R Madhavan is well known today for his charming looks and acting skills. He has worked in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, English, Kannada, and Malayalam films. But did you know acting was not his first love? Long before he became a star, Madhavan dreamed of wearing the Indian Army uniform.
A star cadet in NCC
When he was young, Madhavan was very active in the National Cadet Corps (NCC). According to Economic Times, je worked hard and became Maharashtra’s Best NCC Cadet. Because of this, he got a rare chance to train with the British Army, the Royal Navy, and the Royal Air Force in England. Only eight cadets were picked for this special training, and Madhavan was one of them.
Why he could not join the Indian Army
After returning to India, Madhavan wanted to join the Indian Army. Sadly, he was six months older than the age limit allowed for joining. This rule was strict and could not be changed. So, even with his impressive training and skills, he could not become a soldier. This was a big disappointment for him.
Changing course: From army dreams to studies
After this setback, Madhavan turned his attention to his studies. He completed a Bachelor of Science degree in electronics. Later, he studied public speaking and even taught courses on personality development and public speaking. In 1992, he represented India at the Young Businessmen Conference in Tokyo, showing his many talents.
The start of an acting career
Madhavan’s acting career started slowly. In 1996, he appeared in a sandalwood talc advertisement. Then, he acted in TV shows like ‘Banegi Apni Baat’ and ‘Sea Hawks’. People liked his acting, and soon he moved to films. He became popular with movies like ‘Rehna Hai Tere Dil Mein’ and the hit ‘3 Idiots’. Over time, he worked in many films across different languages.
Fans discover his NCC days
Old pictures of Madhavan as an NCC cadet were shared on Reddit a while ago. Many fans were surprised and impressed by his fitness and discipline back then. Some said it explains why he looks so real in ‘Aarohan’ and the officer in ‘Rang De Basanti’. Others said it feels like Madhavan has lived many different lives.On the work front, Madhavan was last seen in the OTT film ‘Aap Jaisa Koi’ alongside Fatima Sana Shaikh. He is set to appear soon in ‘Dhurandhar’ alongside Ranveer Singh, marking another exciting chapter in his acting career.
