“I Was Deeply Frustrated With My Work,” R Madhavan Reveals Why He Took a Four-Year Break From Acting – Woman’s era Magazine
National Award-winning actor R Madhavan has opened up about one of the most defining phases of his career when he took a four-year break from acting between 2011 and 2016. The actor revealed that he deliberately stepped away from films because he was unhappy and creatively dissatisfied with the kind of roles he was being offered. This break, he says, became the foundation of what he now calls the second innings of his career.
R Madhavan
R Madhavan On Taking A Break
Madhavan made his powerful comeback in 2016 with Saala Khadoos, a film that marked a clear departure from his earlier romantic hero image and showcased him in a more intense, layered role. In a recent conversation with one of the media houses, R Madhavan shared a striking incident that became a turning point in his life. Recalling a shoot in Switzerland, the actor said he was filming a Tamil song while dressed in bright, mismatched clothes.
R Madhavan
“I was wearing orange pants and a green shirt, standing in the middle of the road. I saw a Swiss farmer sitting there, sipping his tea and looking at us with complete disdain. He was clearly wondering what we were doing,” Madhavan said. At first, the moment hurt his ego. “I thought, ‘You come to Chennai and I’ll show you who I am,’” he recalled.
R Madhavan
However, what truly disturbed him later was the realization that he was not contributing anything meaningful from himself to his work. Madhavan admitted that many of the characters he portrayed during that phase felt dishonest to him. His wife, Sarita Birje, noticed his growing frustration even before he fully acknowledged it himself. Reflecting on some of his roles, Madhavan said, “Even the characters I was playing like an uneducated, starving village boy trying to make a career in cricket, it felt wrong. Arvind Swami doesn’t look uneducated or starving. These were all wrong choices.”
R Madhavan
That inner conflict pushed him to reassess not just his career, but his identity as an actor. During his self-imposed break, Madhavan stayed completely away from acting and even refused advertising assignments. “I took a break,” he said, adding that he wanted to understand where the country was headed and what really mattered to people.
