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Revision as of 05:04, 23 October 2004 by Rossrs (talk | contribs) (moved from Category:Indian actors and actresses to Category:Indian actors)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Padma Sree Kamal Haasan (born November 7, 1954) is an acclaimed and popular movie star from India. Hailing from Tamil Nadu in South India, he has been critically acclaimed for his various movie roles, mainly in the Tamil film industry.
He made his screen debut with the Tamil movie Kalathur Kannamma at the tender age of 5. 16 Vayathinile, in which he co-acted with Rajinikanth, established him as a popular actor. However, he got his break with K. Balachander's Telugu hit Maro Charithra. Besides Tamil, he has also performed in movies in Hindi and other languages. He has played a plethora of characters including a ventriloquist, an under-world don, a freedom-fighter, a classical dancer, a blind violinist, a dwarf clown and a mentally challenged man.
He is a three time winner of Indian National award for best actor, for the films Nayakan, Moonram Pirai, and Indian. He has also received the best actor award at the Asian Film festivals held in 1983 and 1985 for Saagara Sangamam and Swathi Muthyam, respectively.
After his first film production with his 100th movie Raja Parvai, he consistently involved himself in film making. He wrote screen plays for several of his films and finally ventured into film direction with Hey Ram, a film depicting the conflict between the revolutionaries and proponents of non-violence during the Indian independence movement.
Kamal Hassan had to rename his latest venture Sandiyar to Virumandi owing to a protest from a community in Tamil Nadu.
His unfinished projects include Maruda Naayagam.
He is also a self-professed rationalist, atheist, activist, and a follower of Periyar. Seven of his movies have been sent as India's official entry to the Oscars, more than any other person.
Social activities
- Though born to an affluent Iyengar family, Kamal denied his casteist identity.
- Along with his daughter, Kamal has donated his eyes and also offered his body for research after his death. He is the first Indian celebrity to do so.
- Kamal is a well-known follower of rationalist Periyar. In his movies, especially Anbe Sivam, he echoed atheistic doctrines.
- Kamal is the first actor who turned his fans club into service organisations.
- Kamal is the first actor to promise that he won't act in smoking scenes in movies.
Personal life
Kamal's privacy has been shattered for a long time by the media. In his early life, he was much spoken about for his relationship with Sri Devi, a famous actress of that time.
In the movie Melnaattu Marumahal, Kamal was supposed to act with Vani Ganapathy, but then he acted with Jayasudha. At that time, he fell in love with Vani and married her. The couple immediately got separated when Sarika (north-Indian), a co-actress of the movie Tic, Tic, Tic claimed that she was pregnant with Kamal's child in the early 1980s; then Kamal married Sarika.
Kamal and Sarika have two teenage daughters: Shruti and Akshara. Shruti is an audio engineering student and also a good singer. Kamal and Sarika's marriage life lasted until 2002, when media gossip about his relationship with young actress Simran drew much attention; but Simran later married her school time friend Deepak. Incidentally Kamal and Sarika don't seem to be formally divorced, but they are living separately. After about 17 years, Sarika acted in 2003 in the movie Punnagai Poove.
Now, there is media gossip that Gouthami, his previous co-star who was divorced by her husband and is the mother of a 5-year old child, is now living with Kamal in his house.
Quotes
- "The closest I feel to is Dustin Hoffman who shares many of my paradoxes. Physical appearance to begin with."
External links
- Official Website of Kamal Haasan
- Profile at Nilacharal
- Entry for Kamal Haasanin the IMDb
- Sarika portrait - Kamal wife's profile
- Kamal & Gowthami's exposed relationship! - Media gossip about Gouthami relationship