Ranganathan Madhavan (born 1 June 1970) is an Indian actor, writer and film producer. He has been described as one of the few actors in India who is able to achieve pan-Indian appeal, appearing in films from seven different languages. Madhavan has received two Filmfare Awards, an award from the Tamil Nadu State Film Awards alongside recognition and nominations from other organisations. Madhavan began his acting career with television guest appearances, including a role on the Zee TV prime-time soap opera Banegi Apni Baat in 1996. After appearing in commercials and in small roles, he later gained recognition in the Tamil film industry through Mani Ratnam's successful romance film Alaipayuthey (2000). In addition to his acting career, Madhavan has worked as a writer on his films, hosted television programmes and has been a prominent celebrity endorser for brands and products.[5] He has also worked as a film producer, first making Evano Oruvan with Leukos Films, before setting up Tricolour Films to produce Saala Khadoos (2016). Madhavan is noted for his philanthropic activities and promotes various causes such as environment, health and education. He is particularly vocal about the protection of animals and was awarded PETA's Person of the Year recognition in 2012.

Filmography

• 2026Dhurandhar: The Revenge — Ajay Sanyal
• 2026G.D.N — GD Naidu, Producer, Writer
• 2025Aap Jaisa Koi — Shrirenu Tripathi
• 2025De De Pyaar De 2 — Rakesh Khurana
• 2025Dhurandhar — Ajay Sanyal
• 2025Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh — Neville McKinley
• 2025Test — Saravanan
• 2024Hisaab Barabar — Radhe Mohan Sharma
• 2024Shaitaan — Vanraj Kashyap
• The Railway Men - The Untold Story of Bhopal 1984 — Rati Pandey
• 2022Amriki Pandit — Purab
• 2022Dhokha: Round D Corner — Yathaarth Sinha
• 2022Rocketry: The Nambi Effect — Nambi Narayanan, Writer, Director, Producer
• Decoupled — Arya Iyer
• 2021Maara — 'Maara' Manimaaran
• 2020Nishabdham — Anthony
• 2020Putham Pudhu Kaalai — Narrator (segment "Ilamai Idho Idho")
• Breathe — Danny Mascarenhas
• 2018Savyasachi — Arun Raj
• 2018Zero — Kartik Srinivasan
• 2017Magalir Mattum — Surendar (Cameo)
• 2017Vikram Vedha — Vikram
• 2016Irudhi Suttru — Prabhu Selvaraj, Screenplay
• 2015Night of the Living Dead: Darkest Dawn — Tom
• 2015Tanu Weds Manu: Returns — Manoj 'Manu' Sharma
• 2013Sunglass
• 2012Jodi Breakers — Sid
• 2012Vettai — Thiru Murthy
• 2011Tanu Weds Manu — Manoj "Manu" Sharma
• 2010Manmadhan Ambu — Madanagopal
• 2010Om Shanti — RJ Maddy (extended cameo)
• 2010Teen Patti — Prof. Shantanu Biswas
• 20093 Idiots — Farhan Qureshi
• 2009Guru En Aalu — Guru
• 2009Sikandar — Lt. Col. Rajesh Rao
• 2009Yavarum Nalam — Manohar
• 2008Mumbai Meri Jaan — Nikhil Agarwal
• 2008Vaazhthugal — T. Kadhiravan
• 2007Aarya — Aarya
• 2007Delhii Heights
• 2007Evano Oruvan — Sridhar Vasudevan, Co-Producer
• 2007Guru — Shyam Saxena
• 2006Rang De Basanti — Ajay Rathod
• 2006Rendu — Sakthi / Kannan
• 2006Thambi — Thambi Velu Thondaiman
• 2005Priyasakhi — Sandhana Krishnan (Sakhi)
• 2005Ramji Londonwaley — Ramnarayan Tiwari (Ramji), Dialogue, Screenplay
• 2004Aayitha Ezhuthu — Inbasekaran
• 2004Aethiree — Subramani aka 'Bottle' Mani
• 2004Nothing but Life — Roby Thomas
• 2003Anbe Sivam — Anbarasu
• 2003Jay Jay — Jagan
• 2003Lesa Lesa — Deva Narayanan (Guest Appearance)
• 2003Nala Damayanthi — Ramji Narayanaswami Iyer
• 2003Priyamaana Thozhi — Ashok
• 2002Dil Vil Pyar Vyar — Krish Kumar
• Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai
• 2002Kannathil Muthamittal — Thiruchelvan
• 2002Run — Siva
• 2001Dum Dum Dum — Adhithyan
• 2001Minnale — Rajesh Shivakumar
• 2001Paarthale Paravasam — Dr. Madhava
• 2001Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein — Madhav "Maddy" Shastri
• 2000Alaipayuthey — Karthik Varadharajan
• 2000Ennavale — James Vasanthan
• Saaya — Shekhar
• 1998Shanti Shanti Shanti — Siddhartha
• Ghar Jamai — Malayatoor Subramaniam Namboodiripad (Subbu)
• 1997Operation Cobra — Inspector Ravi
• 1996Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin — Singer in Club (Uncredited Role)
• Banegi Apni Baat — Ashley
• Adhirshtasaali
• Bridge
• Circle
• Legacy
• Shaitaan 2
• Untitled Comedy Film

Appearances as themselves (5)

• Mega Icons — Self - Host
• The Final Table — Self
• 2011Big in Bollywood — Himself
• 2008Halla Bol — Himself (uncredited)
• C.I.D. — Self