R Madhavan has always been candid about instilling strong values in his son Vedaant Madhavan, despite their comfortable lifestyle. Vedaant has carved a niche as a swimmer, representing India at various international events. In a recent interview, the actor discussed modern parenting, its pressures, and the guiding principle he followed while raising his son.
Teaching Gratitude and Groundedness
During a candid conversation on the 100 Year Life Project by ACKO with Radhika Gupta, Madhavan revealed that one of his primary goals was to ensure Vedaant remained grateful and aware of his privileges. “The thing I made sure that Vedaant did was to acknowledge, maybe not as much as my friends, but most certainly acknowledge the liftman, the guard, the drivers, you know, and not call them aayas and stuff like that. Call them didis instead. And I made sure that if the watchman came and said, 'You are a very polite child, he always says namaste to me,' I thought my job was well done,” the actor shared.
A Valuable Lesson from Canada
Madhavan also opened up about a parenting insight he gained while living in Canada. He recalled a town where many young people struggled with issues like teenage pregnancy, drugs, and alcohol. However, one family stood out as their children remained well-behaved and grounded despite the environment. “I happened to ask the lady of the household many years later, I said, ‘How did you manage to do this?’ And she gave me an advice which I followed to the heart, and it really worked for my son. And she said, ‘Don’t give your child free time. She said, ‘You know, indulge him or her in whatever they want to do, as long as they’re doing it with passion. The interests will change, the level of commitment will change, but make sure that they don’t have free time till they’re 15–16 years old. Make it a habit to make sure they go from one activity to the other. And it could be fun. It should be fun. It shouldn’t be a chore, the child is going to hate it’,” he recalled.
Applying the Advice
Madhavan emphasized that the key was to keep activities enjoyable, not burdensome. By ensuring Vedaant was engaged in passionate pursuits without idle time, he helped him develop discipline and focus. This approach, he believes, contributed to Vedaant's success as a swimmer and his grounded personality.
Current Work and Film Release
On the professional front, R Madhavan was recently seen in ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’, sharing screen space with Ranveer Singh, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, Sara Arjun, and Rakesh Bedi. The film released in theatres on March 19, following the first part on December 5, 2025, and is currently running successfully.
