Actor R Madhavan and Infosys founder Narayana Murthy may come from completely different worlds, but they once shared a memorable conversation on stage that went far beyond business and economics. The interaction took place during the India-Singapore Exposition in August 2007, where Madhavan was invited to interview Murthy in front of a live audience.What made the event even more special was that Murthy had personally requested Madhavan to conduct the session, a decision that surprised many, including the actor himself. For Madhavan, however, it was an opportunity he couldn’t refuse, given the immense admiration he had for the business leader.Looking back on the experience in an interview with Rediff, Madhavan said, “It was a dream come true, and I just grabbed the opportunity.”The discussion largely revolved around India’s future, particularly its economic and technological growth in relation to ASEAN countries. Madhavan revealed that he took the assignment extremely seriously and spent considerable time preparing for it.“The topic was the future of India with respect to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members in growth, in IT and the financial sector. So, I did not ask him any personal or unrelated questions. My questions were related to the economic growth and the growth of IT in India and the ASEAN countries,” he said.Despite the serious nature of the event, there were several lighthearted moments. Before the session, Murthy had mentioned that his wife, author and philanthropist Sudha Murty, was a huge admirer of Madhavan. During the conversation, Murthy playfully turned interviewer and asked the actor a few personal questions.Recalling the moment, Madhavan said, “He wanted to know who my favourite heroine was. He asked that question in front of my wife (Sarita Birje)! I told him very safely that my favourite heroine would always be the heroine of my first film, Alai Payuthey. That is Shalini. Ajith and Shalini are very good friends of mine even today.”The conversation then shifted to their personal lives, particularly their marriages. Madhavan revealed that he and Murthy discovered an interesting connection through their wives.“Then, he asked me how I met my wife. It seems his wife, Sudha Murty, and my wife share a lot in common, both being Maharashtrians. Both are from the same village. Narayana Murthy and I are called the ‘sons-in-law of Kolhapur!’”While Madhavan refrained from asking too many personal questions, there was one aspect of Murthy’s life that fascinated him—the enduring romance between him and Sudha Murty.“I felt he and Sudha Murty look madly in love even now. I asked him, despite becoming one of the richest and one of the most successful men in the country, how he still maintains such a romantic relationship with his wife. His answer on romance… I dare not repeat now, because I want to use it in one of my movies. I have never heard romance so technically described,” he said.What began as a formal discussion on economics and technology eventually turned into an engaging exchange filled with admiration, humour, and personal anecdotes, offering a rare glimpse into the personalities of both Madhavan and Narayana Murthy.On the professional front, Madhavan was most recently seen in director Aditya Dhar‘s ‘Dhurandhar’ (2025), starring Ranveer Singh, and its sequel, ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’ (2026).
