Over the years, Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein (2001) has gone from a box-office disappointment to a cult favorite. However, modern audiences have begun to scrutinize its portrayal of romance, particularly the character played by R Madhavan, who lies and stalks the woman he loves.
R Madhavan defends Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein amid criticism of its portrayal of romance, stating that back then, “following her was the only way.”
Over the years, Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein (2001) has transformed from an underwhelming box-office performer into a beloved cult classic. However, as audiences have revisited the film through a more contemporary lens, they have begun to question its underlying themes—particularly the portrayal of romance and consent. The lead character, played by R Madhavan, is seen lying and stalking the woman he loves, yet is ultimately rewarded for his persistence.
Now, Madhavan has addressed the criticism, arguing that the film is being unfairly judged using modern or Western perspectives. Speaking on Mashable India, the actor dismissed concerns about the film’s themes, calling them an over-analysis of a cultural norm that was different at the time.
Madhavan expressed his disagreement with the backlash, stating, “I completely disagree with all this. These concepts like green flags, blue flags—these are just meaningless things said by idle people. I believe it’s important to be a gentleman. Since childhood, we were taught how to talk to women, how to approach them, and this has always been a part of our culture. Of course, there are troublemakers everywhere, but you can’t judge us using a Western yardstick.”
Defending the actions of his character in the film, he explained that in those days, especially in a city like Mumbai, there were limited ways for men to meet women. According to him, “If we wanted to meet a girl, and we genuinely loved and respected her, how else were we supposed to approach her?” He further pointed out that in Western cultures, meeting someone at a bar is deemed acceptable, while in India, traditional courtship was different.
Madhavan also emphasized that his character in RHTDM wasn’t left with many options. He argued that “Without tracking her, without following her home, you couldn’t contact her. How could anyone do it?”
The film, directed by Gautham Vasudev Menon, was a remake of his own Tamil film Minnale and marked the Bollywood debuts of both Madhavan and Dia Mirza. It also starred Saif Ali Khan in a pivotal role.
