Hyderabad, Mar 29 (IANS): Actor R. Madhavan on Tuesday thanked three important women in his life for bagging the Leading Role Male award at the second edition of IIFA Utsavam 2017 for his performance in critically-acclaimed Tamil sports drama "Irudhi Suttru".

In the film, directed by Sudha Kongara, the "Tanu Weds Manu" actor played a washed-up boxing coach with serious anger issues.

Talking on the occasion, an elated and proud Madhavan said: "I need to thank three women wholeheartedly for this project. Firstly, Ritika Singh for investing four years during the most important phase of her life."

He also thanked his director.

"Not only is Sudha a phenomenal director, she's the kind of director an actor would like to surrender. I'm grateful to her," he said.

Madhavan said he couldn't have pulled off this project sans the support of his wife.

"In these last four years, I have been cranky on several occasions. Nevertheless, she was my pillar of support," he added.

The film, which has been remade in Telugu as "Guru", releases in cinemas on Friday.