I don’t think anyone is in my league: Madhavan

NEW DELHI - Versatile actor R. Madhavan, who has mega projects like “Teen Patti” with Amitabh Bachchan and “3 Idiots” with Aamir Khan in his kitty, says he doesn’t see any actor as his competitor since there is no one in his league.

“I consider myself my biggest competition. I don’t think anyone else is in my league at all in terms of what I’m doing. I have done eight Hindi films in eight years and somehow people remember all the names and the characters I played in them. By and large it is an achievement. I’m happy with that,” Madhavan, whose latest film “Sikandar” releases Friday, told IANS in an interview.

His first Hindi movie was “Rehna Hai Tere Dil Mein” in 2001, followed by “Dil Vil Pyar Vyar”, “Ramji Londonwaley”, “Rang De Basanti”, “Guru”, “Delhii Heights” and “Mumbai Meri Jaan”. His last Hindi movie was the hit spooky thriller “13B”, which released earlier this year.

The 39-year-old also maintains that he has never gone by the book and worked on his own terms in the industry.

“I’ve always done things that are opposite. I started off with TV. People told me that if you start with TV, you will never become a film star. When I became a Tamil hero, they said that now you will never become a Hindi actor. I did everything.

“I don’t think there is any hard and fast rule in the industry and even if there is, then there is a lot of fun to break it,” he said.

Madhavan was in the capital to promote forthcoming film “Sikandar”, which narrates the tensions in Jammu and Kashmir through the eyes of children.

Talking about his role, he said: “The film is about two children and their loss of innocence and how they get it back. I’m playing an army officer who believes that there should be peace in Kashmir at any cost and is really ruthless about it and very passionate too. He might not do everything by the book, but does whatever is right.”

In real life Madhavan wanted to join the army, but couldn’t fulfil his wish. So, did he live his dream through this film?

“It is never the real thing, you are just living a dream. Being in the armed forces and acting like one in the forces are two different things. But it was fun,” he said.

Directed by Piyush Jha, “Sikandar” is set in Kashmir and stars child actors Ayesha Kapoor and Parzaan Dastur along with Sanjay Suri.

Asked what the USP of “Sikandar” is, Madhavan said: “The best part of the film is the beauty of Kashmir that has been very aptly captured by the cameraman. I think it’s very sad that a beautiful place like that is torn by violence.”

Any plans of returning to television, especially at a time when big stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan and Salman Khan don’t hesitate in stepping into the small screen as well?

“No plans. Shah Rukh and Amitabh are superstars and they get an obscene amount of money for the shows…so when I reach that status and people offer me that kind of money and I actually need that money then I will think about it. Right now I’m just happy doing films,” said Madhavan.