R Madhavan Says Pee Scene In Shaitaan Made Him Uncomfortable: ‘Had To Make It Disgusting'

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2 days ago

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R Madhavan says he felt deeply uncomfortable filming the urination scene in Shaitaan and reveals how he used a blanket to avoid looking and change the tone.
R. Madhavan, who chillingly portrayed the antagonist in the psychological horror hit Shaitaan, recently opened up about the emotional and psychological toll of certain intense scenes from the film. In a new promotional interaction with Kajol for her upcoming horror film Maa, Madhavan reflected on one particular moment that left him deeply unsettled on set.
The conversation, shared by JioStudios on YouTube, saw Kajol asking Madhavan if there were any scenes in Shaitaan that felt too disturbing or realistic to perform. Madhavan candidly responded, referencing a scene in which his character forces his on-screen daughter to dance all night, resulting in her wetting herself out of sheer physical strain.
'It was a very sensitive scene," Madhavan said. 'There's this moment where I make my daughter dance through the night. She reaches a point where she can't hold it anymore and urinates. In the original version of the film, the approach to the scene was different. But here, I realized that even as a villain, if I looked at her during that moment, it would send out a completely different message. I needed the audience to feel disgust—not pity or justification."
Madhavan explained how he changed his physical performance to reflect that discomfort. 'So, I wrapped myself in a blanket, deliberately avoiding looking at her. That decision not only worked for the character but gave me relief as an actor. I could step away emotionally while still staying true to the role. I simply tell the mother, 'Can you go help your daughter?'"
He further added, 'There were many such moments during filming that made me deeply uncomfortable. But I had to find ways to stay authentic while protecting myself emotionally."
Shaitaan, directed by Vikas Bahl, is the Hindi adaptation of the 2023 Gujarati film Vash. It stars Ajay Devgn, Jyotika, and Janki Bodiwala alongside Madhavan in a dark and sinister role. The film, which follows a family held hostage by a mysterious man who exerts mind control over their daughter, was both a critical and commercial success, grossing over ₹100 crore at the Indian box office.
Madhavan's raw honesty adds another layer to a performance that was already haunting—showing how even seasoned actors have to wrestle with the moral and emotional weight of their roles, especially in films that tread psychological depths.
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