'Dheeran' helped me break the mould: Rajesh Madhavan on playing the unlikely hero

‘Dheeran’, directed by Devadath Shaji, hit theatres recently and has been making waves, not just for the compelling camaraderie between its veteran cast, but also for placing actor Rajesh Madhavan in a space he hasn’t explored before: that of a full-fledged hero. Known for his understated and often comedic performances, Rajesh takes a leap with ‘Dheeran’, playing a more intense and grounded character named Eldhose.

In a conversation with Onmanorama, Rajesh opened up about what drew him to the film, how it felt stepping into this new role, and what it was like sharing the screen with seasoned actors like Jagadish, Manoj K Jayan, and Ashokan.

A role that arrived at the right time
“When Dheeran came to me, I really liked the script,” Rajesh said. “The director, Devadath Shaji, and I go way back—we worked together on 'Kumbalangi Nights' where I was an associate director and he was an assistant. That existing rapport made it easier to say yes. But beyond that, I really liked the story and the opportunity to act alongside some of Malayalam cinema’s finest. I consider myself lucky.”

Rajesh added that Devadath’s clarity and vision as a debut director made a strong impression on the cast. “It didn’t feel like it was his first film. He had a solid process, and we all enjoyed working under his direction. If people feel the actors performed well, the credit goes to him.”

Working with veterans
Talking about the experience of working with actors like Jagadish and Manoj K Jayan, Rajesh called it “unimaginable.” “I had a bit of an inhibition initially. These are immensely talented people. But they were so welcoming that I soon felt completely at ease. Those early scenes with them—I was nervous. But once we got going, it became fun. If audiences are laughing at the jokes in the movie, it’s thanks to them. The whole set was a joy to be on.”

Action, seriousness, and breaking the mould
Unlike his previous roles, 'Dheeran' demanded Rajesh to step into unfamiliar physical territory. “This was my first time doing so many action sequences. But I won’t say it was tiring, I knew what I was getting into. In fact, I was excited. I enjoyed the whole process.”

As for the character of Eldhose, Rajesh appreciated the chance to take on something serious after a string of lighter roles. “When people see you in comedic roles often, they start associating you with just that. So it was great to be trusted with a more intense role. I really wanted to break away from that image, and I think 'Dheeran' gave me that opportunity.”

Despite differences in their upbringings, Rajesh says he found Eldhose relatable. “I know a lot of people like him. We may not come from the same place, but his struggles and resilience felt familiar to me.”

Redefining what it means to be a ‘hero’
Rajesh also reflected on what it meant to lead a film as the ‘hero’. “With my body structure, I know I’m not what people usually imagine when they think of a conventional hero. But in Dheeran, the heroism lies in Eldhose’s determination to overcome his challenges. That made me believe I could do it. And the support I received from everyone on set helped build that confidence.”

What’s next?
Rajesh is now looking forward to wearing a different hat again, that of a director. “My next project is my directorial venture, and I’m really excited about that. It’s something I’ve been working toward for a while.”
From assistant director to comedic scene-stealer to unlikely hero, Rajesh Madhavan’s career has taken an interesting path—and with ‘Dheeran’, it feels like he’s just getting started.