Actor R Madhavan has enjoyed immense popularity and a huge fan following since the beginning of his career. From 'Alai Payuthey' to 'Rehna Hai Tere Dil Mein' and now 'Rocketry' and 'Dhurandhar', Madhavan's career graph has been impressive. However, his son Vedaant has carved his own niche and made his father proud. Vedaant is a swimmer representing India, with achievements including five gold medals at the Malaysian Open, a gold and a silver medal at the Danish Open, and a fifth-place finish at the Commonwealth Youth Games. Vedaant now aims for an Olympic gold medal.
Disciplined Lifestyle of a Swimmer
In an earlier interview with Ruhaan Mahreja, Vedaant spoke about his disciplined lifestyle. He said, "On a hard day, I wake up around 4:30 in the morning and get to the pool by 4:45. I swim from 5 to 7, then stretch and come back home. If I have school, I go, and after returning, I have a snack, rest for a bit, and then head back to the pool. I start swimming again around 7:30 pm and continue till 9:30 pm. If I have gym, I fit that in between school and my evening swim. After finishing at 9:30, I eat and go to bed. And then the cycle continues."
He also reflected on the mental strength required to stay consistent. "It is hectic, but it's all about sacrifices. You have to give up certain things and believe in the process. The mental battle is really important. One thing my coach told me is to always stay in the present, don't worry about the finals. Just focus on the moment. Live in the moment."
Moving Away from Comfort Zone
Talking about his move away from India, Vedaant shared how relocating pushed him out of his comfort zone. "The shift to Dubai was pretty smooth. We were able to settle in well. Swimming wasn't an issue because there are a lot of Indians where I train. But balancing swimming, school, and a social life here was different—that was a bit of a shock. Still, coming here during COVID helped me continue training. I sacrificed my comfortable life in India, my friends, and stepped out of my comfort zone to work on myself. The main goal is an Olympic medal. Unfortunately, I couldn't qualify this year… I just need to get better."
He credited his parents for being a constant source of encouragement. "My parents are really supportive. I am lucky in that sense, not many kids have the privilege of having parents who truly support their dreams. If it wasn't for my parents, I don't think I would be at this stage, or even remotely close to it. I am very thankful for that."
R Madhavan on His Son's Discipline
In an earlier interview with GQ, Madhavan opened up about the demanding nature of his son's lifestyle. "As a professional swimmer, Vedaant's day ends at eight o'clock, and then he's up again at four in the morning. It's the most demanding part of the job—not just for him, but also for his parents," he said, adding humorously, "That hour is called brahma muhurta, believed to be the most spiritually conducive time to wake up."
Admiring his son's discipline, the actor added, "He's 6'3", has a swimmer's body, and follows a hyper-disciplined lifestyle. Even eating is an exercise for him—he focuses on chewing and meal balance. I wish I had that kind of discipline; I think I'm actually quite lazy—I just get away with it by calling myself creative."
He also spoke about the bond they share, saying, "I want to be an integral part of my son's life, the kind where my future grandkids call me thatha and visit often. I want him to someday ask me, 'Dad, how did you raise me?' Of course, I can't be there for every event, but he knows I'll always show up when it matters. We don't talk every day or say 'I love you' all the time, but when he needs to talk or find a solution, I'm the one he calls."
