Actor R Madhavan and Infosys Founder Narayana Murthy They may have come from completely different worlds, but they once shared an unforgettable conversation on stage that reached far beyond the world of business and economics. This interaction took place during the India-Singapore Expo in August 2007, when Madhavan was invited to interview Murthy in front of a live audience.What made the event even more special was that Murthy personally asked Madhavan to chair the meeting, a decision that surprised many, including the actor himself. However, for Madhavan, it was an opportunity that he could not refuse as he had great admiration for the business leader.Recalling the experience in an interview with Rediff, Madhavan said: “It was a dream come true and I jumped at the chance.”Discussions centered around India’s future, particularly its economic and technological growth vis-à -vis ASEAN countries. Madhavan revealed that he took the task very seriously and spent a lot of time in preparation.“The topic was India’s future in terms of growth, information technology and finance vis-à -vis the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members. Therefore, I did not ask him any personal or irrelevant questions. My questions were related to economic growth and information technology development in India and ASEAN countries,” he said.Despite the serious nature of the event, there were some lighter moments. Before the meeting, Murthy mentioned his wife, author and philanthropist Sudha Murtyis a huge admirer of Madhavan. During the conversation, Murthy jokingly turned to the interviewer and asked the actor some personal questions.Recalling the moment, Madhavan said, “He wanted to know who my favorite heroine was. He asked the question in front of my wife (Sarita Birje)! I told him very safely that my favorite heroine will always be the heroine of my first film, Alai Payuthey. That was Shalini. Even today, Ajith and Shalini remain my good friends. “The conversation then turned to their personal lives, specifically their marriage. Madhavan revealed that he and Murthy found an interesting connection through their wives.“Then, he asked me how I met my wife. It seems his wife Sudha Murty and my wife have a lot in common, being Maharashtrian. Both hail from the same village. Narayana Murthy and I are known as the ‘son-in-law of Kolhapur’!”While Madhavan didn’t ask too many personal questions, there was one aspect of Murthy’s life that fascinated him – the enduring romance between him and Sudha Murty.“Even now, I think he and Sudha Murthy look madly in love. I asked him how he could still maintain such a romantic relationship with his wife despite becoming one of the richest and most successful men in the country. His answer to romance… I dare not repeat it now because I want to use it in one of my films. I’ve never heard romance described so professionally,” he said.What started as a formal discussion about economics and technology turned into an engaging exchange filled with admiration, humor and personal anecdotes, providing a rare glimpse into the personalities of Madhavan and Narayana Murthy.On the professional front, Madhavan recently worked as a director Adityadar“Durandhar” (2025) starring Ranveer Singh and its sequel “Durandhar: The Revenge” (2026).
