Premium30 years later, Madhoo reveals regret over not appreciating Mani Ratnam after Roja success
Madhoo noted that at one point she was irked by the thought that Roja was overshadowing all her other work.
Aravind Swamy and Madhoo Shah in a still from Roja
Last Updated: 05.42 PM, Feb 25, 2024
In a candid revelation, seasoned actress Madhoo opened up about her early years in the film industry, expressing regret for her youthful arrogance and recognizing the pivotal role of late iconic director-producer K Balachander and filmmaker Mani Ratnam in shaping her career.
"In my youthful arrogance, I never considered anyone in the industry as my godfather or godmother. Even in all my interviews during that time, I gave full credit to myself. I would not make such statements now as I have understood life. Now I will give credit to Balachader sir," she humbly admitted.
Balachander's impact on her career
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Reflecting on her entry into the industry, she recalled Balachander's instrumental role in casting her for the lead role in the film Azhagan, opposite Mammootty. This opportunity paved the way for her iconic portrayal of the titular character in Roja , a film produced by Balachander.
She revealed an interesting tidbit about the audition process for Roja, sharing that Mani Ratnam had auditioned over 200 girls before finding the right actor for the role. Her exceptional performance in Roja became a turning point in her career.
Expressing her regrets, she disclosed that she wishes she had kept in touch with her colleagues in the industry, acknowledging the value of maintaining professional relationships.
'Mani Ratnam deserved the credit'
She also noted that at one point she was irked by the thought that Roja was overshadowing all her other work.
"When Roja became a hit, I didn't think much of it, as I was going through a great phase in my career, and it seemed I could not star in the wrong film. But now, I consider Roja as a god's gift. Even after all these years of my absence from the industry, people still remember me from that film," she shared with Siddharth Kannan.
Reflecting on her earlier mindset, she admitted, "At the time, I didn't think Mani sir did me any favour. I was like, 'Mani sir was a director. He wanted a Roja, and I happened to be his Roja. What's so special about that?' This was my attitude."
The actress acknowledged that her initial self-made stance, without considering others' support, led to an ego-centric approach, resulting in broken relationships. "Mani sir deserved the credit. I should have told him at the time," she lamented.
She further revealed that a misconstructed newspaper headline played a role in causing a rift in her relationship with Mani Ratnam.