Madhavan has spoken openly about the reactions he is getting regarding his recently released film. stalwartDirected by Aditya Dhar, co-starring Ranveer Singh. In conversation with Esquire India, Madhavan shares his thoughts on the film’s journey, its criticism and the resilience of the industry.
On the opposition of Dhurandhar, R. Madhavan breaks his silence: “Don’t take a dig at the industry like an outsider”
“When I heard stalwart And saw the impeccable research done by Aditya Dhar, the fearlessness of the man, the uniqueness of his storytelling – these were the signals I got before the release of my film. I knew it was going to have an impact on society. There will be people who will first give it a very poor rating, and then there will be people who will suddenly go and be surprised, ‘Wow, this happened’,’ Madhavan said.
The actor did not shy away from addressing the negativity the film faced even before it hit the theatres. He commented, “You are free to express your opinion, but even before the film was released, obituaries had been written and upon its release, you posted a review calling it a disaster. Wonder if there is an agenda.”
Madhavan also stressed that such criticism can have an emotional impact on people in the industry. “But as actors, we thrive in this situation. Please don’t forget, no matter what your opinions and agenda are, we are very much a family, and this is our job, no matter how much you like or dislike a product or a person. Don’t take a dig at the industry like an outsider. We’ve had enough of that already.”
stalwartReleased on December 5, 2025, it is the first installment of a two-part series. Written, directed and co-produced by Aditya Dhar under the banner of Jio Studios and B62 Studios, the film stars Ranveer Singh, Akshay Khanna, R. Artists like Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, Sara Arjun and Rakesh Bedi are included. Taking inspiration from real-life geopolitical tensions and covert R&AW operations, the film is performing well at the box office and is being appreciated for its entertaining story and high-octane action sequences.
With Madhavan’s powerful words echoing the challenges and camaraderie of Bollywood, the film continues to inspire conversations both for its cinematic ambition and the discourse it ignites.
Bollywood News – Live Updates
Follow us for latest Bollywood News, New Bollywood Movies update, Box Office Collection, New Movies Release, Bollywood News Hindi, Entertainment News, Bollywood Live News Today & Upcoming Movies 2025 and stay updated with latest hindi movies only on IHNS.
