I invested three years of my life in 'Irudhi Suttru', says actor Madhavan

Actor Madhavan has dedicated three years of his life to this film which is releasing on January 29. A Tamil-Hindi bilingual, Irudhi Suttru​ (Final Round) / Saala Khadoos is a story about a boxing coach and his student. Madhavan, or Maddy as he is popularly known, says that he had the best team in director Sudha Kongara, Shashikanth of Y Not Studios and Bollywood director-producer Rajkumar Hirani. The trailer has created quite a buzz with people appreciating the actor's looks in the film. In an exclusive chat with dna, Madhavan takes us through the journey of making this film.

Irudhi Suttru is a different film for the Tamil audience. Are you worried about how they will react?
My good friend Anand L Rai gave me some good advice - he told me, do not judge your audience. Today, the audience is far ahead of us and very smart. I’m very sure the Tamil audience will lap it up if it’s a good film and I think it’s a good film.

Why do you think director Sudha Kongara approached you for the role of Prabhu Selvaraj?
Because I’m the only nutcase who’ll do an out-of-the-box subject, who’ll give up three years of my life and do what it takes for the film. (Laughs)

Watch the trailer of Irudhi Suttru here:

And you got your boxer’s physique by being a vegetarian.
Transforming anything about your body can be as easy or as tough as you want to make it. That is a lesson I have learnt. Most people make it tough on themselves because they make it time-bound. They want to look like Aishwarya Rai or Deepika Padukone in two months. They fail to realise that it has taken these ladies years of conditioning to achieve that look. If you give yourself enough time and do it sincerely, then it’s easy. I took two years to get the look of a boxing coach. Initially, I would go to the gym for 15 mins every day to just get over the fear of working out, then I got a trainer whose mentality matched mine and he eased me into it. In two years’ time, I was lifting weights which I’d never done before in my life! The toughest thing is to give yourself time.

Is there more focus on boxing in India today because of MC Mary Kom? 
For sure. Mary Kom brought to light that women’s boxing exists in the first place. As a sportsperson, she has spectacularly achieved what other countries would have made a hue and cry about, but in India it’s like ‘Oh she’s a world champion.’ Mary Kom the movie has brought to light women’s boxing and Irudhi Suttru will take it to a whole new level because the film is based on two life stories.

Madhavan in the film

Do you think you’ve reached the pinnacle of your career now?
I have been fortunate enough to have my leg in two film industries (Hindi and Tamil). The reaction in the Hindi film industry is ‘How can Maddy do this after Tanu Weds Manu?’, how can this chocolate boy turn into a khadoos. But I’ve done this sort of role before in Tamil. I don’t think I am remotely close to the height of my career. I think I’m beginning the glory that I’m capable of.