Madhavan once grew 70% of his vegetables on his Mumbai terrace, revived barren land in TN

Actor-filmmaker R Madhavan is well-known for his work in cinema, but his interests extend beyond acting. He has a passion for organic farming, which he showcased by growing various vegetables on his Mumbai terrace. His love for farming did not stop there, as he and his brother once transformed a barren piece of land in Tamil Nadu into a thriving coconut plantation using modern, organic, and ancient indigenous methods of agriculture.

This project was a rewarding experience for Madhavan and his brother, and he plans to replicate the success in other locations around India and the world. In a 2017 interview with the Times of India, Madhavan shared his motivation for taking up organic farming, citing growing concerns about the nutritional value of modern produce and the spread of genetic modification as primary reasons.

He began researching organic farming while working on a script and found it to be extremely rewarding. His terrace garden takes care of almost 70% of his seasonal vegetable requirements, growing crops such as lady's finger, aubergine, broccoli, tomatoes, cucumbers, and other seasonal vegetables. Madhavan also provided seven tips for developing and sustaining a terrace garden, including starting with good organic soil, choosing organic seeds carefully, exploring local sourcing options, ensuring enough sunlight, maintaining good air circulation, avoiding overwatering, and protecting young plants from harm.