R Madhavan responds to 'sanghi' tag and Dhurandhar criticism; defends his patriotism

During a recent promotional tour for his upcoming biopic GDN, actor R Madhavan addressed the backlash he has faced over his social‑media posts and his choice of film projects. The Chennai‑born star, who has worked with director Aditya Dhar on Dhurandhar, is now preparing to portray Indian inventor Gopalswamy Doraiswamy Naidu in the August 7 release.

Madhavan said that critics have labelled him a “sanghi” because of his comments and the films he has chosen, including Dhurandhar and Rocketry: The Nambi Effect. He explained that he has been “conditioned” from childhood to love his country and that he is not aligned with any political party. “I have never shared anything against any party or its leaders. If someone has done something good, I have amplified that,” he told the hosts of Galatta Plus. He added that he supports elected leaders and that the comments he reads do not influence his decisions.

When asked how he deals with being called a “sanghi” on social media, Madhavan said it is easy to spot genuine criticism from paid bots. He stressed that everyone is a product of their conditioning and that his patriotism is sincere. The actor also clarified that he does not intend to make political statements in his work.

The criticism over Dhurandhar, which some viewers described as “propaganda” or “pro‑government,” has also weighed on the actor. Madhavan defended the film’s portrayal of India’s relationship with Pakistan, saying it simply shows how events affect India. He added that the film is not a propaganda piece and that he is simply fulfilling his role as an actor.

Madhavan’s comments about Rocketry, where former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan is shown praying, were met with backlash for being “overtly Indian.” He explained that he does not understand the criticism and that his job is to portray the truth of a character, whether that involves faith or atheism. He reiterated that his aim is to highlight India’s positive attributes and that doing so is not a crime.

GDN, directed by Krishnakumar Ramakumar, will feature a star‑studded cast that includes Sathyaraj, Priyamani, Jayaram, Dushara Vijayan, Vinay Rai and Yogi Babu. The film chronicles the life of the “Edison of India,” GD Naidu, and is set to hit screens on August 7. Madhavan, who holds a master’s degree in journalism and has worked for The Times of India and Reader’s Digest, remains a passionate movie lover and a seasoned content producer.