R Madhavan, who recently celebrated his 27th wedding anniversary with wife Sarita, once opened up about the secret behind their enduring marriage and why remaining faithful was never a challenge for him despite working alongside some of the industry's most beautiful actresses.
'I am very lucky to have her in my life'
In a 2015 interview with ETimes, Madhavan spoke candidly about his relationship with Sarita and credited her for being his strongest pillar of support. When asked who he loved the most in the world, Madhavan had a clear answer: "My wife Sarita." He elaborated, "She understands me completely, keeps me totally grounded and is also my complete foil who takes care of my son, my parents and my finances. She gives me the complete freedom that I so desire to be an effective actor. She is used to my temper and follies and is fearless in telling me how good or bad I am."
Praising her role within the family, he added, "She never actually expresses how hard she works for me and for the sake of the family and never expects credit for it. She is more of a child to my parents than I am and they adore her. I am very lucky to have her in my life."
'It's the easy way out to remain loyal'
Asked how he had remained faithful to his wife in an industry where extra-marital affairs are often discussed, Madhavan said loyalty came naturally to him. "I think it's the easy way out to remain loyal. There are other aspects of my life that I need to put my energies in. Also, I think to be loyal is a family trait." The actor then shared an anecdote about his family values. "My entire family till the end of their lives remained so loyal to Jamsetji Tata that we actually had a photo of his, along with all the Gods with the mala. So honestly, I will have to go out of my way to not be loyal."
'I am that darpok Madrasi middle-class man'
Madhavan also admitted that while he appreciated beauty, he always preferred returning home to his wife. "At the end of the day, I am that darpok Madrasi middle-class man and while I am extremely attracted to attractive girls, at the end of the day, I balance off going back home and cuddling my wife as opposed to giving an excuse on why I am not there." He revealed that transparency was a part of their relationship from the very beginning. "From the beginning of our relationship, she did not even have to ask, my mobiles are always with her and my accounts are always with her."
'I didn't want to test myself'
The actor also recalled a piece of advice from filmmaker Mani Ratnam that stayed with him throughout his marriage. "Mani Ratnam gave me an advice on how not to have to test relationships. He said, 'When there is something going good with a relationship, don't keep testing it to see how much she loves you. Just let it be.' Sometimes testing is the thing that spoils everything." Madhavan admitted that he took practical steps to avoid temptation, especially after becoming a star. "So when I became a star in Tamil and had this crazy girl following, I was the first one to announce that I was married even though I was advised against it. I would open all my girl fan mail along with Sarita. I would insist on taking her for any exotic outdoor shoots not because I wanted her to know that I am loyal, but I didn't want to test myself."
He added, "Over a period of time, it became a habit and it worked for me. And I think she too likes the fact that I am sorted, that I don't mince my words and that she does not have to guess what I am trying to imply with what I say or do."
Madhavan married Sarita on June 6, 1999. The couple share a son, Vedaant Madhavan, and continue to be regarded as one of the most enduring couples in the entertainment industry.
