‘Want them to know what it is like being a human’: Actor Madhavan shares Hollywood star Hugh Grant's advice on keeping children away from smartphones, tablets and laptops

It is the world of electronic devices where a kid as young as 5 has a phone in their hand. But as many health experts and psychologists have been saying time and again, tech addiction is slowly becoming the doom of real human connection and mindful living. Although not apparent at first, it can slowly give rise to several physical and mental health problems. Actor R Madhavan echoes a similar sentiment. In his latest Instagram Stories entry, the Dhurandhar actor has re-shared a video of Hollywood star Hugh Grant, who spoke about the topic in a recent interview.

Hugh Grant recently shared his candid views on the impact of technology on kids in a conversation about EdTech, hosted by Close Screens Open Minds. During the interaction, the 65-year-old revealed that he takes, not breaks, but ‘holidays’ from all forms of technology. ‘It is literally the only time I feel that I am properly alive,’ he admitted.

R Madhavan agrees with Hugh Grant’s digital detox method

As per the Notting Hill actor, even the presence of electronic devices like smartphones, telephones, tablets, and laptops makes him ‘twitchy’ and uncomfortable, even if they are switched off. The BAFTA-winner confessed that he never feels ‘present’ or is able to be in the moment with a tech gadget in the room. On the contrary, when they are not with him, that’s when the actor finds true ‘bliss’.


Hugh Grant, who shares 5 children, son Felix and daughter Tabitha with his ex-flame, actress Tinglan Hong and John Mungo, Lulu and Blue with his now-wife, Swedish producer Anna Eberstein, said that he wants his kids to enjoy that ‘bliss’ where their lives do not revolve around any electronic device. ‘I want them to know what it is like to be a human being,’ he emphasised. Science-backed evidence showed that laptops has shown that laptops and smartphones are responsible for distracting students and decreasing their learning capacity.

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More on R Madhavan and Hugh Grant

The post probably struck the right chord with R Madhavan because he is also a father to 21-year-old son Vedaant, whom he shares with his wife Sarita Birje. The couple got married in 1999. Vedaant is also a national-level swimmer. Workwise, he was last seen in the blockbuster Dhurandhar 2 or Dhurandhar: The Revenge, headlined by Ranveer Singh.



Meanwhile, Hugh Grant established himself as a charming and romantic leading man in the 90s, in commercially and critically hit movies like Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994), Notting Hill (1999), Bridget Jones's Diary (2001), Two Weeks Notice (2002) and Love Actually (2003). He was more recently seen in a different avatar in the 2024 horror-thriller Heretic.