Madhavan explains how lessons from Aamir Khan helped him stand out among other Bollywood stars. 'Would rather go for failure'

R Madhavan has shed light on his reluctance to be part of film franchises, stating that he has consciously chosen a different path in Bollywood. In a recent interview, he explained that despite the ease and commercial appeal of sequels, he prefers storytelling that challenges him creatively. “I haven’t had the luxury of doing a franchise film where I’m able to repeat the same characters because they worked. I would have loved to. It’s so easy to just sit back and do five films like that till they fail—and then do something else,” Madhavan said to Mid-Day.

He emphasized that he tries not to fall into the trap of being stereotyped. Among his filmography, the only sequel he has ever agreed to was Tanu Weds Manu in 2011, a decision he said was justified by the strength of the script. He added, “I would rather go for glorious failure than compromised success any day.”

Inspired by Aamir Khan’s Approach
Reflecting on his own journey, Madhavan spoke about the influence of his 2009 film 3 Idiots and the admiration he holds for actor Aamir Khan. He shared that early in his career, he aspired to have his name associated with meaningful cinema, just as people associate quality content with Aamir Khan's films. “When people used to say, ‘If it’s an Aamir film, the content will be good’—that’s what I wanted people to say about me. And they do. People come and tell me how 3 Idiots changed their life,” he noted.

Madhavan’s admiration for Khan lies in the latter’s consistent choice of content-rich films. He praised Khan’s boldness in making rare and impactful decisions in an industry that often prioritizes commercial formulas.

Bollywood’s Rising Trend of Sequels
In contrast to Madhavan’s approach, Bollywood has increasingly leaned on sequels and franchises in recent years. Major studios have expanded multiple film series, including the Tiger trilogy (Ek Tha Tiger, Tiger Zinda Hai, Tiger 3), Rohit Shetty’s cop universe (Singham, Singham Returns, Simmba, Sooryavanshi, Singham Again), and comedy sagas like Housefull, Golmaal, and Dhamaal. Other popular franchises such as Dhoom, Bhool Bhulaiyaa, and Dabangg have also seen multiple successful installments.

These repeated narratives have proven to be box office gold, but not all actors are keen to follow that route. Madhavan’s stance remains clear: content takes precedence over convenience.

Madhavan’s Recent Work and Upcoming Projects
Madhavan was most recently seen in Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh, which premiered in theatres on April 18. He portrayed Neville McKinley, a British lawyer, in a gripping courtroom confrontation against Akshay Kumar’s character, C Sankaran Nair. The film revisits the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of April 13, 1919—one of the darkest moments in India’s colonial history—and also features Ananya Panday in a supporting role.

Looking ahead, Madhavan is set to appear in Dhurandhar and Aap Jaisa Koi. With these upcoming roles, he continues to pursue his commitment to cinema that values originality and meaningful narratives over repetitive storytelling.