With the success of Alai Payuthey , emerges a new star on Tamil film world’s horizon. A star who has effortlessly won over audience, especially teenyboppers, with his smile alone. Yet, there’s more to Madhavan than just his sweet smile. That he’s signed only three movies -- CTV’s film directed by Gauthaman Menon, a Suresh Krishna film for Kavithalaya and a film for Venkateswaralaya -- despite the rush of offers since his film’s success, speaks of his level-headedness -- something he will need in large doses to play a long inning in the film world.

Excerpts from an interview.

Has the success of Alai Payuthey  resulted in a loss of privacy?
Yes, but I have no regrets. I think the viewers are entitled to share a part of our lives and I think it’s all well within the limits.

Some of the subtle expressions you portrayed in the film were a result of Manirathnam’s direction or your own?
I just did what Manirathnam asked me to do and I think every actor should work at least once with a director like Mani who is an actor’s delight. It was Santosh Sivan who sent my photos to Mani after he met me for the shoot of the Ponds Dreamflower Talc. Nothing came out of it. In between I acted in two films - Shanti Shanti Shanti , a Kannada film with Abbas and Akeli with Vinod Pande, but neither took off. Then Mani called me and screen tested me in his office backyard, followed by a photo shoot with Shalini.

Did you have to struggle a lot to achieve what all you have today?
Actually, I have acquired everything without any struggle. I went to Mumbai to teach personality development and before I knew it I was offered a TV serial. Though my parents (father is employed in Tata Steel and mother is a bank officer) were not in favour of it, I went ahead as the money was good. Today, I have acted in over 45 serials including some big ones like Ghar Jamai  and Sea Hawks  as well as a dozen of commercials. So, I never had to go around production offices because I was busy with serials. The film offers came on their own.
You run the risk of being typecast as a romantic hero.
Yes, but I have turned down many offers because they were an extension of my role in Alai Payuthey . I have done varied roles on TV including that of a terrorist. In movies too, I want to do a variety of roles as the competition is very tough and if you keep on doing the same things again and again then after a few films you are likely to be out of the race. I want to offer variety to the audience like Kamal Hassan.

But Rajanikanth keeps giving the same stuff and he is still number one?
He’s a unique phenomenon like Amitabh. If you take Bollywood, for instance, only actresses like Hema Malini or Sridevi lasted for decades. But, today, does anyone last for more than four years? Now, people forget you much faster.

Will you be doing a film with Mani again?
I would love to. In fact, I am an absolute novice in filmdom and my only guide is Mani and my address in Chennai is his office.

Do you not planning to shift your base to Chennai?
My wife is working in Mumbai and we are quite settled there. Let’s see what happens in the future.

Any offer to do other language films?
Not yet, but do you know that two Malayalam directors who screen tested me sometime back rejected me? (Laughs)

So, is it goodbye to small screen?
Yes, because I will be busy with film projects down here and I have already winded up my serials in Hindi. I plan to do only one film at a time. I would also prefer to work with a director who has a fixed script.