School, Jamshedpur; BSc in Electronics, Rajaram College, Kolhapur |
| Years Active | 1996 to present |
| Debut | Alai Payuthey (2000), Tamil |
| Breakthrough | Alai Payuthey (2000) and Minnale (2001) |
| Spouse | Sarita Birje (married 1999) |
| Known For | Alai Payuthey, 3 Idiots, Tanu Weds Manu, Vikram Vedha, Rocketry |
R. Madhavan Career in Numbers
| Milestone | Details |
|---|---|
| Acting debut | Alai Payuthey (2000), Tamil |
| Directorial debut | Rocketry: The Nambi Effect (2022) |
| National Film Award | Best Feature Film, Rocketry: The Nambi Effect (2022) |
| Padma Shri | Art, 2026, as reported in the source reviewed |
Early Life and Family
Madhavan was born on 1 June 1970 in Jamshedpur. He was educated at D.B.M.S. English School in Jamshedpur and earned a BSc in electronics from Rajaram College in Kolhapur. After college he completed a postgraduate course in public speaking in Mumbai, and he is married to Sarita Birje, whom he wed in 1999.
Breakthrough
Alai Payuthey (2000) was his first Tamil film, and Minnale (2001) made him a romantic lead in the south. His Hindi career began with Rang De Basanti (2006) and Guru (2007), and 3 Idiots (2009) brought him wider recognition in the north.
R. Madhavan Career Journey
Early Tamil Films (2000 to 2007)
He appeared in Minnale, Kannathil Muthamittal, Run, Anbe Sivam and Aayutha Ezhuthu, and also worked as a producer and dialogue writer on Evano Oruvan.
Hindi and Telugu Films (2006 to 2018)
He acted in Rang De Basanti, Guru, 3 Idiots and Tanu Weds Manu, and in the Telugu film Savyasachi (2018).
Directing and Recent Work (2016 to 2026)
He starred in Irudhi Suttru, Vikram Vedha and Maara, and made his directorial debut with Rocketry: The Nambi Effect (2022), in which he also played the lead. He appeared in Shaitaan (2024) and Dhurandhar (2025), and Dhurandhar: The Revenge is listed for 2026. He also appeared in the web series Breathe (2018) and The Railway Men (2023).
R. Madhavan Movies: Selected Filmography
The table below lists the films named in the source reviewed. It is a selected list, not a full record of his career.
| Year | Film | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Alai Payuthey (Tamil, Debut) | Karthik Varadharajan |
| 2001 | Minnale (Tamil) | Romantic lead |
| 2001 | Dumm Dumm Dumm (Tamil) | Unhappy groom |
| 2002 | Kannathil Muthamittal (Tamil) | Novelist |
| 2002 | Run (Tamil) | Action lead |
| 2003 | Anbe Sivam (Tamil) | Frustrated filmmaker |
| 2004 | Aayutha Ezhuthu (Tamil) | Inba Sekhar, hitman |
| 2006 | Rang De Basanti (Hindi) | Ajay Singh Rathod, guest role |
| 2007 | Guru (Hindi) | Shyam Saxena |
| 2007 | Evano Oruvan (Tamil) | Bank employee turned vigilante |
| 2009 | 3 Idiots (Hindi) | Young engineer with a passion for photography |
| 2011 | Tanu Weds Manu (Hindi) | Manoj Kumar Sharma ‘Manu’ |
| 2012 | Vettai (Tamil) | Police officer |
| 2015 | Tanu Weds Manu Returns (Hindi) | Manu |
| 2016 | Irudhi Suttru (Tamil) | Boxing coach |
| 2017 | Vikram Vedha (Tamil) | Encounter cop |
| 2018 | Savyasachi (Telugu) | Antagonist |
| 2021 | Maara (Tamil) | Title role |
| 2022 | Rocketry: The Nambi Effect (Hindi, Tamil and English) | Nambi Narayanan |
| 2024 | Shaitaan (Hindi) | Antagonist |
| 2025 | Dhurandhar (Hindi) | Ajay Sanyal |
| 2026 | Dhurandhar: The Revenge (Hindi) | Ajay Sanyal |
R. Madhavan Web Series
| Year | Title | Role | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Breathe | Danny Mascarenhas | Amazon Prime Video |
| 2023 | The Railway Men | Rati Pandey | Not stated |
R. Madhavan Awards and Honours
| Year | Award |
|---|---|
| 2000 | Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut (South), Alai Payuthey |
| 2004 | Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor (Tamil), Aayutha Ezhuthu |
| 2016 | Filmfare Award for Best Actor (Tamil), Irudhi Suttru |
| 2017 | Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor (Tamil), Vikram Vedha |
| 2022 | National Film Award for Best Feature Film, Rocketry: The Nambi Effect |
| 2026 | Padma Shri in Art (as reported in the source reviewed) |
R. Madhavan Net Worth and Brand Value
The figures below are not official. No net worth figure was found in a reliable source.
| Estimated Net Worth | Not publicly estimated |
| Brand Value | Not publicly estimated |
| Key Brand Endorsements | Not verified for this profile |
| Main Income Sources | Film fees, production work and streaming projects |
Frequently Asked Questions About R. Madhavan
How old is R. Madhavan?
Madhavan was born on 1 June 1970, so he is 56 as of October 2026.
What was R. Madhavan’s debut film?
His Tamil debut was Alai Payuthey (2000).
What is R. Madhavan’s net worth?
No reliable published estimate was found, so no figure is given here.
