Madhavan admits wife Sarita was insecure as girls were ‘fond’ of him, reveals how he dealt with her anxiety: ‘If she is going to feel insecure every time…’

Actor Madhavan and his partner Sarita Birje have been married for over 27 years. In an interview with Vandana Shah, the 3 Idiots star admitted that his marriage had witnessed its share of ups and downs like an couple’s and his wife experienced insecurity at the start of their marriage.

Talking about finances on the YouTube channel For A Change, Madhavan admitted his wife was insecure with his popularity with women after he became a household name and had a chocolate boy image with films such as Alaipayuthey, Minnale etc.

“I was an actor. I was starting off and was being hailed as the chocolate boy, and girls were fond of me. Obviously, this would create an insecurity for the woman. And having this insecurity is good enough for a marriage to become unstable. I used to ask my parents what they did, and they said, ‘We decided to spend our lives together so why assume that things are going to go wrong? We are going to say things are going to go right’. They always had a joint account for everything. I said, ‘That makes a lot of sense’,” he said.


Madhavan addressed the concerns and uncertainty his wife, Sarita Birje, experienced by ensuring complete financial transparency within their marriage. He chose to make her a co-holder of their shared bank account and included her as an equal co-owner of every property they purchased together. According to the actor, he believed that if his wife ever felt uneasy while checking her finances, the best solution was for both of them to manage their money as equal partners. Instead of keeping assets or earnings separate, he wanted everything to be shared, reflecting his confidence in the strength of their relationship and his faith that their marriage would last. He explained that making financial decisions together was his way of demonstrating trust while expecting the same level of confidence from his partner.

Madhavan revealed that this philosophy of handling money proved to be highly successful throughout their married life. Because all finances were openly shared, there was never any uncertainty or confusion regarding his income or financial matters. He credited Sarita with taking charge of the family's financial planning and day-to-day management of their finances. Over the years, every major purchase, including their homes, real estate investments, and vehicles, has been registered in both their names, making them equal owners of all their assets.

Speaking lightheartedly about his own financial habits, the actor admitted that he is not someone who closely monitors his personal spending or keeps track of the family's money. Instead, he relies heavily on using his credit card for everyday expenses while leaving the responsibility of managing their wealth entirely to his wife. By placing complete trust in Sarita to oversee their finances, Madhavan believes they have built a strong partnership rooted in honesty, openness, and mutual respect. He suggested that treating each other as equal stakeholders, especially in financial matters, has played an important role in creating stability and confidence in their marriage over the years.

Sarita and Madhavan have been married since 1999. Before getting married, R. Madhavan and Sarita Birje first crossed paths in 1991 when he was conducting a public speaking course, and she was one of the participants. Their friendship gradually developed into a romantic relationship, and the couple dated for nearly eight years before deciding to marry. They eventually tied the knot in a traditional Tamil wedding held in Chennai. Together, they are parents to a son, Vedaant, who has gone on to earn recognition as a competitive swimmer.