Udaipur, April 3, 2025: "Several years ago, I was shooting a song for a Tamil film in Switzerland. I was dancing in the middle of the road when I saw a Swiss farmer looking at us with annoyance. That day, I told myself, 'Come to Chennai, and I will show you who I am'. But I felt very humiliated at that moment. Then suddenly, I realized that I was only dancing the way others wanted. That was when I decided to take a break for a while," said popular Indian film actor R. Madhavan, a star on his own both in Bollywood and South Indian films. Madhavan's film "Test" is set to release on April 4. In an interview with some Indian media before the film’s release, he spoke about his career and mentioned why he took a break from films for four years.

4-Year Break from Films

Madhavan did not take a break for just a year or two, but for four consecutive years. During this time, discussions about his absence were heard from Bollywood to the South film industry. Though he did not speak much about it back then, he openly shared his reasons in this interview. He revealed why he stayed away from his beloved work for so long.

Why Did Madhavan Take a Break?

Many people take a break from their careers to give themselves time, prepare for new opportunities, or work on personal growth. That is quite natural. But Madhavan had a different reason. He was disappointed because he was not getting roles that suited him.

He also shared an incident. While shooting for a Tamil song in Switzerland, he had to dance wearing orange pants and a green shirt. That experience left a deep impact on him.

What Made Madhavan Realize It Was Time for a Break?

Madhavan said that his wife once told him that the way things were going, it seemed like he wanted to distance himself from acting. When he heard this, he realized she was right. He thought, "How much longer will this continue? Even in today’s times, such things still happen!" That’s when he decided to take a break.

How Did Madhavan Spend His 4-Year Break?

During these four years, Madhavan did not work in films or advertisements. He rejected all offers. Instead, he changed his look and traveled across different parts of India.

He spent time observing the lives of ordinary people. He sat with rickshaw pullers and learned about their struggles. According to Madhavan, these four years taught him many new things. Everything he learned during this time helped him build a new perspective on life.