Entertainment

I Feel This is the Best Year of My Career- R Madhavan

R. Madhavan is back in the spotlight with Aap Jaisa Koi, a heartwarming family drama that explores love, loneliness, and rediscovery in life’s quieter chapters. As Shrirenu Tripathi a quiet, 42-year-old man who unexpectedly rediscovers love and himself Madhavan delivers one of his most layered performances yet. Directed by Vivek Soni and co-starring Fatima Sana Shaikh, the film explores emotional vulnerability, second chances, and the beauty of finding “Barabari Wala Pyaar.” In a candid chat with LIPIKA VARMA, Madhavan opens up about the film, love, ageing, and his evolving journey as an actor.

Excerpts-

What drew you to Aap Jaisa Koi, and what was it like playing Shrirenu?

Aap Jaisa Koi is unlike any love story I’ve done before; it’s quiet, awkward, and deeply human. Shrirenu is one of the most complex characters I’ve played, someone who longs for companionship and closeness, but doesn’t quite know how to ask for it, yet he is rich with emotion underneath. This film isn’t loud or dramatic it’s patient, gentle, and deeply affecting. I was drawn to how it speaks to all the people who’ve felt overlooked in life or love. The film is a reminder that it’s never too late to start living on your own terms. It’s a story about vulnerability, rediscovery, and the idea that it’s never too late to open your heart.

How has your view on romance changed over the years?

Back in our day, we didn’t have apps or access to this kind of dating culture. Whatever ways romance happened was considered just okay. [hamare zamane mein choice nahi tha jo sahi tha romance mein bhi sahi mana jata hai] We didn’t have the mode to access dating apps. Therefore, if we wanted to meet a person in the city, it was difficult to meet as that culture didn’t exist. However, it was appropriate in that zamana, where we would simply say main aapko pasand karta hoon. [I like you]. But now all those rules have changed drastically. Each generation is different, and I’ve learned a lot from observing that shift.

Did you face any challenges portraying a character older than your usual roles?

Yes, while playing this character in Aap Jaisa Koi, also, age-wise, you should not look very old; your pairing needs to be matching to a certain level at least. So, I didn’t want to keep in shape. I decided to keep a little bit of stubble and blacken it a little so he should look younger. But director Vivek refused my recommendations. Just after the song was released, I felt good, I followed my director’s suggestions on the looks of my character, as the song was loved by the audience.

There’s a tenderness in your performance. How did you get that physical and emotional nuance right?

Certain nuances, such as complete surrender, are always beneficial, as I noticed the body language also looked good. Yes, there are times when you feel weird bodily and mentally, as you try to hold your character both ways. However, I am ultimately pleased with the way my character has been portrayed by my director.

The film touches on age-gap relationships. What’s your take on that?

Yes, this is happening nowadays in society. Earlier, there would be a ten-year age gap between a couple, which has been reduced to three years or so in this generation. There are such couples with age differences, like you see in Aap Jaisa Koi.

Tell us about your beginnings in the entertainment world.

I hail from Bihar. I started with TV just because I was getting a pay package of 3,000/ as my per-day salary. I never had a keen interest in becoming an actor. Those days, I noticed many actors had that eagerness to get more work on the acting front. However, for me, I did condition myself that way. I didn’t have that eagerness, any references. I just went with the flow. I had a different outlook altogether. Some people understood my intent while others didn’t.

You began films at 32. What helped you grow in the industry?

I entered the film industry when I was 30 years old. When I was playing my first role, I was only 32 years old. I realized very quickly that if I continue to do films, I’ll have to learn acting nuances in this industry and other departments also. I soon got to work with all the bigwigs like Kamal Haasan, Director Mani Ratnam, and more. I realized I’m just dancing and singing songs. I didn’t understand how to move ahead. Thankfully, many directors liked my work and started giving me good roles. Now, who would like to give me the villain’s role in Shaitaan. Ajay Devgn, Kumar, and Vikas [Bahl] had that vision to cast me; they trusted me and gave that role to me. Also, I feel this is the best year of my career. I give a lot of credit to all my directors, as they gave me the space and have also seen my potential.

Despite this success, do you ever feel isolated in this journey?

I’m working hard, yet sometimes I wonder – What am I doing at this age, is it worth it? Shooting on the sets is my dream, and I feel happy. But when I go into my hotel room after shooting, since I can’t go out, I am like a loner. I miss being with my wife and son. There are days I wonder if I’m missing out on those precious family moments. So, at times I feel busy professionally and ponder if I am missing out on my prime time, as I am not getting enough time to spend with my family, doing things that I like. I am also lazy, but when I look at Ajay [Devgn] and Akshay [Kumar], I feel yaar yeh log toh abh bhi lage huve hai.

July 30, 2025

#Celebrity

Movies to Watch This August 2025

August 2025 brings a power-packed lineup of films from explosive action thrillers to heartwarming romances and long-awaited sequels. With big names, bigger budgets, and stories that promise to entertain, here’s your guide to what’s hitting the screens this month. Dhadak 2 Cast: Tripti Dimri, Siddhant Chaturvedi Director: Shazia Iqbal A socially charged romance and spiritual sequel to Dhadak (2018), this remake of Tamil cult classic Pariyerum Perumal explores caste, identity, and institutional inequality through the intense love story of law students Vidhi and Neelesh. Kingdom Cast: Vijay Deverakonda (as Suri), Satyadev, Bhagyashri BorseDirector: Gowtam Tinnanuri Kingdom is a highly anticipated pan‑India spy action drama directed by Gowtam Tinnanuri. Featuring Vijay Deverakonda in a rugged cop role, supported by Satyadev and Bhagyashri Borse, the film promises intense action and emotional depth. Originally delayed several times due to national events, it is now scheduled for a global theatrical release. War 2 Cast: Hrithik Roshan, NTR Jr., Kiara AdvaniDirector: Ayan Mukerji The next chapter in YRF’s Spy Universe, War 2, brings together two powerhouses Hrithik and NTR Jr.in a high-stakes, globe-trotting action thriller. Expect mind-blowing stunts, slick storytelling, and intense rivalries. Coolie Cast: Rajinikanth (as Deva), Nagarjuna, Upendra, Soubin Shahir, Sathyaraj, Shruti Haasan, cameo by Aamir KhanDirector: Lokesh Kanagaraj An explosive pan‑India action drama, Coolie sees Rajinikanth return in a high‑voltage gangster saga directed by celebrated filmmaker Lokesh Kanagaraj. Supported by a powerhouse ensemble including Nagarjuna as the antagonist and a surprise cameo from Aamir Khan, the film explores themes of crime, betrayal, and ambition. Shot across locations in Chennai, Jaipur, Hyderabad, and Bangkok, the production wrapped in March 2025. Slated for a global theatrical release on August 14, 2025, the film marks a major highlight of Rajinikanth’s 50‑year cinematic legacy and is expected to spawn impressive pre‑sales figures overseas. Son of Sardaar

Entertainment

Siddhant Chaturvedi Opens Up on Breaking into Bollywood

Siddhant Chaturvedi’s story isn’t your typical industry launchpad tale. From his small-town roots in Ballia to his breakthrough in Gully Boy, he’s carved a space for himself with grit, versatility, and quiet confidence. Ahead of the release of Dhadak 2, the actor opens up about the pressures of fame, resisting typecasting, struggling with self-styling, and how his parents’ unwavering support helped him through it all. In conversation with LIPIKA VARMA, Siddhant talks about his journey, and more. Excerpts- Do you feel pressure ahead of Dhadak 2’s release? Yes, there is pressure with every film’s release, whether it is a sequel or an independent film. But there’s more pressure with a sequel; it is not that you have to match the earlier one. There is always a desire to show something new, to show it differently, to tell a new story, because the ultimate goal is that people are entertained, and if they like something in it, they will like the film. Have you consciously chosen varied roles to avoid typecasting? Well, the work I do and at this point in time of my career, if I understand the story and I feel that this story has connected with me, then I do it. There is a conscious effort somewhere that you don’t have to do the same; you have to act in different characters, you have to present yourself in different ways, because this is the time for me. Mistakes can happen, but now I am sure I will not typecast roles. I always think that if you do one kind of thing, then that becomes your market. After doing a variety of roles, you reach a point, I have done it all, now what more? Do you believe in building a ‘market’ for yourself? I always have a goal

Entertainment

Tripti Dimri on Dhadak 2, Inter-Caste Love, and Negative Roles

Tripti Dimri made her debut as a leading lady in Laila Majnu (2018) and received critical acclaim for her work in Anvita Dutt’s Bulbbul (2020) and Qala (2022). She rose to fame with her scene-stealing role in the blockbuster Animal (2023) and is now one of the most talked-about names in the industry. With Dhadak 2 on the way and her recent casting in Spirit, a role that was initially set for Deepika Padukone, Tripti is clearly on a career high. In conversation with LIPIKA VARMA, Tripti talks about her upcoming films, social change through cinema, and her desire to play complex, layered roles. Tripti Simri answers a volley of questions while promoting Dhadak 2. Excerpts: How do you feel about starring in Dhadak 2? Does doing a sequel bring added pressure? I think, if you don’t take that pressure, but perform with full honesty and trust in your director and your team, that’s when magic happens. And I think that’s what Siddhanth and I and everybody else did on this project. So, we made sure not to take any pressure and just take each day as it comes. What were your inputs to the character in terms of improvisation, intensity, and spontaneity? It was a collaborative work. Every day was different. We would rehearse the scenes and then just play off each other. Siddhant has been a wonderful actor. There were a lot of scenes that were based on his reaction, even though you didn’t plan it that way. Because acting is all about reacting. The way you interact with someone day to day, naturally, your expressions come out to the best of your abilities. So, that is what happened. I think I was lucky to have good actors in this film. Everybody is just brilliant. I am happy

Entertainment

Kajol on Horror, Motherhood, and ‘Maa’: “This Role Will Stay with Me Forever”

In her upcoming horror-thriller Maa, Kajol steps into a space that’s as emotionally charged as it is spiritually rooted one that reimagines horror through the lens of motherhood, mythology, and inner strength. The film draws from the legend of Goddess Kali, blending it with a modern narrative that challenges both genre and tradition. It also stars Indraneil Sengupta, Kherin Sharma, and Ronit Roy in pivotal roles. In conversation with LIPOKAVARMA, Kajol opens up about the film that has deeply resonated with her both personally and professionally. A Story Rooted in Myth and Modernity “When we started, this wasn’t even meant to be a horror film,” Kajol begins, reminiscing about the origin of Maa. Maa draws inspiration from the mythological tale of Kali and Raktabeej stories Kajol remembers from her childhood and even used to scare her children with. The story was meant to be a tight thriller, but as the script evolved, so did its scope. “We realised we had to make it bigger, as the characters and the situations were so large in scale. A simple ending wouldn’t do justice to the emotion we had built. You can’t just have her shoot him in the head and walk away,” she explains. The spiritual and symbolic depth of the film demanded a more profound resolution something that echoed the power of Goddess Kali herself. The Title That Found Its Meaning What began as a working title became central to the film’s soul. “By the time we finished, we realised Maa said everything the film was about. It was not just about a mother, but the divine mother—Kali Maa—and the raw energy of maternal strength, both nurturing and destructive.” Kajol on the Evolution of Motherhood On and Off Screen In a reflective moment, Kajol discusses the enduring societal expectations around mothers.