R Madhavan, fondly known as Maddy in Bollywood, earned his nickname from his iconic role in the 2001 romantic drama, Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein. While the film brought him lasting popularity, it continues to spark debate even after more than two decades. The film, co-starring Dia Mirza and Saif Ali Khan, remains a hot topic among audiences to this day. Though celebrated for its memorable music and performances, it has also faced heavy criticism for romanticising stalking. The controversy resurfaced recently when Madhavan defended his character’s actions in the film.
R Madhavan defends ‘Maddy’s’ character in RHTDM
In a recent interview with India TV, Madhavan opened up on the criticisms surrounding his character, ‘Madhav Shastri’, aka ‘Maddy’, in Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein. He argued that the film should be viewed in the context of its time, considering that it was before the era of smartphones sans social media and men had limited ways to approach women. He said:
“At a time when phones, messages and social media didn’t exist, how would you contact a girl? What was considered decent? If meeting a girl knowing that she’s there, assuming that it’s a decent way to approach, then my father could be accused of stalking. Anybody could be. If it were a love marriage, there was no other way to get in touch with the other person.”
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