Rang De Basanti (2006) – Flight Lt. Ajay Rathod

Though a smaller role, his love story with Soha Ali Khan’s character added emotional depth to the film

Minnale (2001) – Rajesh Shivakumar

The Tamil original of Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein, where he plays a love-struck romantic who pretends to be someone else to woo a woman

Tanu Weds Manu Returns (2015) – Manu

Continues his romantic journey with Tanu while navigating the entry of her lookalike Kusum. One of his most layered romantic roles

Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein (2001) – Maddy / Madhav Shastri

A cult classic where Madhavan plays a passionate lover who impersonates someone else to win over a girl (Dia Mirza). Still one of his most beloved romantic roles

Dumm Dumm Dumm (2001) – Adhitya

A romantic comedy where two people about to be married try to break the alliance but end up falling in love

Alaipayuthey (2000) – Karthik

A Mani Ratnam classic where he plays a young man who marries in secret, portraying romance post-marriage with intense realism. It was also his Tamil film breakthrough

Jodi Breakers (2012) – Sid

A romantic comedy where he starts off breaking couples, only to fall in love (opposite Bipasha Basu)

Priyamaana Thozhi (2003) – Ashok

A triangle of love and friendship, where he tries to maintain the balance between love and platonic bonds

Run (2002) – Siva

An action-romance where he falls for a girl from a conservative family, leading to dramatic confrontations

Guru (2007) – Shyam Saxena

A romantic subplot with Vidya Balan, where he plays a principled journalist who deeply loves a terminally ill woman

Decoupled (2021) [Web Series, Netflix] – Arya Iyer

A satire on modern marriage, where romance takes the form of conflict, honesty, and unexpected warmth

Aap Jaisa Koi (2025)- Shrirenu Tripathi 

The film stars R. Madhavan as Shrirenu Tripathi, a reserved Sanskrit professor, and Fatima Sana Shaikh as Madhu Bose, an enthusiastic French instructor. The film explores the complexities of finding love and companionship amidst societal expectations and patriarchal norms

Tanu Weds Manu (2011) – Manoj Sharma / Manu

A shy, honest doctor who falls for the wild and unpredictable Tanu (Kangana Ranaut). His quiet romanticism struck a chord