R Madhavan defends stalking in his film, "it was the only way to approach women back then"
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Actor R Madhavan has addressed the long-standing criticism surrounding his 2001 film Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein (RHTDM), which has often been called out for its problematic portrayal of romance.
Over the years, while the film gained a cult following, many have pointed out how the lead character engages in stalking and deception to win over the female protagonist, yet faces no consequences.
Speaking to Mashable India, Madhavan dismissed these criticisms, arguing that the film was being unfairly judged by Western standards.
He rejected the idea that such behavior should be viewed negatively, saying, "I completely disagree with all this talk about green flags and red flags. These are meaningless things created by idle people. Being a gentleman is what truly matters. Since childhood, we were taught how to talk to and approach women, and this has always been a part of our culture. Of course, there are troublemakers everywhere, but you can’t judge us based on a Western yardstick."
Madhavan went on to justify the lead character’s actions in the film, claiming that in the past, there were no other ways to approach women. He questioned those who call the film problematic, saying that in cities like Mumbai, men who truly loved and respected a woman had no choice but to follow her in order to meet her.
"Tell me, how else could one meet a woman back then? In the past, if someone fell in love, they had to track the woman, follow her home, and then find a way to contact her. There was no alternative. In Western countries, people meet at bars, and that's considered normal. But in our society, this was the only way," he argued.
Madhavan also defended his character Madhav Shastri, insisting that he had no other option but to follow the female lead, played by Dia Mirza.
Directed by Gautham Vasudev Menon, Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein was a remake of his Tamil film Minnale and marked the Bollywood debut of both Madhavan and Dia Mirza. The film, also featuring Saif Ali Khan, did not perform well at the box office upon release but later gained immense popularity among audiences.