Kamal Haasan, born as Parthasarathy Srinivasan, is a renowned Indian film actor who has left an indelible mark on Indian cinema. The Bollywood actor With a career spanning over six decades, Haasan’s contributions to the film industry have been monumental and multifaceted, earning him the title of ‘Ulaga Nayagan’ or ‘Hero of the World’.
Early Life and Upbringing
Born on November 7, 1954, in Paramakudi, Tamil Nadu, India, Haasan was introduced to the world of cinema at a tender age of four. His father, D. Srinivasan, was a lawyer, and his mother, Rajalakshmi Srinivasan, a homemaker.
Haasan’s early education took place at Sir M.Ct.Muthiah Chettiar Boys Higher Secondary School and Hindu Higher Secondary School in Chennai.
Personal Life – Age, Zodiac Sign
| Personal Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Kamal Haasan |
| Nickname | Universal Hero |
| Alternative Names(s) (also known as) | Alwarpettai Andavar |
| Date of Birth | 7 November 1954 |
| Age (as of 2023) | 69 Years |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Zodiac Sign | Scorpio |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Birthplace | Paramakudi, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Hometown | Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Current Address | Alwarpet, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Education Qualification | High School Dropout |
| Hobbies and Interests | Reading, Writing, Singing, Dancing |
| Languages Known | Tamil, Hindi, English, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, Bengali |
| Social Media Profiles link (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) | Facebook, Instagram, Twitter |
| Wikipedia Profile link | Wikipedia |
| IMDb Profile link | IMDb |
| Website link | N/A |
Physical Appearance – Height, Weight, Body Measurements
| Physical Stats | Information |
|---|---|
| Body Type | Slim |
| Body Measurements (Chest – Waist – Hips) | 40-34-14 inches |
| Height in feet, inches, cm | 5’ 7″, 170 cm |
| Weight in kg, lbs | 76 kg, 167 lbs |
| Chest | 40 inches |
| Waist | 34 inches |
| Biceps | 14 inches |
| Eye Colour | Black |
| Hair Colour | Black |
| Hairstyle | Short and Curly |
| Distinctive Features | Sharp Nose, Expressive Eyes, Mole on the Left Cheek |
| Tattoos | N/A |
Family and Relationships – Girlfriend/Wife, Affairs
Haasan has been married twice. His first marriage was with dancer Vani Ganapathy in 1978, which ended in divorce in 1988. He then married actress Sarika Thakur in 1988, and they divorced in 2004.
From his marriage with Sarika, he has two daughters, Shruti Haasan and Akshara Haasan, both of whom are actresses. Post-divorce, Haasan was in a live-in relationship with actress Gautami Tadimalla from 2005 to 2016.
| Relationships Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Marital Status | Divorced |
| Spouse – Wife | Vani Ganapathy (1978-1988), Sarika Thakur (1988-2004) |
| Father | D. Srinivasan (Lawyer) |
| Mother | Rajalakshmi Srinivasan |
| Children | Shruti Haasan (Actress), Akshara Haasan (Actress), Subbalakshmi |
| Siblings | Chandrahasan (Brother), Charuhasan (Brother, Actor), Nalini Raghu (Sister) |
| Affairs – Girlfriend(s) | Gautami Tadimalla (Actress, 2004-2016) |
| Significant Relationships | N/A |
Rise to Stardm
Haasan has been married twice. His first marriage was with dancer Vani Ganapathy in 1978, which ended in divorce in 1988. He then married actress Sarika Thakur in 1988, and they divorced in 2004. From his marriage with Sarika, he has two daughters, Shruti Haasan and Akshara Haasan, both of whom are actresses.
Post-divorce, Haasan was in a live-in relationship with actress Gautami Tadimalla from 2005 to 2016.
Kamal Haasan – Debut Film – Kalathoor Kannamma (1960)
Kamal Haasan – Successful Film – Vikram (2022)
Career, Awards, and Achievements
Haasan’s illustrious career is adorned with numerous accolades. He has won four National Film Awards, two Filmfare Awards, and a record 17 Filmfare Awards South. His film “Hey Ram” was India’s official entry to the Oscars in the Best Foreign Film category.
In 2016, the French government honored Haasan with the ‘Chevalier’ Award for his outstanding contribution to Indian cinema.
| Career Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Profession(s) | Actor, Director, Producer, Screenwriter, Playback Singer, Television Presenter, Politician |
| Debut Film | Kalathur Kannamma (1959, as a child artist), Arangetram (1973, as a lead actor) |
| Notable Roles | Raja in Apoorva Raagangal (1975), Srinivas in Moondram Pirai (1982), Balakrishna in Sagara Sangamam (1983), Velu Naicker in Nayakan (1987), Appu and Raja in Apoorva Sagodharargal (1989), Shaktivelu in Thevar Magan (1992), Senapathy in Indian (1996), Saketh Ram in Hey Ram (2000), Nandu in Anbe Sivam (2003), Virumaandi in Virumaandi (2004), Raghavan in Vettaiyadu Vilayadu (2006), Ten Roles in Dasavatharam (2008), Vishwanath in Vishwaroopam (2013), Vikram in Vikram (2022) |
| Recent Films – New Movies | Vikram (2022), Indian 2 (2022) |
| Upcoming Films | Thalaivan Irukkindran (2023), Marudhanayagam (TBA) |
| Popular Television Series | Bigg Boss Tamil (2017-2021), Neengalum Vellalam Oru Kodi (2013) |
| Awards and Achievements | Four National Film Awards, Nine Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, Four Nandi Awards, One Rashtrapati Award, Two Filmfare Awards, Seventeen Filmfare Awards South, Kalaimamani Award (1984), Padma Shri (1990), Padma Bhushan (2014), Prix Henri-Langlois French Award (2016), Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Chevalier) (2016) |
| Endorsements/Brand Collaborations | Pothys, Thumbs Up, Jeevan Blood Bank, GRT Jewellers, PETA India, Henko, Lloyd, Paragon |
| Philanthropy/Charity Work | Children’s Cancer Relief Fund, Hridayaragam 2010, Tamil Nadu Flood Relief, Kerala Flood Relief, COVID-19 Relief |
| Professional Associations | Makkal Neethi Miami (Political Party), Raaj Kamal Films International (Production Company), Kamal Haasan Welfare Association (Fan Club) |
| Training and Education | Learned Bharatanatyam from T. K. Mahalingam Pillai, Learned Kuchipudi from Vempati Chinna Satyam, Learned Acting from K. Balachander |
| Production Company | Raaj Kamal Films International |
| Box Office Success – Hit Movies | Nayakan (1987), Apoorva Sagodharargal (1989), Thevar Magan (1992), Indian (1996), Dasavathaaram (2008), Vishwaroopam (2013) |
| Critical Acclaim Movies | Moondram Pirai (1982), Sagara Sangamam (1983), Pushpaka Vimana (1987), Hey Ram (2000), Anbe Sivam (2003), Virumaandi (2004) |
Assets and Finances – Net Worth
| Financial Profile | Information |
|---|---|
| Net Worth in Rs. and Dollars | Rs. 900 Crore, $100 Million |
| Per Movie Charges in Rs. and Dollars | Rs. 30 Crore, $4 Million |
| Per Endorsement Charges in Rs. and Dollars | Rs. 2 Crore, $270,000 |
| Sponsorship Deals | Pothys, Thumbs Up, Jeevan Blood Bank, GRT Jewellers, PETA India, Henko, Lloyd, Paragon |
| Business Ventures | Raaj Kamal Films International, Kamal Haasan Welfare Association |
| Investments | Real Estate, Stocks, Mutual Funds |
| Real Estate Holdings | Bungalow in Alwarpet, Chennai, Farmhouse in Kelambakkam, Chennai, Properties in Mumbai and Hyderabad |
| Luxury Items/Properties Owned | Rolex Watch, Harley Davidson Bike, Vintage Car Collection |
| Cars Collection | Audi A8, Hummer H3, Range Rover, Toyota Corolla, BMW 7 Series |
Favorite Things, Likes and Dislikes
| Favorite Things | Information |
|---|---|
| Favorite Actor | Nagesh, Shivaji Ganesan, M.G. Ramachandran, Rajesh Khanna |
| Favorite Actress | Sridevi, Sripriya |
| Favorite Film | Bicycle Thief, Mughal-e-Azam, Sholay |
| Favorite Music Bands | Naushad, Ilaiyaraaja |
| Favorite Sport | Cricket |
| Favorite Books | Amma Vandhaal by Thi. Janakiraman, Marapasu by Thi. Janakiraman |
| Favorite Color | Black |
| Favorite Food | Karimeen Fish |
| Things s/he like | Reading, Writing, Singing, Dancing, Acting, Directing |
| Things s/he dislike | Violence, Corruption, Casteism, Communalism |
Top 5 Best Films – Kamal Haasan
| Film Name | Year of Release | Character Played |
|---|---|---|
| Nayakan | 1987 | Velu Naicker |
| Indian | 1996 | Senapathy |
| Hey Ram | 2000 | Saket Ram |
| Dasavathaaram | 2008 | 10 roles |
| Vishwaroopam | 2013 | Vishwanathan |
Controversies – Kamal Haasan
- His film “Thevar Magan” faced criticism for equating violence with the Thevar community.
- “Hey Ram” faced protests from political parties for allegedly portraying Mahatma Gandhi negatively.
- The title of his film “Virumandi” was changed from “Sandiyar” after a political party claimed that the original title could incite caste-related violence.
- A song in “Manmadan Ambu” was removed after right-wing groups claimed it was obscene.
- His film “Viswaroopam” faced opposition from various groups, leading to threats against Haasan.
Interesting Facts – Kamal Haasan
- Haasan started acting at the age of four and won the Best Actor President’s Medal for his role in “Kalathur Kannamma”.
- He is an actor, director, scriptwriter, producer, playback singer, and lyricist.
- Haasan speaks many languages like Tamil, English, Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Bengali, Kannada, and French.
- He is the only Indian actor who has appeared in films in six languages: Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Bengali.
- Haasan has the highest number of films (7) submitted to the Oscars from India under the Best Foreign Language Film category.
- He was the highest-paid star from 1988 to 1998 and was the first Indian actor to be paid INR 1 crore for a single film.
In conclusion, Kamal Haasan’s journey in the Indian film industry is a testament to his talent, versatility, and dedication. His contributions have not only enriched Indian cinema but have also set a high standard for actors and filmmakers alike.
His life and career serve as an inspiration for aspiring artists and cinema lovers around the world.
