R Madhavan enjoys a huge fan following and is considered one of the most loved actors in Indian cinema. However, his son Vedaant decided to take a different path and has now developed his own share of fame, being a swimmer. He has often represented India at several platforms and aspires to win an Olympic medal for the country. But there are certain values which Madhavan has imbibed in his son since a young age. While he has expressed pride towards his son’s achievements, the ‘Dhurandhar’ actor reflected on the values he consciously tried to instil in his son while raising him. Madhavan explained that although he grew up in a middle-class household, his success later enabled him to provide Vedaant with nearly everything he desired. However, he also understood that abundance could create its own challenges for a child.“One of the most important skills a child should have is the attitude of gratitude. Although we came from a very middle-class background, I was able to afford everything Vedant wanted because of the kind of success God bestowed upon me. But I also realised that came with its own set of challenges.”He said he wanted Vedaant to recognise that the comforts and privileges he enjoyed were not automatic, but the result of someone else’s dedication and hard work. “I realised there were two things I needed to teach Vedant. One was the attitude of gratitude. It’s very important for children to know that they are privileged because somebody else has worked their backside off to give them this lifestyle,” he said in an interview with Radhika Gupta on the YouTube channel 100 Year Life Project by ACKO. To make that lesson more tangible, Madhavan would often use simple, everyday examples. He revealed that he would compare the cost of expensive gifts or toys with the annual earnings of people who worked for the family. “Sometimes I would tell him the salary of my cook and say, ‘Do you know what this toy you’ve been gifted costs? This man would have to work an entire year, living in that kitchen, to afford even a part of it.’ That struck Vedant a lot.”According to the actor, such conversations helped Vedaant develop an appreciation for his privileges rather than taking them for granted. Madhavan also emphasised that gratitude alone was not enough; he wanted his son to treat every person with equal dignity, regardless of profession or social standing.“The second thing I made sure Vedant did was acknowledge everyone, the liftman, the guard, the drivers, the ayahs. I told him not to address them casually but respectfully, as didis and bhaiyas.” For Madhavan, this was not merely about etiquette or politeness, but about teaching awareness and empathy.“It’s not just about good manners. It’s about situational awareness. I wanted my child to be aware of where he is, who he’s dealing with, and to greet people who may not have as much money.” He shared that the moments that made him feel most fulfilled as a parent were when others noticed Vedaant’s respectful behaviour. “If the watchman came and said, ‘Your son is a very polite child. He always says namaste to me,’ I felt my job was well done.”Through these lessons, Madhavan said he hoped to raise not just a successful athlete, but a grounded and compassionate human being.
