4 minutes of readingChennaiFebruary 1, 2026 11:49 am
R Madhavan has had a long-standing working relationship with Mani Ratnam. He has starred in Alai Payuthey (2000), Dumm Dumm Dumm (2001), Kannathil Muthamittal (2002), Aayutha Ezhuthu (2004) and Guru (2007). Interestingly, Madhavan was initially offered the role of Arjun Balakrishnan in Aayutha Ezhuthu, which was later played by Siddharth in the Tamil adaptation of Mani Ratnam’s 2004 Bollywood political action drama Yuva.
Talking about Aayutha Ezhuthu on The Filmy Hustle podcast, Madhavan said, “I really wanted to do it, but I didn’t want to play Siddharth’s role. That’s the role he had in mind for me. Again, a lover boy who meets Trisha and everything. When I heard the story, I told him that he should play Inbasekar. He asked me why. I told him because he has the best lines in the film. We have forgotten everything else. He said: ‘Shut up!’ “I was very offended.”
Ratnam told him that he had already roped in an actor for the role and was supposed to start the film in two months. Madhavan asked him to give him a month to think about it. “I shaved my head. I played golf without sunscreen and got really tanned. I strengthened my muscles and became literally unrecognizable,” Madhavan added.
Madhavan then returned to Mani Ratnam, who had gotten security at the time due to threats he received after his 1992 Tamil romantic thriller Roja. Not even the security could recognize Madhavan in his new ‘crazy’ look. “I was really upset because someone showed up at lunchtime unannounced. Then he came out, looked at me and said, ‘Yes?’ I couldn’t handle the situation and started smiling. He said, ‘Maddy?’”
Ratnam then continued to look at Madhavan, before the actor asked him, “Do I look good for the role?” Ratnam agreed and gave him the report on Imbasekar. “He’s a tough guy. He’s had a bad childhood. He’s an animal,” the director said. But Madhavan could not understand what an animal is like. So, he returned home and watched National Geographic to prepare for his screen test in two days.
“I saw a pride of lions chasing a deer. There is fear for life in the eyes of the deer. It runs left, right and center. Finally, one of the lions pounces on it, strangles it, tears it apart and takes its flesh. But throughout the attack, there is no anger on the lion’s face. It is the most violent act, but for the lion, it is like another day, having lunch. There is no anger or emotion.” He had absolute peace in his eyes as he choked to the venison, but I only ate it for lunch, as if we were going to restaurants. And that was the moment I found out that this is what Mani sir wants. When he kills, he just does his job,” Madhavan explained.
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Aayutha Ezhuthu also starred Suriya, whose role was essayed by Ajay Devgn in the Hindi version. Abhishek Bachchan played the role of Madhavan in Yuva, while Vivek Oberoi took on the role of Siddharth. Rani Mukerji and Kareena Kapoor also acted in the film, while Esha Deol was the one. Just one that stared in both versions.