'Breaking up over SMS is most disgusting'

Madhavan, in an honest chat about Jodi Breakers, his new film with Bipasha Basu, and how he has successfully broken unhappy jodis in real life too

You have spent 10 years in the Hindi film industry since your debut Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein (2001). How does it feel?
I am associated with some of the best films in the industry so far, from Rang De Basanti to Guru to 3 Idiots. It has been a fabulous run to get into the archives.


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After success as a solo lead in Tanu Weds Manu, do you feel more accepted in Bollywood?
I never feel confident because I have only one film in a year. If it works, great. If not, I'm screwed. I don't have energy to do more than one film a year. I don't know how people do it.
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After playing gentlemanly roles in Rang De Basanti and Tanu Weds Manu, was Jodi Breakers an image change for you?
I have done Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein and Guru too. Even the Rang De Basanti and 3 Idiots characters were quite mastikhor. But I am doing a suave, romantic role after a really long time.

After the success of Tanu Weds Manu, have you become the go-to actor for romantic roles?
If a film does well, obviously a lot of similar scripts are offered. Jodi Breakers appealed to me because it was about two people getting together to break up couplesu00a0-- not something I had seen before. The film is correctly rooted in Mumbai; it tells you the kind of struggles that couples need to fight everyday to stay together.

Another romantic film after Tanu Weds Manu?
The character I played in Tanu Weds Manu was a quiet cow. Sid, the character I play here, is a more proactive, romantic character. He is newly divorced and having a great time, especially when he sees how people in relationships have their freedom curtailed.

Did you have to go through the rehearsal grind for the dance number Kunwaara?
Not just me, my choreographers too go through a nightmare when we have to do a dance number. Unfortunately, I hurt my knee during the shoot of my Tamil film Vettai so I couldn't dance much in the song. Bipasha has danced a lot in the film.

Bipasha said she wants to marry somebody exactly like you. How did you charm her?
(Laughs) I am very flattered. I didn't do anything special to charm her.

She also wants to see a younger, fitter Maddy.
Oh, I too want to see a younger, fitter Maddy. I am dying to get back into shape and become fit.

What is the worst breakup line?
I heard that somebody broke up over SMSu00a0-- that's the most disgusting thing to do in the world.

Is it better for an unhappy married jodi to break up?
Getting a divorce gives you another chance to find the right person.
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Have you tried to break up unhappy couples?
Yes. Some of my friends were going through a really terrible time and I was able to show them how wrong they are for each other. They are all very happy now.
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Which jodi can never be broken?
That of Munnabhai and Circuit.
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What did you enjoy most about being single?
The fact that I wasn't answerable about where I was, and when I would be returning. I could stay at my friend's place or decide to sleep in the car. I enjoyed being totally carefree