Kamal Hasan's Biography

Kamal Haasan is a renowned Indian actor, director, producer, screenwriter, playback singer, and lyricist who has been actively working in the Indian film industry for over five decades. He is considered to be one of the most versatile and accomplished actors in Indian cinema, with an extensive filmography that includes over 200 movies across multiple languages.

Early Life and Education

Kamal Haasan was born on November 7, 1954, in Paramakudi, a small town in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. He was the youngest of four siblings, and his parents were both lawyers. His father, D. Srinivasan, was a well-known criminal lawyer, and his mother, Rajalakshmi Srinivasan, was a housewife.

Haasan's interest in acting was evident from a young age, and he made his acting debut at the age of four in the Tamil film "Kalathur Kannamma" in 1959. The film was a critical and commercial success, and Haasan won the President's Gold Medal for his performance.

Despite his early success, Haasan continued to focus on his education and completed his schooling at the Hindu Higher Secondary School in Chennai. He went on to study at the Loyola College in Chennai, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in literature.

Career Beginnings

Haasan's career in the film industry began in the late 1960s when he worked as a child artist in several Tamil films. He then transitioned to playing supporting roles in Tamil and Telugu films in the 1970s.

In 1975, Haasan had his breakthrough role in the Tamil film "Apoorva Raagangal," directed by K. Balachander. The film was a critical and commercial success, and Haasan's performance was widely praised. He continued to collaborate with Balachander on several films, including "Moondru Mudichu" (1976), "Manmadha Leelai" (1976), and "Maro Charitra" (1978).

Haasan also began to explore his talents as a writer and wrote the script for the Tamil film "Virumaandi" (2004), which was directed by him and starred him in the lead role.

Film Career

Haasan's career as a leading man in Indian cinema began in the late 1970s, and he quickly established himself as a versatile actor who could excel in a variety of roles. He worked in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, and Malayalam films and earned critical acclaim and commercial success across all these languages.

Haasan's notable films from the 1970s and 1980s include "16 Vayathinile" (1977), "Sigappu Rojakkal" (1978), "Moondram Pirai" (1982), "Saagara Sangamam" (1983), "Swathi Muthyam" (1986), and "Nayakan" (1987).

In the 1990s, Haasan began to take on more experimental and unconventional roles and explored his talents as a filmmaker. He wrote, directed, and starred in the Tamil film "Hey Ram" (2000), which was a critical and commercial success. The film explored the partition of India and Pakistan and the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi.

Haasan's other notable films from the 1990s include "Thevar Magan" (1992), "Indian" (1996), "Avvai Shanmughi" (1996), and "Chachi 420" (1997).

In the 2000s, Haasan continued to experiment with his roles and worked on several critically acclaimed and commercially successful films. Some of his notable films from this decade include "Anbe Sivam" (2003), "Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu" (2006), "Dasavathaaram" (2008), and "Vishwaroopam" (2013).

Haasan's most recent film, "Indian 2," is currently in production and is expected to release in 2023.

Haasan has also explored his talents as a singer and has lent his voice to several film songs. He has won several awards for his contributions to Indian cinema, including four National Film Awards, 19 Filmfare Awards, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Indian film industry.

In addition to his work in Indian cinema, Haasan has also worked on international projects. He starred in the English-language films "The Great Father" (1992) and "Hey Ram" (2000) and appeared in the French film "Un Plus Une" (2015).

Political Career

In recent years, Haasan has become increasingly involved in politics and has founded his own political party, the Makkal Needhi Maiam (People's Justice Centre), in 2018. The party's goal is to promote good governance, social justice, and the welfare of the people.

Haasan has been a vocal critic of corruption and has advocated for political reform in India. He has also been involved in several social causes, including promoting education and supporting the rights of women and marginalized communities.

Personal Life

Haasan has been married twice and has two daughters. He was first married to classical dancer Vani Ganapathy from 1978 to 1988. He then married actress Sarika Thakur in 1988, and they divorced in 2004. Haasan has two daughters from his second marriage, Shruti Haasan and Akshara Haasan, both of whom are actresses.

Haasan has been open about his struggles with depression and has spoken out about mental health issues. He has also been involved in several charitable organizations and has supported various causes, including education, healthcare, and disaster relief.

Conclusion

Kamal Haasan is a versatile and accomplished actor who has made significant contributions to Indian cinema over the past five decades. He has worked across multiple languages and has explored his talents as a writer, director, producer, singer, and lyricist. Haasan has won several awards for his contributions to Indian cinema and has been involved in politics and social causes in recent years. His legacy as one of the most talented and influential actors in Indian cinema is likely to endure for many years to come.