Actor R Madhavan and Infosys the founder Narayana Murthy May come from completely different worlds, but they once shared a memorable conversation on stage that went 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 personally requested Madhavan to conduct the session, a decision that surprised many, including the actor himself. For Madhavan, however, it was an opportunity he could not turn down, given his great admiration for the business leader.Looking back on the experience in an interview with Rediff, Madhavan said, “It was a dream, and I jumped at the chance.”The discussion mainly revolved around India’s future, especially its economic and technological growth with ASEAN countries. Madhavan revealed that he took the assignment very seriously and spent considerable time preparing for it.“The topic was India’s future in relation to Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members in growth, information technology and financial sector. So, I did not ask him any personal or irrelevant questions. My questions were related to economic growth and growth of IT in India and ASEAN countries,” he said.Despite the serious nature of the event, there were several light moments. Before the session, Murthy mentioned that his wife is a writer and philanthropist Sudha MurthyHe was a huge fan of Madhavan. During the conversation, Murthy playfully turned on the interviewer and asked the actor a few personal questions.Recalling that moment, Madhavan said, “He wanted to know who my favorite heroine was. He asked that question in front of my wife (Sarita Birje)! I very confidently told him that my favorite heroine will always be the heroine of my first film Alai Pauthey.” Shalini. Ajit and Shalini are still very good friends of mine.”The conversation then shifts to their personal lives, especially their marriage. 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 Murthy, and my wife have a lot in common, both are Maharashtrians. Both are from the same village. Narayan Murthy and I are called ‘Kolhapur’s son-in-law’!”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 Murthy.“I felt that he and Sudha Murthy still looked madly in love. I asked him, being one of the richest and most successful men in the country, how he still maintains such a romantic relationship with his wife. His answer about romance… I dare not repeat now, because I want to use it in one of my films. I’ve never described romance so technically,” she said.What began as a formal discussion on economics and technology eventually turned into an engaging exchange filled with compliments, humor and personal anecdotes, giving a rare glimpse into the personalities of both Madhavan and Narayana Murthy.On the professional front, Madhavan has recently been seen as a director Aditya DharIts ‘Dhurandhar’ (2025), starring Ranveer Singh, and its sequel, ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’ (2026).
