
R. Madhavan
ActingAbout R. Madhavan
Ranganathan Madhavan (born 1 June 1970) is an Indian actor, writer and film producer. He has been described as one of the few actors in India who is able to achieve pan-Indian appeal, appearing in films from seven different languages. Madhavan has received two Filmfare Awards, an award from the Tamil Nadu State Film Awards alongside recognition and nominations from other organisations. Madhavan began his acting career with television guest appearances, including a role on the Zee TV prime-time soap opera Banegi Apni Baat in 1996. After appearing in commercials and in small roles, he later gained recognition in the Tamil film industry through Mani Ratnam's successful romance film Alaipayuthey (2000). In addition to his acting career, Madhavan has worked as a writer on his films, hosted television programmes and has been a prominent celebrity endorser for brands and products.[5] He has also worked as a film producer, first making Evano Oruvan with Leukos Films, before setting up Tricolour Films to produce Saala Khadoos (2016). Madhavan is noted for his philanthropic activities and promotes various causes such as environment, health and education. He is particularly vocal about the protection of animals and was awarded PETA's Person of the Year recognition in 2012.
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of R. Madhavan reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Drama
The majority of R. Madhavan's filmography leans towards the Drama genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 54% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), R. Madhavan remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in 3 Idiots, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best R. Madhavan Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from R. Madhavan's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of R. Madhavan.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Dhurandhar | Ajay Sanyal | Hit | Similar → |
| 2025 | De De Pyaar De 2 | Rakesh Khurana | Hit | Similar → |
| 2025 | Aap Jaisa Koi | Shrirenu Tripathi | Hit | Similar → |
| 2025 | Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh | Neville McKinley | Hit | Similar → |
| 2025 | Test | Saravanan | Average | Similar → |
| 2024 | Hisaab Barabar | Radhe Mohan Sharma | Flop | Similar → |
| 2024 | Shaitaan | Vanraj Kashyap | Average | Similar → |
| 2022 | Dhokha: Round D Corner | Yathaarth Sinha | Flop | Similar → |
| 2022 | Rocketry: The Nambi Effect | Nambi Narayanan | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2021 | Maara | 'Maara' Manimaaran | Hit | Similar → |
| 2020 | Putham Pudhu Kaalai | Narrator (segment "Ilamai Idho Idho") | Average | Similar → |
| 2020 | Nishabdham | Anthony | Flop | Similar → |
| 2018 | Zero | Kartik Srinivasan | Flop | Similar → |
| 2018 | Savyasachi | Arun Raj | Flop | Similar → |
| 2017 | Magalir Mattum | Surendar (Cameo) | Hit | Similar → |
| 2017 | Vikram Vedha | Vikram | Hit | Similar → |
| 2016 | Irudhi Suttru | Prabhu Selvaraj | Hit | Similar → |
| 2015 | Night of the Living Dead: Darkest Dawn | Tom | Flop | Similar → |
| 2015 | Tanu Weds Manu: Returns | Manoj 'Manu' Sharma | Hit | Similar → |
| 2012 | Jodi Breakers | Sid | Average | Similar → |
| 2012 | Vettai | Thiru Murthy | Average | Similar → |
| 2011 | Big in Bollywood | Himself | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2011 | Tanu Weds Manu | Manoj "Manu" Sharma | Hit | Similar → |
| 2010 | Manmadhan Ambu | Madanagopal | Flop | Similar → |
| 2009 | 3 Idiots | Farhan Qureshi | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2009 | Sikandar | Lt. Col. Rajesh Rao | Average | Similar → |
| 2009 | Yavarum Nalam | Manohar | Average | Similar → |
| 2008 | Mumbai Meri Jaan | Nikhil Agarwal | Hit | Similar → |
| 2008 | Halla Bol | Himself (uncredited) | Flop | Similar → |
| 2007 | Evano Oruvan | Sridhar Vasudevan | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2007 | Aarya | Aarya | Average | Similar → |
| 2007 | Delhii Heights | - | Flop | Similar → |
| 2007 | Guru | Shyam Saxena | Hit | Similar → |
| 2006 | Thambi | Thambi Velu Thondaiman | Average | Similar → |
| 2006 | Rang De Basanti | Ajay Rathod | Hit | Similar → |
| 2005 | Ramji Londonwaley | Ramnarayan Tiwari (Ramji) | Hit | Similar → |
| 2004 | Aayitha Ezhuthu | Inbasekaran | Hit | Similar → |
| 2004 | Aethiree | Subramani aka 'Bottle' Mani | Flop | Similar → |
| 2003 | Jay Jay | Jagan | Hit | Similar → |
| 2003 | Priyamaana Thozhi | Ashok | Average | Similar → |
| 2003 | Nala Damayanthi | Ramji Narayanaswami Iyer | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2003 | Lesa Lesa | Deva Narayanan (Guest Appearance) | Hit | Similar → |
| 2003 | Anbe Sivam | Anbarasu | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2002 | Dil Vil Pyar Vyar | Krish Kumar | Flop | Similar → |
| 2002 | Run | Siva | Hit | Similar → |
| 2002 | Kannathil Muthamittal | Thiruchelvan | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2001 | Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein | Madhav "Maddy" Shastri | Average | Similar → |
| 2001 | Dum Dum Dum | Adhithyan | Average | Similar → |
| 2001 | Minnale | Rajesh Shivakumar | Hit | Similar → |
| 2000 | Alaipayuthey | Karthik Varadharajan | Hit | Similar → |
R. Madhavan - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of R. Madhavan?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring R. Madhavan is "3 Idiots" with a rating of 8.0/10.
How many movies has R. Madhavan acted in?
R. Madhavan has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by R. Madhavan?
Other notable films include "Evano Oruvan", "Anbe Sivam", and "Kannathil Muthamittal".




