Kamal Haasan
Name: Kamal Haasan
Nickname: Aandavar, Universal Hero
Birthday: 7th November 1954
Known For: Kamal Haasan is known to be an actor is one of the highest Oscars submissions in Indian cinema. However, none of the movies were nominated.
Height: 5’7”
Weight: 76kg
Debut Film: Kalathur Kannamma
Marital Status: Divorced
Spouse: Sarika (1998-2004), Vani Ganapathy (1978-1988)
Children: Shruti Haasan, Akshara Haasan
Relationships: Simran Bagga (Rumoured), Gautami Tadimalla
Awards: Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, NTR National Award, Asianet Film Award for Popular Tamil Actor, Filmfare Award for Best Actor, 2 Filmfare Awards South (Malayalam) for Best Actor, 8 Filmfare Awards South (Tamil) for Best Actor, 3 Filmfare Awards South (Telugu) for Best Actor, Filmfare Award South (Kannada) for Best Actor, 2 National Film Awards for Best Actor (Tamil), Zee Cine Award for Best Actor in a Comic Role
Zodiac: Scorpio
Biography:
Kamal Haasan is an Indian actor, filmmaker, director, lyricist, playback singer, choreography, and politician. He primarily works in Tamil cinema and has also worked in Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Kannada, and Bengali films. Haasan’s contributions to film have been praised by his contemporaries across the Indian film industry, and he has been recognized as an influence for actors and filmmakers in the Tamil film industry.
He was born to D. Srinivasan, who was a lawyer and freedom fighter, and Rajalakshmi, who was a housewife. Haasan was married to the dancer Vani Ganapathy. They divorced ten years later. Haasan and actress Sarika began living together in 1988, got married after the birth of their first child, Shruti Haasan, who is a singer and an actress. His younger daughter, Akshara Haasan is also an actress.
Kamal Haasan was recommended by M. Saravanan for Kalathur Kannamma. He won the Rashtrapati Award (President’s gold medal) for his performance in Kalathur Kannamma at age six and starred in five more films as a child. He debuted in the Malayalam film industry with Kannum Karalum in 1962.
Upon his father’s encouragement, he joined a repertory company headed by T. K. Shanmugam. In the meanwhile, he continued his education at the Hindu Higher Secondary School in Triplicane. His time with the theatre company shaped Haasan’s craft and kindled his interest in makeup.
After a seven-year hiatus from films, Haasan returned to the industry as a dance assistant, apprenticing under choreographer Thankappan.
During this time, Haasan made brief appearances in some films including a few uncredited roles. His first appearance came in the 1970 film Maanavan, in which he appeared in a dance sequence. He went on to assist Thankappan in films such as Annai Velankani and Kasi Yathirai.
His first full-fledged role came in K. Balachander’s Tamil film Arangetram in 1973. Balachander cast him as the antagonist in his Sollathaan Ninaikkiren. Haasan went on to do supporting roles in films such as Gumasthavin Magal in 1974, Aval Oru Thodar Kathai, and Naan Avanillai. The same year, he played his first lead role in the Malayalam film, Kanyakumari, for which he won his first Filmfare Award.
In Tamil cinema, he had his breakthrough as a lead actor in Balachander’s Apoorva Raagangal. For this character portrayal, Haasan learned to play the mridangam. The role won him his second Filmfare Award. In 1976, Kamal Haasan appeared Balachander’s Manmadha Leelai; this was followed by Oru Oodhappu Kan Simittugiradhu, directed by S. P. Muthuraman, which won him his third Filmfare Award. Haasan later appeared in the Balachander drama Moondru Mudichu.
His next role was in 1977’s Avargal; for this role, he learned ventriloquism. It was remade in Telugu as Idi Katha Kaadu in 1979, with Haasan reprising his role. Kamal’s next project 16 Vayathinile won him a fourth consecutive Best Actor award. In 1977 Haasan starred in his first Kannada film, Kokila, the directorial debut of friend and mentor Balu Mahendra.
That year he also appeared in a Bengali film, Kabita, a remake of the Tamil film Aval Oru Thodar Kathai. In 1978 Haasan made his Telugu film debut with a lead role in the cross-cultural romantic Maro Charitra, directed by Balachander. His fifth consecutive Filmfare Award resulted from Sigappu Rojakkal. He appeared in the Malayalam film Eeta, for which he won his sixth Filmfare Award. He first played opposite Sridevi in the 1977 Malayalam movie Satyavan Savithri directed by P.G. Viswambharan, this combination was later on well-accepted and celebrated.
In the 1979 Telugu film Sommokadidi Sokokadidi, Haasan played two parts. This was also his first collaboration with director Singeetam Srinivasa Rao. He appeared in the musical Ninaithale Inikkum, Neeya and Kalyanaraman.
Kamal Haasan’s films during the 1980s included 1980 Tamil-language Varumayin Niram Sivappu, the film was simultaneously shot in Telugu as Aakali Rajyam. In 1980 he appeared in the drama film Ullasa Paravaigal, Guru, and Maria My Darling. Haasan made his debut in Hindi cinema with Ek Duuje Ke Liye in 1981, the remake of his own acted Telugu-language film Maro Charitra directed by K. Balachander.
He made his 100th film appearance in 1981 in Raja Paarvai, debuting as a producer. Despite the film’s relatively poor box-office performance, he earned him a Filmfare Award. After a year of starring in commercial films, Haasan won the first of three National Awards for Best Actor for his portrayal of a schoolteacher caring for an amnesia patient in Balu Mahendra’s Moondram Pirai, later reprising his role in the Hindi version, Sadma.
During this period he focused on Bollywood remakes of his Tamil films, including Yeh To Kamaal Ho Gaya and Zara Si Zindagi. In 1983 the actor appeared in Sagara Sangamam, directed by K. Viswanath. After 1984’s multistarrer Raaj Tilak, Haasan appeared in Saagar in 1985. The film was India’s representative for the Best Foreign Language Oscar in 1985. He left Bollywood temporarily after Geraftaar and Dekha Pyar Tumhara to feature in Japanil Kalyanaraman.
In 1986, Haasan produced the technically brilliant Vikram and collaborated with Kodandarami Reddy for Oka Radha Iddaru Krishnulu and then K. Viswanath in Swathi Muthyam. It was India’s entry for Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards in 1986. These Tollywood films found him a large audience in Andhra Pradesh, and many of his later Tamil films were dubbed into Telugu.
Following Punnagai Mannan and Kadhal Parisu, Kamal Haasan appeared in Mani Ratnam’s 1987 film Nayakan. Nayakan was submitted by India as its entry for Best Foreign Language Film at the 1987 Academy Awards and is on the Time’s All-Time 100 Movies list. Haasan appeared in his only silent film to date, Pushpaka Vimana in 1987.
Next year, he appeared in Unnal Mudiyum Thambi, Malayalam film Daisy and Sathyaa which were his productions. Haasan’s all four films of 1989 were a major success, Apoorva Sagodharargal, then Chanakyan, later Vettri Vizhaa, and finally Haasan played two parts in Indrudu Chandrudu. By the end of the 1980s, Haasan was successful in the Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu, and Hindi film industries, with Filmfare Awards in each industry and two national awards.
In 1990, Michael Madana Kama Rajan saw Haasan build on Apoorva Sagodharargal by playing quadruplets. Haasan won successive Best Actor awards for his portrayal of deranged, obsessive protagonists in Gunaa and Thevar Magan. Haasan won his third National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil as a producer for Thevar Magan. The film was India’s submission for the Academy Awards that year.
He next appeared in several more movies including, Singaravelan, Maharasan, Kalaignan, Mahanadhi, Nammavar, and Sathi Leelavathi. Haasan resumed his collaboration with K. Viswanath in the Telugu film, Subha Sankalpam, and starred in Kuruthipunal (Tamil), while simultaneously shot in Telugu as Drohi with Arjun Sarja and won Filmfare Best Actor.
Haasan’s success in the latter was followed by his third National Film Award for Best Actor for Indian. Haasan also won Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor and Filmfare Best Actor for Indian. The film was India’s submission for the Academy Awards.
It was reported that Chiranjeevi charged Rs. 12.5 million per film and which is the highest ever remuneration for any Indian hero then. In 1994, Haasan became the first actor to charge 15 million per film. Haasan next played a woman in the comedy Avvai Shanmughi, which was inspired by Mrs. Doubtfire. He chose Shantanu Sheorey to direct the Hindi remake of Avvai Shanmughi, Chachi 420, but after dissatisfaction with five days of shooting Haasan took over as director.
In 1997 Haasan began directing an unfinished biopic of Mohammed Yusuf Khan, Marudhanayagam; forty-five minutes of the film and a trailer was shot. Marudhanayagam was expected to be the biggest, most expensive film in Indian cinematic history and Kamal’s magnum opus. Several well-known actors and technicians had been signed, and it was launched at a public ceremony by Queen Elizabeth during her 1997 visit to India.
Although the film failed to materialise due to budget constraints, Haasan expressed an interest in reviving the project. In 1998, he appeared in Singeetam Srinivasa Rao’s romantic comedy, Kaathala Kaathala opposite Prabhu Deva. The film was a commercial success and was dubbed in Hindi as Mirch Masala, which was never released.
After a two-year hiatus from Indian cinema, Haasan decided against reviving Marudhanayagam. He directed his second film, Hey Ram. Haasan produced and choreographed the film, writing its screenplay and lyrics; it was India’s submission for the Academy Awards that year.
Hey Ram was a box-office failure in India but was successful worldwide. Also in 2000, Haasan appeared in the comedy Thenali, starring Malayalam actor Jayaram. It was a box-office success. Haasan’s next film was 2001’s Aalavandhan, in which he played two roles: For one he had his head shaved and gained ten kilograms. To play the other Army major in Aalavandhan, he went to the NDA for a crash course. Despite pre-release publicity, the film was a commercial failure.
After several successful comedies, including Pammal K. Sambandam and Panchatanthiram, and guest appearances, Haasan directed Virumaandi, which won the Best Asian Film Award at the Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival. He also appeared in Anbe Sivam with Madhavan. Priyadarshan, its original director, left and Sundar C. completed the film. His performance was praised by critics.
In 2004 Haasan appeared in Vasool Raja MBBS, a remake of Bollywood’s Munna Bhai M.B.B.S., with Sneha which was a box-office success. The following year, he wrote and starred in the comedy Mumbai Xpress. Released during Tamil New Year, it was a disappointment at the box office despite positive reviews. He appeared Kannada language comedy film Rama Shama Bhama with Ramesh Aravind.
In 2006 Haasan’s long-delayed project, the stylish police story Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu was a success. In 2008’s Dasavathaaram, he played ten roles; the film was released in several languages, including Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi, throughout India and overseas. Dasavathaaram, written by Haasan and director K. S. Ravikumar, is one of the first modern science-fiction films made in India. Starring Haasan and Asin Thottumkal, it was the highest-grossing Tamil film in 2008 and his performance was critically praised.
In Canada, Dasavathaaram was the first Tamil film distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. After that, Haasan directed a film tentatively titled Marmayogi, which stalled after a year of pre-production. He then produced and starred in Unnaipol Oruvan, a remake of the Bollywood film A Wednesday. It was released in Telugu as Eeenadu. Both versions were critically acclaimed and commercially successful.
Haasan collaborated for the fifth time with Ravikumar in Manmadan Ambu, for which he also wrote the screenplay. The film was released in 2010 to mixed reviews. Kamal Haasan’s next film after Manmadhan Ambu was 2013’s Vishwaroopam, released in Hindi as Vishwaroop. Muslim groups in Tamil Nadu demanded the ban of the film and claimed that the film would hurt Muslim sentiments.
Although the film was cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification of India, district collectors in the state of Tamil Nadu gave orders to the theatre owners to not show Vishwaroopam, citing law and order problems. However, the film was released in other states with greater Muslim populations than in Tamil Nadu.
A mutual agreement with the Muslims of Tamil Nadu was finally settled on 2 February 2013, when Haasan accepted to mute five scenes. Vishwaroopam was the highest-grossing Tamil film of 2013. In 2014, he was appointed as the official Indian delegate to the 67th Cannes Film Festival.
After 2 years of Vishwaroopam s release, Uttama Villain was released in 2015 with exceptional critical reviews. Papanasam a Tamil remake of the Malayalam film Drishyam was released with positive reviews and became a huge success, followed by the bi-lingual Thoongaa Vanam and Cheekati Rajyam, both doing moderate business. He also appeared in Vishwaroopam II in 2018.
Controversy: Kamal Haasan, who is sometimes known as the ‘King of Controveries’, once faced backlash for his movie ‘Hey Ram.’ Political parties protested against the movie as they found the portrayal of Mahatma Gandhi to be in a negative light.
Latest News: Recently, Kamal Haasan made the news for quitting Bigg Boss Ultimate. The actor was the host of the reality show and will be replaced by Silambarasan.
Latest Movies: Vishwaroopam 2
Latest Series: Bigg Boss Ultimate
Upcoming Movies: Vikram, Sabhash Naidu
