Kamal Haasan (actor) career, affairs, family, facts, and more

Kamal Haasan is a famous Indian actor, director, dancer, writer, lyricist, playback singer, choreographer, and politician. Kamal is also mainly known for his works in Tamil films. He has also worked in Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi, Kannada, and Bengali films. He also has his own production company named Raaj Kamal Films International. Moreover, his company has produced several of his movies. His contributions to film have been praised by his contemporaries across the Indian film industry.

He has also been recognized as an influence on actors and filmmakers in the Tamil film industry. He has won four National Film Awards and 20 Filmfare Awards. Also, he was awarded the Kalaimamani award in 1984, the Padma Shri in 1990, the Padma Bhushan in 2014, and the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Chevalier) in 2016. Afterward, Kamal was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 15th Mumbai International Film Festival in 2013.

About Kamal Hassan

Born	7 November 1954
Age (as of 2021)	67 years
Birthplace	Tamil Iyengar family
Profession	Actor, Director, Producer, and Philanthropist
Debut	Film: Kalathur Kannamma (1959, as a child artist) Arangetram (1973)
Height	centimeters- 170 cm in meters- 1.70 m in Feet Inches- 5’ 7”
School	Sir M.Ct.Muthiah Chettiar Boys Higher Secondary School, Chennai Hindu Higher Secondary School, Chennai
Eye colour	Black
Hair colour	Black

Early life, family, and education of Kamal Haasan

Kamal Haasan was born on 7 November 1954. He was born to a Tamil Iyengar family. His father’s name is D. Srinivasan, a lawyer and a freedom fighter. Also, his mother’s name is Rajalakshmi, who was a housewife. He was first named Parthasarathy. Afterward, His father changed his name to Kamal Haasan. Moreover, His brothers, Charuhasan (born 1930) and Chandrahasan (born 1936), have also acted. He also has a sister, Nalini (born 1946), a classical dancer.

Kamal received his primary education in Paramakudi before moving to Madras (now Chennai) as his brothers pursued higher education. Afterward, he continued his education in Santhome, Madras. Moreover, Haasan was attracted to film and fine arts as encouraged by his father.

Personal life of Kamal Hassan

In 1978, when Kamal Haasan was 24, he married dancer Vani Ganapathy. She also later acted with Haasan in the 1975 movie Melnaattu Marumagal. Afterward, she worked as Haasan’s costume designer for several films. However, they divorced ten years later.

Afterward, he and actress Sarika began living together in 1988. They also got married after the birth of their first child, Shruti (born 1986). Shruti is also a singer and a Tollywood-Kollywood actress. Kamal’s and Sarika’s younger daughter, Akshara (born 1991), was assistant director for 2013’s Vishwaroopam. However, Sarika soon stopped acting soon after their marriage. Later, Sarika also worked as Haasan’s costume designer for the movie Hey Ram and won the National Film Award for Best Costume Designer. In 2002, they filed for divorce, which became final in 2004.

From 2005 to 2016, Kamal was in a relationship with actress Gautami his frequent co-star during the late 1980s and early 1990s. However, she had announced on her blog that she had ended her relationship with him.

Career

Early in his career, Kamal Haasan co-starred in several films with Srividya. He also visited Srividya on her deathbed in 2006. 

1960–1963

When a physician friend of his mother visited A. V. Meiyappan (AVM) to treat his wife, she brought Haasan with her. Impressed by his demeanor AVM’s son, M. Saravanan, recommended him for their production Kalathur Kannamma. Haasan 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 (1962). Upon his father’s encouragement, he joined a repertory company (T. K. S. Nataka Sabha) headed by T. K. Shanmugam.[14] In the meanwhile, he continued his education at the Hindu Higher Secondary School in Triplicane. Moreover, His time with the theatre company shaped Haasan’s craft and kindled his interest in makeup.

1970–1975

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 (1971) and Kasi Yathirai (1973). In the former he had a supporting role and worked as an assistant director. His first full-fledged role came in K. Balachander’s Tamil film Arangetram (1973). Balachander cast him as the antagonist in his Sollathaan Ninaikkiren (1973). Haasan went on to do supporting roles in films such as Gumasthavin Magal (1974), Aval Oru Thodar Kathai (1974) 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. He played a rebellious young man who falls in love with an older woman. For this character portrayal, Haasan learned to play the mridangam. The role won him his second Filmfare Award.

1976–1979

In 1976, Haasan appeared Balachander’s Manmadha Leelai. Then, he acted in Oru Oodhappu Kan Simittugiradhu (directed by S. P. Muthuraman), winning his third Filmfare Award. Haasan later appeared in the Balachander drama Moondru Mudichu. In 1977, he also starred in his first Kannada film, Kokila, the directorial debut of friend and mentored Balu Mahendra. That year Kamal also appeared in a Bengali movie, Kabita, a remake of the Tamil film Aval Oru Thodar Kathai. In 1978, he made his Telugu film debut with a lead role in the cross-cultural romantic Maro Charitra, directed by Balachander. Kamal first played opposite the Sridevi in the 1977 Malayalam movie Satyavan Savithri directed by P.G. Viswambharan; this combination was later well-accepted and celebrated. In the 1979 Telugu film Sommokadidi Sokokadidi, Haasan played two parts.

After a two-year hiatus from Indian cinema, he decided against reviving Marudhanayagam. Also, in 2000, Kamal Hassan appeared in the comedy Thenali as a Sri Lankan Tamilian with PTSD who is under a psychiatrist’s care.

In 2004, he appeared in Vasool Raja MBBS, a remake of Bollywood’s Munna Bhai M.B.B.S., with Sneha, which was a box-office success. Afterward, In 2008’s Dasavathaaram, Kamal played ten roles; the film was released in several languages (including Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi) throughout India and overseas.

As a writer

Kamal Haasan has written many of his films, including Raja Paarvai (1981), Thevar Magan (1992), Hey Ram (2000), Aalavandhan (2001), Virumaandi (2004), Dasavathaaram (2008), Vishwaroopam (2013), and many more. Also, he publishes his magazine ‘Mayyam’ through the Kamal Haasan’s welfare association (Narpani Iyakkam). His views are posted in “Thedi Theerpom Va” by his fan club.

Political career

Kamal Haasan also launched his political party ‘Makkal Needhi Maiam (People’s Justice Centre)’ on 21 February 2018. Hassan’s party was also contested for the first time in the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections.

Awards

• Padma Shri in 1990
• Padma Bhushan in 2014
• Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Chevalier) by the Government of France in 2016
• Rashtrapati Award for the Best Child Artist for the film “Kalathur Kannamma” in 1960
• Abraham Kovoor National Award for Humanist Activities in 2004
• Kalaimamani by Government of Tamil Nadu 1980
• Honorary Award Government of Kerela 2010
• Special Achievement Award by United Progressive Alliance in 2010
• Best Actor for the film “Saagara Sangamam” in 1983
• Also, Best Actor for the film “Swathi Muthyam” in 1986
• Best Actor for the film “Indrudu Chandrudu” in 1989

He has also won 8 awards in the best actor category; the first one being in 1977 for the film “16 Vayathinile” and a mention in the second-best cinema for the film “Thevar Magan” in 1992.

Kamal has also won an award in Best Actor – Special Jury for the film “Pammal K. Sambandam” in 2002.

• Best Actor for the film “Moondram Pirai” in 1983
• Best Actor for the film “Nayakan” in 1988
• Also, best Regional Film (producer) for the film “Thevar Magan” in 1992
• Best Actor for the film “Indian” in 1996

Some interesting facts about Kamal Haasan

• Kamal Haasan wanted to be a film director.
• Also, Kamal is the only Indian actor whose seven films made an entry to the Oscars.
• Haasan’s film Nayaganis also listed among the top 100 greatest films ever made by TIME magazine.
• He is also a trained Bharatanatyam dancer.

• Moreover, Kamal was the first Indian actor to get a salary of 1 crore (INR) in 1994.
• He has donated his body to Madras Medical college after his life.
• His film, Raja Paarvai was also the first Indian film with visual effects and animation.
• Throughout his acting career, Kamal has suffered more than 30 fractures while performing the stunts.

Also read: Vijay Sethupati