R Madhavan jokes that white women now see Indian men as entrepreneurs, not flirts

Actor R Madhavan recently shared a humorous observation about how perceptions of Indian men abroad have changed over the years. Speaking on BookMyShow’s Unscripted show alongside his De De Pyaar De 2 co-stars Ajay Devgn, Rakul Preet Singh, and Meezan Jafri, Madhavan recalled that earlier, when Indian men travelled overseas, “gori ladkiyan (white women)” would often be wary of them, assuming they were trying to flirt.

However, he said this stereotype has now shifted entirely. “When we used to go abroad and go to a bar, all the white women would look at us like we were there to hit on them. Now, it’s such that when an Indian enters a space, four white women walk towards him thinking he’s an entrepreneur and they want to say hello,” Madhavan quipped, adding that he hasn’t yet seen this confident, successful image of Indian men reflected in films.

The actor also discussed how male characters in cinema have evolved and spoke about his excitement to collaborate with new-age directors. “With years of experience behind me, I want to blend my learnings with a filmmaker’s fresh storytelling approach. What gets in the way is the ‘filmyness’ of the industry—many still make stories to please their mentors,” he said.

About De De Pyaar De 2

Directed by Anshul Sharma, De De Pyaar De 2 is the sequel to Akiv Ali’s 2019 hit romantic comedy. The film stars Ajay Devgn, Rakul Preet Singh, Gautami Kapoor, Meezan Jafri, and Madhavan in pivotal roles. Produced by T-Series Films and Luv Films, the movie is slated to release in theatres on November 14, 2025.