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Madhavan defends keeping parrot as pet
Mumbai, July 27 He was voted as the "cutest vegetarian" in a poll, but now actor Madhavan is being questioned for keeping a pet parrot at home.

"I'm aware of the laws against keeping wild animals at home. And, yes, I do have an African parrot at home. But I took that parrot under my wing after its original owners abandoned it," Madhavan said.

"If I had left it out, it would've been eaten by crows. And the parrot is like my son. It isn't caged. It runs around the house freely. I also have two dogs that are more famous than I am," he said.

The actor of "Rehna Hain Terre Dil Mein" fame said he was proud to be voted as the "cutest vegetarian" in the poll conducted by the NGO, People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

"I've been a part of PETA from the time I became a film actor. I'm flattered to be chosen by them. Though let me tell you I think there are far cuter and better looking vegetarians in the entertainment industry like John Abraham and Shahid Kapoor," said Madhavan, also known as Maddy.

"In fact, Shahid has converted to vegetarianism whereas I've been one all my life. So I think his achievement is far more commendable. I don't understand people who say they are meat eaters on Saturday or Sunday and vegetarians for the rest of the week. Either you are or you are not," the actor said.

Maddy cuts short the theory that meat-eaters are stronger people. "No, that's a fallacy. I think we veggies like Arnold Schwarzenegger, John Abraham are healthier. I've never fallen ill with stomach related diseases. These are ailments defined by non-vegetarian food. When you are ill, the first thing the doctors say is: avoid non-veg food.

"I'm not entirely against meat eating. I'm against the way animals are taken to slaughterhouses. Once you see how the animals are carted to be killed you'd never want to eat meat again. It's so cruel and inhuman! How can anyone with family and children eat those animals after seeing them being dragged away?"

The actor, who enthralled audiences in Mani Ratnam's "Guru" this year, is all praise for the projects undertaken by PETA.

"They're very proactive. They actually make a difference to the lives of the animals. They're not just an idea and a philosophy. They actually go out there and stop inhuman treatment of animals."
 

Madhavan plays journalist in Mani Rathnam's 'Guru'

Actor R. Madhavan plays a journalist for the first time in Mani Rathnam's much discussed "Guru". Says Maddy: "I've always been on the other side of the firing line. Now I know how it feels to be asking the questions." Reliving the experience of shooting with his mentor, Maddy says: "'Guru' is going to be no ordinary film. Trust me, I've worked thrice with Mani, including the Tamil versions of 'Saathiya' and 'Yuva'. Never have I seen him so charged. Mani wanted to go into the various time passages in 'Guru' chronologically. He waited for all our dates, and then did it in one go."Maddy is happy to have worked with Abhishek Bachchan.

Mani-Madhavan team up again
By Subhash K. Jha,

Mumbai, June 2  Mani Ratnam has finally roped in blue eyed boy R. Madhavan for a parallel lead in his Hindi film "Guru", starring Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai in key roles. 

It's been one helluva musical chairs for Ratnam. After casting Abhishek in the title role in "Guru", there was a flurry of names considered and discarded for the other male lead - Saif Ali Khan, John Abraham, Viveik Oberoi and Madhavan to name a few.

Madhavan had, in fact, been a hotly speculated name since he's been a favourite of Ratnam from the time the actor did his first Tamil film "Alai Payuthe" with him.

"I'd happily do the part if Mani sir offered it to me," Madhavan had said when rumours of his inclusion in "Guru" first did the rounds. 

Ratnam has ultimately gone to his old favourite Madhavan to play the desperately vacant parallel part. Actress Vidya Balan can sigh in relief because she finally has a leading man in the film.

Though Madhavan isn't allowed to talk about it, the deal was signed just before he sneaked off to London to lose weight since the role requires the actor to match strides and personality with the sprightly Abhishek. 

Says a source close to both Mani and Madhavan: "Maddy (Madhavan) was over the moon when Mani sir finally asked him to do the role. In fact, Maddy was wondering why Mani sir was hunting around when 'ghar ka' hero was in front of him. 

"Don't forget they have done neo-classics like "Alai Payuthe", "Kannathil Muthamittal" and the Tamil version of "Yuva" where Maddy played Abhishek's character. The two are almost like family. So it's no surprise if Maddy bailed Mani sir out."

Apparently the director gave his favourite hero a distress call. "Maddy didn't even want to hear the role. He immediately said yes," added the source.

A further incentive for doing the film is Abhishek - Madhavan and Abhishek are genuinely fond of each other. If Maddy played Abhishek's role in "Yuva", Abhishek was the original choice for the lead in "Saathiya" the Hindi remake of Mani Rathnam's "Alai Payuthe".

Incidentally, Sanjay Gupta has roped in Madhavan for another Hindi film. 
 

No run-of-the-mill roles for me: Madhavan (INTERVIEW)
By Subhash K. Jha,

Mumbai, April 28 Actor R. Madhavan, whose first English language film "Nothing But Life" is complete, says he doesn't want to be part of hackneyed plots any more.

"I have almost completed my first English-language film. 'Nothing But Life', directed by Rajiv Anchal, was shot in Mexico. It is the story of two people battling for their lives in the emergency unit of a hospital. We plan to take it to international festivals before releasing it in India," Madhavan told IANS.

"Again, like 'Rang De Basanti', it is a film that takes risks with audiences' tastes, pre-empts trends and bends the rules. I am at a juncture in my career where I no longer want to do run-of-the-mill roles. Even my new Tamil film, 'Thambi', is a crusader's fight for justice. But we have avoided violence as much as possible. 

"In one sequence where we needed to show blood on screen, we changed the colour scheme to a sepia tone. Somehow blood in colour looks really frightening. I don't want to be part of anything that glamorises violence."

So impressed was the south censor board by director Seeman's violent treatise on non-violence that they passed the film with a 'U certificate'. 

"Thambi" opened with a record 120 prints across Tamil Nadu.

"I have never had such a wide release before. Can you believe it? 'Thambi' is an action film. And it's suited for children. I think we need to make films that reflect reality without losing a hold on basic aesthetic and moral values. 

"'Rang De Basanti' does just that. I am so happy to be part of a film that has grown into a cult work in just weeks. I'd go as far as to say 'Rang De Basanti' is the most important film of my career."

IANS