Madhavan now has a captain's license but the cost leaves him afraid to check his bank account

R Madhavan has revealed that the costliest purchase of his life is not just a luxury buy but something that helped him achieve a long-time personal goal. The actor shared that buying a yacht in Dubai allowed him to earn a captain's license, though he also admitted that money still makes him uneasy and he avoids checking his bank balance too closely. Speaking to Rannvijay Singha on an episode of Mashable's Dubai Journey series, Madhavan said his yacht was never meant to be a status symbol. Instead, it was linked to a dream he had carried for years.

He admitted that finances continue to make him uncomfortable despite his successful acting career. "I am really insecure about my bank account. I really do not know how much I have and how much I can afford to scrutinise it, because I don't know what will come of it. I have a broad understanding of how much I have," he said.

The actor explained that he prefers having only a rough idea of his finances instead of constantly tracking every detail.

Learning a new skill during the pandemic

Madhavan said he has made it a personal habit to learn a new skill every year. During the COVID-19 pandemic, that goal led him towards boating, eventually helping him qualify as a licensed captain.

"I have a captain's license. I want to make every new year significant with a new skill I have learnt. During COVID, my new skill was earning my captain's license and learning to navigate a boat," he said.

In another conversation with Curly Tales, the actor described the vessel as "a simple, small boat" that is enough for his family. He also explained that getting the license was more straightforward than many people imagine.

"During COVID, the new skill I learned was getting my captain’s license and learning to navigate a boat. It’s not that difficult. You sit and study for 10-15 days, you give exams and practicals, and they give you a license," he said.

For Madhavan, the boat became a way to enjoy time on the water while also putting his newly acquired skills into practice.

'The best purchase of my life'

The actor has spoken about the yacht on multiple occasions. Earlier, during an interview with Ranveer Allahbadia, he called it the most expensive purchase he has ever made and said he has no regrets about it.

"The most expensive thing I have bought... Oh, crap. So, I bought a yacht. And I bought it because I always wanted to take a captain's license. So, now I'm a licensed captain and I enjoy the best purchase of my life. It gives me maximum pleasure. And all my friends come, and they treat it as their own. And the boys are there, and they are like, Maddy yar, you have cracked it," he said.

According to reports, the yacht is estimated to be a 30-40-foot vessel valued somewhere between $500,000 and $2 million (around Rs 4 crore to Rs 15 crore), although Madhavan himself has only referred to it as a small family boat.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by R. Madhavan (@actormaddy)

Dubai move for son Vedaant's career

Madhavan had shifted his family to Dubai Marina to support his son, Vedaant Madhavan, who has represented India in competitive swimming. The relocation gave Vedaant access to world-class training facilities as he pursued his international swimming career.

Apart from the yacht, Madhavan reportedly owns luxury cars and motorcycles, including a Mercedes-Benz, a Range Rover, a Yamaha V-Max, a BMW K1600 GTL and a Ducati Diavel. Even so, he says the yacht remains the biggest purchase of his life, not because of its price tag, but because it fulfilled a dream that went beyond owning an expensive asset.