In Amritsar to attend an event, actor-director R Madhavan talks about his 'jaw-breaking' role in Rocketry and what makes him happy as an actor

Neha Saini

From Banegi Apni Baat to Rocketry—The Nambi Effect, the amazing and versatile R Madhavan has always managed to charm his way into hearts of audience. Coming from television to films and now web, Madhavan is an actor who has constantly re-invented himself, on screen and off it. The recent example being Rocketry—The Nambi Effect, where he transforms into Nambi Narayanan, former ISRO scientist. While we have watched him ease into every character that he has ever played on screen; whether its Maddy or Nambi, Madhavan insists that he is no method actor.

“For me, if the audience, while watching my film, only sees the character I play and not Madhavan, then it works fine. To achieve that as an actor is what makes me happy, whether it takes four hours or four years,” he said. According to the actor, who recently said in an interview that good films take time, Rocketry—The Nambi Effect is one film he feels proud of, “It’s a film that has been made keeping authenticity in mind. No graphics have been used, no prosthetics have been used (he literally broke his jaw to look like Nambi Narayanan), losing or gaining weight was natural, everything was well-researched, which takes time. It took us four years to complete.”

Character wise

Not just the film, the character of Nambi Narayanan too impacted him in a way like no other. “There are two kinds of patriots in the world, one who takes the bullet in their chest and does the ultimate sacrifice and the others, who quietly but determinedly do their job, who are not bothered about what people say about them. For 25 years, Nambi Narayanan was angry, despite the exoneration and Padma Bhushan that was awarded to him, because he felt that how can he be called a traitor. He once told me that this algorithm has stuck with him for the rest of his life. That moved me to the core. His story had to be told,” he said. He added it’s the best on-screen character he had played till date, “It’s not because the movie has just released, but this character is very close to my heart.”

His idols

While Rocketry indeed seems to be close to his heart, Madhavan did share that he enjoys playing characters that excite him as an actor. “I don’t do a film for awards. I feel that when the audience reacts to the characters we play on screen, actors feel like Gods...” Though his fan-following remains consistent, R Madhavan is a fan of two cinematic legends, who have in his opinion, broken the rules to do what they do best. “Clint Eastwood and Amitabh Bachchan are two persons I follow earnestly. At 91, Eastwood is still making movies that he wants to, breaking rules, winning Oscars. Amitabh sir too has always managed to stay relevant.”

Closer home, he said that he also has high regard for Punjabi film industry. “I have a great friend from this industry in Jimmy Sheirgill. I have always received love from people in Punjab.”