Kamal Haasan

{{Main|List of South Indian film families#Haasan_family{{!}}Haasan-Ratnam family}}

Kamal Haasan was born as Parthasarathy Srinivasan on 7 November 1954,{{Cite news |date=7 November 2019 |title=Inside Kamal Haasan's birthday trip to Paramakudi with Charu, Shruti and Akshara: All pics |work=India Today |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/inside-kamal-haasan-s-birthday-trip-to-paramakudi-with-charu-shruti-and-akshara-all-pics-1616475-2019-11-07 |access-date=20 June 2020 |archive-date=6 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606103350/https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/inside-kamal-haasan-s-birthday-trip-to-paramakudi-with-charu-shruti-and-akshara-all-pics-1616475-2019-11-07 |url-status=live }} in a Tamil family, to D. Srinivasan, who was a lawyer and freedom fighter,{{Cite news |date=7 November 2019 |title=Actor Kamal Haasan unveils bust of freedom fighter father D. Seenivasan in Thelichathanallur |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/actor-kamal-haasan-unveils-bust-of-freedom-fighter-father-d-seenivasan-in-thelichathanallur/article29908197.ece |access-date=20 June 2020 |archive-date=21 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200621170459/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/actor-kamal-haasan-unveils-bust-of-freedom-fighter-father-d-seenivasan-in-thelichathanallur/article29908197.ece |url-status=live }} and Rajalakshmi, who was a housewife.{{cite news|title=வரலாற்றுச்சுவடுகள் – திரைப்ப வரலாறு 929 – "உலக நாயகன்" கமல்ஹாசன்|newspaper=Daily Thanthi|language=ta|date=4 September 2008}} His native place is Paramakudi. Haasan was initially named as Parthasarathy. His father later changed his name to Kamal Haasan.{{Cite web|last=Yamunan|first=Sruthisagar|title=Despite columnist's gaffe, Kamal Haasan wasn't born Muslim – his original name was Parthasaraty|url=https://scroll.in/reel/832920/despite-columnist-s-gaffe-kamal-haasan-wasn-t-born-muslim-his-original-name-was-parthasaraty|website=Scroll.in|date=27 March 2017 |language=en-US|access-date=9 June 2020|archive-date=8 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200608053353/https://scroll.in/reel/832920/despite-columnist-s-gaffe-kamal-haasan-wasn-t-born-muslim-his-original-name-was-parthasaraty|url-status=live}} His brothers, Charuhasan (born 1931) and Chandrahasan (1937–2017), have also acted.{{cite web|title=Is Kamal Haasan India's next movie star-turned-politician?|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-41411712|publisher=BBC|year=2017|author=Sudha G Tilak|access-date=21 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180723041310/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-41411712|archive-date=23 July 2018|url-status=live}} Haasan's sister, Nalini (born 1946), is a classical dancer.{{Cite news |date=14 August 2014 |title=His classical odyssey |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/kamal-haasan-talks-about-arts-music-and-dance/article6317133.ece |url-status=live |access-date=20 June 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141001023646/http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/kamal-haasan-talks-about-arts-music-and-dance/article6317133.ece |archive-date=1 October 2014}} He received his primary education in Paramakudi before moving to Madras (now Chennai) as his brothers pursued their higher education. Haasan continued his education in Santhome, Madras, and was attracted towards film and fine arts as encouraged by his father.

{{main|Kamal Haasan filmography|Kamal Haasan discography}}

When a physician friend of his mother, visited A. V. Meiyappan (AVM) to treat his wife, she brought Haasan with her.{{cite web|last=V. S. |first=Srinivasan |title=Chachi comes a-visiting |url=http://in.rediff.com/movies/dec/19chi.htm |work=Rediff.com |access-date=17 June 2013 |date=19 December 1997 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130825004000/http://in.rediff.com/movies/dec/19chi.htm |archive-date=25 August 2013 }} Apparently 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. 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.{{cite web|author=Prem Panicker |year=2003 |title=The Kamal I know – Prem Panicker |work=Rediff.com |access-date=22 January 2011 |url=http://in.rediff.com/movies/2003/nov/08kamal3.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622104459/http://in.rediff.com/movies/2003/nov/08kamal3.htm |archive-date=22 June 2011 }}{{cite web |author=Gupta, Sekar |year=2010 |title=I'm a reluctant actor |publisher=Screen |access-date=9 October 2009 |url=http://www.screenindia.com/news/im-a-reluctant-actor/569638/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100123051400/http://www.screenindia.com/news/im-a-reluctant-actor/569638/ |archive-date=23 January 2010 }}

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.{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/Kasi-Yathirai-1973-TAMIL/article16706253.ece |title=Kasi Yathirai (1973) TAMIL |newspaper=The Hindu |date=26 November 2016 |access-date=17 February 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161127132031/http://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/Kasi-Yathirai-1973-TAMIL/article16706253.ece |archive-date=27 November 2016 |last1=Guy |first1=Randor }} 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.{{cite web|year=2009 |title=Kamal Haasan Awards (till 2000) |publisher=BizHat.com |access-date=22 January 2011 |url=http://movies.bizhat.com/actors/kamal_hassan_about.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110603093905/http://movies.bizhat.com/actors/kamal_hassan_about.php |archive-date= 3 June 2011 }} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.in/articles/520182/20131107/kamal-haasan-birthday-vishwaroopam-2-trailer-teaser.htm|title=Kamal Haasan Celebrates Birthday Today, 'Vishwaroopam 2' Actor Turns 59|work=International Business Times|date=11 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111192221/http://www.ibtimes.co.in/articles/520182/20131107/kamal-haasan-birthday-vishwaroopam-2-trailer-teaser.htm |archive-date=11 November 2013 }} For this character portrayal, Haasan learned to play the mridangam.{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2005/nov/08sd4.htm|title=The Kamal Haasan phenomenon|work=Rediff|date=8 November 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022170646/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2005/nov/08sd4.htm |archive-date=22 October 2013 }} The role won him his second Filmfare Award.{{cite web|author=Padmanabhan, Mukund|year=1997|title=We are capable of making films for people worldwide|access-date=19 October 2009|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/ie/daily/19970518/13850423.html}}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

In 1976, 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. Avargal (1977) concerned the women's movement and, for this role, he learned ventriloquism.{{cite web|year=1997|title=Kamal hasan's significant ten|publisher=Screen India|access-date=22 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090604024413/http://www.screenindia.com/old/dec19/cover2.htm|archive-date=4 June 2009 |url=http://www.screenindia.com/old/dec19/cover2.htm}} It was remade in Telugu as Idi Katha Kaadu (1979), with Haasan reprising his role. 16 Vayathinile, in which he played a village bumpkin, which 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, a thriller in which he played a psychopathic sexual killer. He appeared in the Malayalam film Eeta, for which he won his sixth Filmfare Award. He first played opposite to the 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, a snake-horror film Neeya and Kalyanaraman. At the end of the 1970s he had six regional Best Actor Filmfare Awards, including four consecutive Best Tamil Actor Awards.{{Citation needed|date=January 2022}}

Haasan's films during the 1980s included 1980 Tamil-language Varumayin Niram Sivappu, the film was simultaneously shot in Telugu as Aakali Rajyam, in which he played an unemployed youth and earned him a first Filmfare Award in Telugu. 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 (1981), the remake of his own acted Telugu-language film Maro Charitra directed by K. Balachander (which earned him his first Filmfare Hindi-language nomination). He made his 100th film appearance in 1981 in Raja Paarvai, debuting as a producer. Despite the film's relatively poor box-office performance, his portrayal of a blind session violinist earned him a Filmfare Award.{{cite web |author=K. Jeshi |year=2004 |title=No stopping him |work=The Hindu |access-date=19 October 2009 |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2004092703100301.htm&date=2004/09/27/&prd=mp& |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110425024127/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2004092703100301.htm&date=2004%2F09%2F27%2F&prd=mp& |archive-date=25 April 2011 }} 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 he appeared in Sagara Sangamam, directed by K. Viswanath. His portrayal of an alcoholic classical dancer won him his first Nandi Award for Best Actor and his second Filmfare Best Telugu Actor Award.{{Citation needed|date=January 2022}}

After 1984's multistarrer Raaj Tilak, Haasan appeared in Saagar (released 1985), winning the Filmfare Best Actor Award and nominated for the Best Supporting Actor award. The film was India's representative for the Best Foreign Language Oscar in 1985. He left Bollywood temporarily after Geraftaar{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/regional-movies/15-films-to-thank-kamal-haasan-for/story-CETAGjpPsatwGhHZDbuoZJ.html |title=15 films to thank Kamal Haasan for |work=Hindustan Times |access-date=30 November 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151204200929/http://www.hindustantimes.com/regional-movies/15-films-to-thank-kamal-haasan-for/story-CETAGjpPsatwGhHZDbuoZJ.html |archive-date= 4 December 2015 |date=6 November 2013 }} and Dekha Pyar Tumhara to feature in Japanil Kalyanaraman (a sequel to his 1979 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, playing a cognitively disabled person who tries to change society and won him his second Nandi Award for Best Actor. 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 (in which he played two roles, including a satire of Charlie Chaplin as Chaplin Chellappa) and Kadhal Parisu, Haasan appeared in Mani Ratnam's 1987 film Nayakan. He received his second Indian National Award for his performance; Nayakan was submitted by India as its entry for Best Foreign Language Film at the 1987 Academy Awards,{{Cite web |title=List of Indian submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film |url=http://www.filmfed.org/indian-submission2.html |website=Film Federation of India |pages=2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131206030830/http://www.filmfed.org/indian-submission2.html |archive-date=6 December 2013 |access-date=23 October 2014}} and is on the Time's All-Time 100 Movies list.{{cite news|url=https://entertainment.time.com/2005/02/12/all-time-100-movies/slide/all/ |title=All-TIME 100 Movies |date=12 February 2005 |magazine=Time |access-date=5 October 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140717165334/http://entertainment.time.com/2005/02/12/all-time-100-movies/slide/all/ |archive-date=17 July 2014 }} Haasan appeared in his only silent film to date: Pushpaka Vimana (1987) a black comedy film, in which he played an unemployed youth and earned him a first Filmfare Award in Kannada. In 1988 he appeared Unnal Mudiyum Thambi, Malayalam film Daisy and Sathyaa which were his own productions. Haasan's all four films of 1989 were major success, Apoorva Sagodharargal, where he played a dwarf, then Chanakyan, an original Malayalam film, later Vettri Vizhaa (where he played an amnesiac) and finally Haasan played two parts in Indrudu Chandrudu, winning the Filmfare Best Actor and won him his third Nandi Award for Best Actor for his performance. 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.{{cite news|author=BVS Prakash|title=I'm capable of love: Kamal Haasan|work=The Times of India|access-date=22 January 2011|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/im-capable-of-love-kamal-haasan/articleshow/6920520.cms|date=14 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170602083520/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/news-interviews/Im-capable-of-love-Kamal-Kamal/articleshow/6920520.cms|archive-date=2 June 2017|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://in.rediff.com/movies/2001/mar/15kamal.htm |title=Focus on a Filmmaker |access-date=22 January 2011 |date=8 November 2002 |publisher=Rediff.com Courtesy. Stardust |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622102052/http://in.rediff.com/movies/2001/mar/15kamal.htm |archive-date=22 June 2011 }}{{cite web|author=Meghna George |year=2010 |title=Kamal Haasan's special place in the Malayali heart |work=Rediff.com |access-date=22 January 2011 |url=http://movies.rediff.com/slide-show/2010/aug/03/slide-show-1-south-malayalam-snippets.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101113125727/http://movies.rediff.com/slide-show/2010/aug/03/slide-show-1-south-malayalam-snippets.htm |archive-date=13 November 2010 }}

In 1990, Michael Madana Kama Rajan saw Haasan build on Apoorva Sagodharargal by playing quadruplets. It began as a collaboration with writer Crazy Mohan for future comedy films.{{cite news|author=Adhiraj, Vijay |title=Each medium has its own USP |work=The Hindu |access-date=19 October 2009 |url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2004/07/22/stories/2004072200740200.htm |date=22 July 2004 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629024758/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2004/07/22/stories/2004072200740200.htm |archive-date=29 June 2011 }} Haasan won successive Best Actor awards for his portrayal of deranged, obsessive protagonists in Gunaa and Thevar Magan (which was remade in Hindi as 1997's Virasat). He was credited with the story for the latter. Haasan won his third National Film Award this time as a producer for Thevar Magan. The film was India's submission for the Academy Awards that year. A series of films followed: Singaravelan, Maharasan, Kalaignan, Mahanadhi, Nammavar, and Sathi Leelavathi Produced by Haasan, it featured himself alongside Kannada actor Ramesh Aravind and comedian Kovai Sarala. Haasan resumed his collaboration with K. Viswanath in the Telugu film, Subha Sankalpam, and starred in the police story Kuruthipunal (Tamil) 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.{{cite web |year=1997 |title=Kamal Haasan, Tabu win national awards |work=The Indian Express |access-date=19 October 2009 |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/ie/daily/19970507/12750533.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091026070153/http://www.indianexpress.com/ie/daily/19970507/12750533.html |archive-date=26 October 2009 }} 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.{{Cite web |url=http://www.koimoi.com/actor/kamal-haasan/ |title=Kamal Haasan's Biography |publisher=Koimoi |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160503015037/http://www.koimoi.com/actor/kamal-haasan/ |archive-date=3 May 2016}}

After Indian, Haasan played a woman in the comedy Avvai Shanmughi, which was inspired by Mrs. Doubtfire.{{cite web|author=V. S. Srinivasan |year=1998 |title=Aunty vs Chachi |publisher=Rediff |access-date=19 October 2009 |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/1998/apr/13aunt.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607051305/http://www.rediff.com/movies/1998/apr/13aunt.htm |archive-date= 7 June 2011 }} He chose Shantanu Sheorey to direct the Hindi remake of Avvai Shanmughi, Chachi 420,{{cite web|author=Suparn Verma |year=1997 |title=Kamal Hasan returns to Bollywood |publisher=Rediff |access-date=19 October 2009 |url=http://www.rediff.com/entertai/apr/04kamal.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080505062356/http://www.rediff.com/entertai/apr/04kamal.htm |archive-date= 5 May 2008 }} but after dissatisfaction with five days of shooting Haasan took over as director.{{cite web |year=1997 |title=The importance of being Kamal Haasan |publisher=ScreenIndia |access-date=22 January 2011 |url=http://www.screenindia.com/old/dec19/cover1.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100815031452/http://www.screenindia.com/old/dec19/cover1.htm |archive-date=15 August 2010 }}{{cite web

|author=Deepa Deosthalee

|year=1998

|title=The great Bollywood rip-off

|work=The Indian Express

|access-date=19 October 2009

|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/ie/daily/19980116/01650964.html

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100625151352/http://www.indianexpress.com/ie/daily/19980116/01650964.html

|archive-date=25 June 2010

}} In 1997 Haasan began directing an unfinished biopic of Dilip Kumar, Marudhanayagam; a forty five minutes of film and a trailer was shot.{{cite web|year=2008 |title='Marudanayagam' resurfaces |website=IndiaGlitz.com |access-date=19 October 2009 |url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/36038.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091126123312/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/36038.html |archive-date=26 November 2009 }} Marudhanayagam was expected to be the biggest, most expensive film in Indian cinematic history and his magnum opus; a number of 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.{{cite web|author=V. S. Srinivasan |year=1998 |title=Marudhunayagam, Making of an epic |work=The Hindu |access-date=19 October 2009 |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/1998/sep/19mar.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607051317/http://www.rediff.com/movies/1998/sep/19mar.htm |archive-date= 7 June 2011 }} Although the film failed to materialise due to budget constraints, Haasan expressed an interest in reviving the project.{{cite news

|title=Don't let mediocrity be the standard:Kamal

|work=The Times of India

|access-date=19 October 2009

|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Bollywood/Dont-let-mediocrity-be-the-standardKamal-/articleshow/4245082.cms

|date=10 March 2009

|url-status=live

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110125071633/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Bollywood/Dont-let-mediocrity-be-the-standardKamal-/articleshow/4245082.cms

|archive-date=25 January 2011

}} 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.[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Housefull-a-remake-of-Kaathala-Kaathala/articleshow/5913183.cms Housefull, a remake of Kaathala Kaathala?] . Articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com (11 May 2010). Retrieved 19 May 2015.

After a two-year hiatus from Indian cinema, Haasan decided against reviving Marudhanayagam. He directed his second film, Hey Ram,{{cite news|title=Hey Ram review |work=Planet Bollywood |access-date=19 October 2009 |url=http://www.planetbollywood.com/Film/heyram.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100828180404/http://www.planetbollywood.com/Film/heyram.html |archive-date=28 August 2010 }} a period drama, told in flashback, with a fact-based plot centering on the partition of India and the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. Haasan produced and choreographed the film, writing its screenplay and lyrics; it was India's submission for the Academy Awards that year.{{cite news|year=2001 |title=Wide acclaim for Indian films in US festival |work=The Times of India |access-date=19 October 2009 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/wide-acclaim-for-indian-films-in-us-festival/articleshow/33245832.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607154018/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Wide-acclaim-for-Indian-films-in-US-festival-/articleshow/33245832.cms |archive-date= 7 June 2011 }} Hey Ram was a box-office failure in India but was successful worldwide.{{Cite web |date=2015-08-15 |title=#India68: Why Hey Ram is still the best Indian film on Independence |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/india68-why-hey-ram-is-still-the-best-indian-film-on-independence-288416-2015-08-15 |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=India Today |language=en}} Also in 2000, Haasan appeared in the comedy Thenali as a Sri Lankan Tamilian with PTSD who is under a psychiatrist's care. Thenali, starring Malayalam actor Jayaram, 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.{{cite web|year=2003 |title=The Kamal I know – Panicker |work=Rediff.com |access-date=21 January 2011 |url=http://in.rediff.com/movies/2003/nov/08kamal3.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622104459/http://in.rediff.com/movies/2003/nov/08kamal3.htm |archive-date=22 June 2011 }} The Hindi version was distributed by Shringar Films.{{cite web|author=Subhash K Jha |year=2001 |title=Fear becomes him! Getting under Kamal's skin |work=Rediff.com |access-date=24 January 2011 |url=http://in.rediff.com/movies/2001/nov/10kamal.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622103322/http://in.rediff.com/movies/2001/nov/10kamal.htm |archive-date=22 June 2011 }}{{cite web |author=Vivek Fernandes |year=2001 |title=Abhay sings a fearless tune |access-date=24 January 2011 |url=http://getahead.rediff.com/entertai/2001/aug/25abhay.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715165208/http://getahead.rediff.com/entertai/2001/aug/25abhay.htm |archive-date=15 July 2011 }} Despite pre-release publicity, the film was a commercial failure.{{cite news|title=The many faces of success |work=The Hindu |access-date=19 October 2009 |url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2005/09/03/stories/2005090302070300.htm |date=3 September 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081105041257/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2005/09/03/stories/2005090302070300.htm |archive-date= 5 November 2008 }}

After a number of successful comedies{{cite web

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|url=http://www.screenindia.com/old/20010119/renews.htm

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|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091005153554/http://www.screenindia.com/old/20010119/renews.htm

|archive-date= 5 October 2009

}} including Pammal K. Sambandam and Panchatanthiram and guest appearances, Haasan directed Virumaandi, a film about capital punishment 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. Anbe Sivam tells the story of Nallasivam, portrayed by Haasan as a communist. His performance was praised by critics, with The Hindu saying that he "has once again done Tamil cinema proud".{{cite web |author=Malathi Rangarajan |year=2003 |title=Anbe Sivam |work=The Hindu |access-date=19 October 2009 |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/fr/2003/01/17/stories/2003011701310200.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090922070329/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/fr/2003/01/17/stories/2003011701310200.htm |archive-date=22 September 2009 }}

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 comedy film Rama Shama Bhama with Ramesh Aravind. In 2006 Haasan's long-delayed project, the stylish police story Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu, was a success. Directed by Gautham Vasudev Menon, the film is about a police officer sent to the US to investigate a series of medical murders. In 2008's Dasavathaaram, he played ten roles; the film was released in a number of 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 ({{as of|2008|lc=y}}) and his performance was critically praised.{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/009200904102111.htm |title=Kamal starts remake of 'A Wednesday' |work=The Hindu |date=10 April 2009 |access-date=15 September 2010 |location=Chennai, India |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111203035536/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/009200904102111.htm |archive-date=3 December 2011 }} In Canada, Dasavathaaram was the first Tamil film distributed by Walt Disney Pictures.{{cite web|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news-1/jun-08-01/dasavatharam-07-06-08.html |title=Walt Disney buys Dasavatharam |date=7 June 2008 |access-date=5 January 2014 |website=Behindwoods.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012043950/http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news-1/jun-08-01/dasavatharam-07-06-08.html |archive-date=12 October 2012 }}

After Dasavathaaram, 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, where he reprised the role originally played by Naseeruddin Shah with Malayalam Superstar Mohanlal playing Anupam Kher's role.{{cite web |year=2009 |title=I was mesmerised by Kamal |publisher=Ergo |access-date=3 May 2012 |url=http://www.goergo.in/?p=4271 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130824221135/http://www.goergo.in/?p=4271 |archive-date=24 August 2013 }}{{cite web |year=2009 |title=Super heroes come together |access-date=3 May 2012 |url=http://www.goergo.in/?p=4134 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130824222827/http://www.goergo.in/?p=4134 |archive-date=24 August 2013 }} It was released in Telugu as Eeenadu, with Venkatesh reprising the role played by Kher.[http://www.rediff.com/movies/review/south-telugu-movie-review-eenadu/20090918.htm Review: Eenadu is almost like A Wednesday – Rediff.com Movies] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111150919/http://www.rediff.com/movies/review/south-telugu-movie-review-eenadu/20090918.htm |date=11 November 2013 }}. Rediff.com (18 September 2009). Retrieved 19 May 2015. Both versions were critically acclaimed and commercially successful.{{cite web|author=Ranjib Mazumder |year=2009 |title=Kamal Haasan admits being a player for the market |work=Daily News and Analysis |access-date=19 October 2009 |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report_kamal-haasan-admits-being-a-player-for-the-market_1296453 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091012103456/http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report_kamal-haasan-admits-being-a-player-for-the-market_1296453 |archive-date=12 October 2009 }}

{{See also|Controversial issues surrounding Vishwaroopam}}

File:Filming of Vishwaroopam.jpg

Haasan collaborated for the fifth time with Ravikumar in Manmadan Ambu, for which he also wrote the screenplay. The story concerns a man who hires a detective to find out if his fiancée is cheating on him.{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/preview/11967.html |title=Manmadhan Ambu Tamil Movie Preview |website=IndiaGlitz |date=17 December 2010 |access-date=12 July 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005003902/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/preview/11967.html |archive-date= 5 October 2013 }} The film was released in December 2010 to mixed reviews, with Behindwoods calling it "an entertainer, but in parts"{{cite web|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-reviews/reviews-2/manmadhan-ambu-movie-review.html |title=Manmadhan Ambu Movie Review |website=Behindwoods |access-date=12 July 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130802154444/http://behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-reviews/reviews-2/manmadhan-ambu-movie-review.html |archive-date= 2 August 2013 }}{{Rating|2.5 |5}} and Sify saying it "lacks the punch to captivate the audiences".{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/manmadhan-ambu-lacks-the-punch-tamil-movie-review-rating-news-national-kmzrkfbbbcg.html |title='Manmadhan Ambu' lacks the punch (Tamil Movie Review; Rating:***) |website=Sify |date=25 December 2010 |access-date=12 July 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101001730/http://www.sify.com/movies/manmadhan-ambu-lacks-the-punch-tamil-movie-review-rating-news-national-kmzrkfbbbcg.html |archive-date= 1 November 2013 }}{{Rating|3 |5}}

Haasan's next film after Manmadhan Ambu was 2013's Vishwaroopam, released in Hindi as Vishwaroop. It won two National Film Awards (Best Production Design and Best Choreography) at the 60th National Film Awards.{{cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/archieve/others/2013/mar/d2013031801.pdf |title=60th National Film Awards Announced |access-date=4 January 2014 |website=Press Information Bureau |date=18 March 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611113348/http://pib.nic.in/archieve/others/2013/mar/d2013031801.pdf |archive-date=11 June 2014 }} Muslim groups in Tamil Nadu demanded the ban of the film and claimed, that the film would hurt Muslim sentiments.{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/vishwaroopam-row-ends-kamal-muslim-groups-reach-accord/article4372814.ece|title='Vishwaroopam' row ends; Kamal, Muslim groups reach accord|date=2 February 2013 |access-date=2 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140514191634/http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/vishwaroopam-row-ends-kamal-muslim-groups-reach-accord/article4372814.ece|archive-date=14 May 2014|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/No-bad-Muslims-in-Vishwaroopam-cant-paint-terrorists-white-Kamal-Haasan/articleshow/18274576.cms|title=No 'bad Muslims' in 'Vishwaroopam', can't paint terrorists white: Kamal Haasan|website=The Times of India|date=31 January 2013 |access-date=2 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119033604/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/No-bad-Muslims-in-Vishwaroopam-cant-paint-terrorists-white-Kamal-Haasan/articleshow/18274576.cms|archive-date=19 January 2018|url-status=live}} Although the film was cleared by 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 2nd highest-grossing Tamil film of 2013.{{Cite web |title=Highest Grossing Tamil Films |url=https://www.imdb.com/list/ls063735794/copy/ |access-date= |website=Reddit |language=en}}

In May 2014, he was appointed as the official Indian delegate to the 67th Cannes Film Festival.{{cite web|title=Kamal Haasan to lead official Indian delegation to Cannes |work=India Today |date=14 May 2014 |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/kamal-haasan-67th-cannes-international-film-festival/1/361714.html |access-date=23 June 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517013607/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/kamal-haasan-67th-cannes-international-film-festival/1/361714.html |archive-date=17 May 2014 }} As of July 2014, he was working on three films: Uttama Villain, Vishwaroopam II, the sequel of Vishwaroopam{{Cite news|title = Vishwaroopam 2 confirmed for jan, 2015|date = January 2015|url = https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/tamil/news-interviews/Vishwaroopam-2-confirmed-for-Feb-2014/articleshow/26723355.cms|last = Shiva|first = Prasad|work = The Times of India|access-date = 4 January 2014|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131214180534/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-12-02/news-interviews/44656417_1_vishwaroopam-2-kamal-haasan-pooja-kumar|archive-date = 14 December 2013|url-status = live}} and Papanasam.[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/Kamal-Haasan-to-start-shooting-for-Drishyam-remake/articleshow/37072105.cms Kamal Haasan to start shooting for Drishyam remake] . The Times of India. 23 June 2014. Retrieved 27 August 2014. After 2 years of Vishwaroopam's release, Uttama Villain was released on 2 May 2015 with exceptional critical reviews and on 3 July 2015, Papanasam a Tamil remake of Malayalam film Drishyam{{cite news|title=Papanasam: A faithful remake, a solid thriller|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-reviews/papanasam-movie-review/article7383788.ece?topicpage=true&topicId=1282|access-date=29 June 2016|website=The Hindu|date=5 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170602083520/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-reviews/papanasam-movie-review/article7383788.ece?topicpage=true&topicId=1282|archive-date=2 June 2017|url-status=live}} was released with positive reviews and became a huge success[http://www.ibtimes.co.in/papanasam-papanaasam-movie-review-live-audience-response-637920 'Papanasam' (Papanaasam) Movie Review: Live Audience Response] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150704045126/http://www.ibtimes.co.in/papanasam-papanaasam-movie-review-live-audience-response-637920 |date= 4 July 2015 }}. Ibtimes.co.in (4 July 2015). Retrieved 14 July 2016. followed by the bi-lingual Thoongaa Vanam and Cheekati Rajyam,{{cite web|url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/kamals-next-titled-thoonga-vanam-tamil-news-132707.html |title=Kamal's next titled 'Thoonga Vanam' |date=14 May 2015 |access-date=15 May 2015 |website=IndiaGlitz |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150516193245/http://www.indiaglitz.com/kamals-next-titled-thoonga-vanam-tamil-news-132707.html |archive-date=16 May 2015 }} both doing moderate business.

He was set to reprise his role of Balram Naidu (a Telugu RAW Officer) from Dasavathaaram in a spin-off film directed by himself titled Sabaash Naidu. The film was to be made in Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi (as Shabhash Kundu). The film's release date has been delayed owing to Haasan's entry into politics, and he pledged that he focus on working on Indian 2 instead.{{Cite news|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/official-vishwaroopam-2-and-indian-2-are-the-last-two-films-of-kamal-haasan-news-tamil-scopulabddaci.html|title=Official: 'Vishwaroopam 2' and 'Indian 2' are the last two films of Kamal Haasan|work=Sify|access-date=21 April 2018|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180502095940/http://www.sify.com/movies/official-vishwaroopam-2-and-indian-2-are-the-last-two-films-of-kamal-haasan-news-tamil-scopulabddaci.html|archive-date=2 May 2018|url-status=dead}}

File:Kamal Haasan by Gage Skidmore.jpg in 2023]]

On 17 September 2020, Director Lokesh Kanagaraj announced through his Twitter handle that his next venture will have Kamal Haasan in lead role with Anirudh handling the music with the movie titled as Vikram. It was Kamal Hassan's 232nd film as an actor. It also Stars Fahadh Faasil, Vijay Sethupathi in the leading roles along with Suriya makes a cameo appearance in the film.{{cite news|url= https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/kamal-haasan-232-title-teaser-lokesh-kanagaraj-presents-a-fabulous-gift-to-his-guru/articleshow/79099658.cms|title='Kamal Haasan 232' title teaser: Lokesh Kanagaraj presents a fabulous gift to his guru|website=The Times of India }} The film was released on 3 June 2022 and was a huge commercial success grossing {{INRConvert|423.8|c}} and went on to become the 2nd highest-grossing Tamil film of the year and [https://m.imdb.com/list/ls063735794/?ref_=uspf_t_18 third highest-grossing Tamil film] of all time by beating the collections made by other Tamil films like Beast, Valimai, Etharkkum Thunindhavan and Don etc.{{cite news|title=Vikram surpasses Beast Day 2 collection|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/box-office/vikram-box-office-collection-day-8-kamal-haasans-action-entertainer-gets-a-powerful-start-to-the-second-week/articleshow/92140895.cms|website=Times of India|access-date=5 June 2022|archive-date=15 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220615105033/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/box-office/vikram-box-office-collection-day-8-kamal-haasans-action-entertainer-gets-a-powerful-start-to-the-second-week/articleshow/92140895.cms|url-status=live}} The first single of Vikram titled "Pathala Pathala" received several million views from Kamal Haasan's fans and was the most viewed song on YouTube.{{cite web|url= https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2022/may/12/vikram-complaint-filed-against-kamal-haasans-pathala-pathala-for-taking-on-union-government-31446.html|title=Vikram: Complaint filed against Kamal Haasan's Pathala Pathala for taking on Union Government|website=Cinema Express |date=12 May 2022 }}

The song also received praise for Kamal Haasan's dance performances which went viral. Despite facing controversies from the song, it became an instant hit.{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/police-complaint-filed-against-kamal-haasans-pathala-pathala-song/articleshow/91534472.cms|title=Police complaint filed against Kamal Haasan's 'Pathala Pathala' song|website=The Times of India }} In August 2022, the filming for Indian 2 resumed, after a break of almost a year. The film was released on July 12, 2024 to negative reviews from critics and bombed at the box-office.{{Cite web |title='Indian 2' movie review: An extremely boring and painful affair that offers no takeaways |url=https://www.theweek.in/review/movies/2024/07/12/indian-2-movie-review-an-extremely-boring-and-painful-affair-that-offers-no-takeaways.html |access-date=2025-03-08 |website=The Week |language=en}}

In June 2023, he was cast in Kalki 2898 AD as the antagonist, marking his comeback in Telugu cinema. It was the first film in Indian cinema to attend San Diego Comic-Con, in July 2023. Along with the director and producers of the film, Nag Ashwin, C. Aswani Dutt, and Swapna Dutt, he presented the panel of the film with Prabhas and Rana Daggubati. In October 2023, he gave a voice-over for his character in Leo, the third entry in the Lokiverse.{{cite web | last=K | first=Janani | title= Kamal Haasan, Vijay's pic from 'Leo' days go viral and Kamal dubbed for his role in Leo | website=India Today | date=November 8, 2023 | url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/when-vikram-met-leo-das-kamal-haasan-vijays-pic-from-leo-days-go-viral-2460205-2023-11-08 | access-date=November 14, 2023}} After Indian 2, he will be collaborating with H. Vinoth, for his 233rd film, However the film was shelved due to creative differences.{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/kamal-haasans-next-is-with-director-mahesh-narayanan/articleshow/92000035.cms|title=Kamal Haasan's next is with director Mahesh Narayanan|website=The Times of India }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/kamal-haasan-to-join-hands-with-pa-ranjith-for-madurai-based-rural-film-exciting-combo-1950080-2022-05-16|title=Kamal Haasan to join hands with Pa Ranjith for Madurai-based rural film. Exciting combo!|website=India Today|date=16 May 2022 }}{{Cite news |title=Indian 2 shooting to resume only after Vikram and RC15 are wrapped up |work=Times Of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/indian-2-shooting-to-resume-only-after-vikram-and-rc15-are-wrapped-up/articleshow/89748531.cms

|access-date=22 February 2022}}{{Cite web |title=Kamal Haasan's KH233 abruptly shelved - what went wrong? |url=https://www.ottplay.com/news/kamal-haasans-kh233-abruptly-shelved-what-went-wrong/53230f625b108 |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=OTTPlay |language=en}}

He has also announced his reunion with Mani Ratnam for his 234th film, entitled Thug Life, which is currently in production.

In addition to acting, Haasan is noted for his involvement in other aspects of filmmaking. He has written many of his films, including Raja Paarvai, Apoorva Sagodharargal, Michael Madana Kama Rajan, Thevar Magan, Mahanadhi, Hey Ram, Aalavandhan, Anbe Sivam, Nala Damayanthi, Virumaandi, Dasavathaaram, Manmadan Ambu and Vishwaroopam. Haasan's production company (Raaj Kamal Films International) has produced several of his films, and he directed Chachi 420, Hey Ram, Virumaandi and Vishwaroopam. He considered directing full-time if Hey Ram was successful, but changed his mind when the film failed at the box office.{{cite web|year=2001 |title=I may slip behind camera – Kamal Haasan |publisher=Rediff.com Courtesy. Stardust |access-date=22 January 2011 |url=http://in.rediff.com/movies/2001/mar/16kamal.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628233808/http://in.rediff.com/movies/2001/mar/16kamal.htm |archive-date=28 June 2011 }} In his earlier career, he choreographed for MGR in Naan Yen Pirandhen, Sivaji Ganesan in Savaale Samaali and Jayalalithaa in Anbu Thangai{{cite web|title=Kamal Haasan – The Complete Actor |url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/99540.html |website=IndiaGlitz.com |access-date=11 August 2013 |date=7 November 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110002651/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/99540.html |archive-date=10 November 2013 }} In 2010 Haasan said he wanted to do more directing, since young actors wished to work for him. When he played supporting roles early in his career he wanted to become a technician and joked: "Film makers like K. Balachander told me that I won't be able make much money by being a technician. So the result is that the star Kamal funds the technician Kamal in pursuing his dreams".{{cite web|author=Ranjib Mazumder |year=2009 |title=I wanted to be a technician: Kamal Haasan |work=Daily News and Analysis |access-date=19 January 2011 |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report_i-wanted-to-be-a-technician-kamal-haasan_1234832-all |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120114114642/http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report_i-wanted-to-be-a-technician-kamal-haasan_1234832-all |archive-date=14 January 2012 }} Haasan attended workshops for makeup technicians in the US for several years, and trained as a makeup artist under Michael Westmore.{{cite web|year=1998 |author=V S Srinivasan |title=Making of an epic |publisher=Rediff |access-date=22 January 2011 |url=http://in.rediff.com/movies/1998/sep/19mar.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622101726/http://in.rediff.com/movies/1998/sep/19mar.htm |archive-date=22 June 2011 }}

Haasan has written songs for his films. He wrote the lyrics for a single in Hey Ram, songs in Virumaandi and Unnaipol Oruvan and the album for Manmadhan Ambu. Haasan's musical work has been well received by his peers in Tamil film.{{cite news|author=TOI |title=Kamal's lyrics gets thumbs up |work=The Times of India |access-date=19 January 2011 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/news-interviews/Kamal-Hassans-lyrics-get-thumbs-up/articleshow/6960789.cms |date=20 November 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123203750/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/news-interviews/Kamal-Hassans-lyrics-get-thumbs-up/articleshow/6960789.cms |archive-date=23 November 2010 }} He is also a playback singer,{{cite news|author=TOI|title=Tunes from the heart|work=The Times of India|access-date=24 May 2013|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/tunes-from-the-heart/articleshow/4319025.cms|date=27 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005010454/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-03-27/news-interviews/28005589_1_kamal-haasan-indian-film-pasanga|archive-date=5 October 2013|url-status=live}} singing in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam and English.{{cite news|title=Kamal Haasan sings in English |work=Rediff.com |access-date=24 May 2013 |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/may/09kamal.htm |date=9 May 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303225107/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/may/09kamal.htm |archive-date= 3 March 2016 }} Haasan also wrote the lyrics for a song about the COVID-19 pandemic in India and released its music video, "Arivum Anbum". The album, composed by Ghibran and directed by Haasan, featured Anirudh Ravichander, Yuvan Shankar Raja and a number of other contemporary performers.{{cite news |last1=Madhu |first1=Vignesh |title=Arivum Anbum: Kamal Haasan pens a song of hope during Covid-19 times! |url=http://onlookersmedia.in/videos/arivum-anbum-kamal-haasan-pens-song-hope-covid-19-times/ |access-date=24 April 2020 |publisher=Onlookers Media |date=23 April 2020 |archive-date=11 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011154058/http://onlookersmedia.in/videos/arivum-anbum-kamal-haasan-pens-song-hope-covid-19-times/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Arivum Anbum: Kamal Haasan-Ghibran's song on coronavirus is an anthem of hope |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/arivum-anbum-kamal-haasan-ghibran-s-song-on-coronavirus-is-an-anthem-of-hope-1670067-2020-04-23 |access-date=24 April 2020 |work=India Today |date=23 April 2020 |archive-date=27 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200427091333/https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/arivum-anbum-kamal-haasan-ghibran-s-song-on-coronavirus-is-an-anthem-of-hope-1670067-2020-04-23 |url-status=live }}

In 2021, Haasan featured in a song 'Shades of Blue: A Musical Tribute to Venmurasu' composed by Rajan Somasundaram and released by Director Mani Ratnam in honor of Venmurasu, the longest novel ever written in any language.{{Cite web|url=https://www.marketwatch.com/press-release/director-mani-ratnam-releases-musical-tribute-to-jeyamohans-epic-venmurasu-2021-10-19/|title=Director Mani Ratnam Releases Musical Tribute to Jeyamohan's Epic Venmurasu|website=www.marketwatch.com|language=en|access-date=2020-10-20|archive-date=22 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022231815/https://www.marketwatch.com/press-release/director-mani-ratnam-releases-musical-tribute-to-jeyamohans-epic-venmurasu-2021-10-19|url-status=dead}} Earlier, he has spoken in appreciation of Venmurasu and writer Jeyamohan on Bigg Boss during his book recommendations.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2021/feb/04/bookmarked-for-bigg-boss-bibliophiles-2259190.html/|title=Book Recommendations by Kamal Haasan|website=www.NewIndianExpress.com|date=4 February 2021 |language=en|access-date=2022-03-18}} In 2022, Haasan was the lyricist and the playback singer for the song "Pathala Pathala" from Vikram.{{Cite news |title=Kamal Haasan pens a Kuththu song for 'Vikram' |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/music/kamal-haasan-pens-a-kuththu-song-for-vikram/articleshow/87300351.cms |access-date=2022-05-17 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}

Haasan made his return on Star Vijay TV, hosting the first season of Bigg Boss Tamil in 2017.{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/kamal-haasan-all-setto-host-tamil-big-boss/article18203914.ece|title=Kamal Haasan all set to host Tamil Big Boss|website=The Hindu|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918163706/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/kamal-haasan-all-setto-host-tamil-big-boss/article18203914.ece|archive-date=18 September 2018|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.vikatan.com/cinema/tamil-cinema/news/86984-big-boss-reality-show-in-vijay-tv-anchor-by-kamal.html|title=கமல் தொகுத்து வழங்கும், விஜய் டிவியின் 'பிக் பாஸ்'|website=vikatan.com|access-date=17 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170901000328/http://www.vikatan.com/cinema/tamil-cinema/news/86984-big-boss-reality-show-in-vijay-tv-anchor-by-kamal.html|archive-date=1 September 2017|url-status=live}} The show soon went onto become one of the most watched television series in Tamil Nadu and gained positive reviews among audience from season 1 onwards.{{Cite web|date=2018-06-16|title=Looking back at Bigg Boss Tamil Season One: Top seven controversies|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/television/looking-back-at-bigg-boss-tamil-season-one-top-seven-controversies-5220445/|access-date=2022-01-29|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Karki|first=Tripti|date=2017-08-29|title=Bigg Boss Tamil: With 14k retweets, self-evicted contestant Oviya Helen emerges more popular than ever|url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/entertainment/bollywood-bigg-boss-tamil-14k-retweets-contestant-oviya-helen-emerges-more-popular-than-ever-twitter-398788|access-date=2022-01-29|website=www.indiatvnews.com|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2018-09-30|title=Bigg Boss Tamil 2: From Aishwarya Dutta's 'Hitler Task' to Mahat's tantrums, a look at the top controversies of the show|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/television/bigg-boss-tamil-2-top-controversies-kamal-haasan-show-5379965/|access-date=2022-01-29|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2018-06-26|title='Bigg Boss 2' Tamil in trouble|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/bigg-boss-2-tamil-trouble-83677|access-date=2022-01-29|website=The News Minute|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2019-10-06|title=Bigg Boss Tamil 3: A look at the top controversies of the season|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/tamil/bigg-boss-tamil-3-a-look-at-the-top-controversies-of-the-season/photostory/71461027.cms|access-date=2022-01-29|website=The Times of India|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Bigg Boss Tamil Season 3 - A look back at the most controversial moments from the show|url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/photos/slideshows/2019/oct/10/bigg-boss-tamil-season-3---a-look-back-at-the-most-controversial-moments-from-the-show-667.html|access-date=2022-01-29|website=Cinema Express|language=en}} Haasan also hosted the second season of Bigg Boss Tamil 2 which started its telecast on 17 June 2018,{{Cite web|date=2018-05-12|title=Kamal Haasan returns to host 'Bigg Boss' 2|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/kamal-haasan-returns-host-bigg-boss-2-81212|access-date=2022-01-29|website=The News Minute|language=en}} Bigg Boss Tamil 3 which started its telecast on 23 June 2019{{Cite news|title=Kamal Haasan all set for Bigg Boss Tamil 3|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/tamil/kamal-haasan-all-set-for-bigg-boss-tamil-3/articleshow/69234470.cms|access-date=2022-01-29|website=The Times of India|date=8 May 2019 |language=en}} and Bigg Boss Tamil 4 which started telecast on 4 October 2020.{{Cite web|date=2020-08-28|title=Bigg Boss Tamil 4 teaser: Kamal Haasan gets back to work|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/bigg-boss-tamil-season-4-teaser-kamal-haasan-gets-back-to-work-6572489/|access-date=2022-01-29|website=The Indian Express|language=en}} He hosted Bigg Boss Tamil 5 which started to telecast from 3 October 2021.{{Cite news|title=Bigg Boss Tamil 5 teaser is out; Kamal Haasan returns as the host|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/tamil/bigg-boss-tamil-5-teaser-is-out-kamal-haasan-returns-as-the-host/articleshow/85800271.cms|access-date=2022-01-29|website=The Times of India|date=31 August 2021 |language=en}} Then, now he is the host{{Cite web|date=2022-01-17|title=Kamal Haasan to host first edition of Bigg Boss Tamil OTT, begins January 30|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/kamal-haasan-to-host-bigg-boss-tamil-ott-next-7727242/|access-date=2022-01-29|website=The Indian Express|language=en}} to the Bigg Boss Ultimate (Season 1) which is to be launched on Disney+ Hotstar{{Cite web |title=Bigg Boss Ultimate: Kamal Haasan announces OTT version of Bigg Boss Tamil, here's all you need to know |url=https://www.ottplay.com/news/bigg-boss-ultimate-kamal-haasan-announces-ott-version-of-bigg-boss-tamil-heres-all-you-need-to-know/719efacb51128 |access-date=2022-01-29 |website=OTTPlay |language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2022-01-17|title=Disney+ Hotstar to stream its first-ever OTT exclusive season of Bigg Boss Tamil from 30th January|url=https://www.medianews4u.com/disney-hotstar-to-stream-its-first-ever-ott-exclusive-season-of-bigg-boss-tamil-from-30th-january/|access-date=2022-01-29|website=MediaNews4U|language=en-US}} from 30 January 2022.{{Cite magazine|author=Janani K. |date=January 17, 2022 |title=Kamal Haasan to host Bigg Boss Ultimate on Disney+ Hotstar from January 30. Read details|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/television/reality-tv/story/kamal-haasan-to-host-bigg-boss-ultimate-on-disney-hotstar-from-january-30-read-details-1900821-2022-01-17|access-date=2022-01-29|magazine=India Today|language=en}} He exited the show after the third week owing to scheduling conflicts with his film Vikram. Later, Silambarasan replaced him as the host from week 4 onwards. Then, Kamal Haasan returned as a host in Bigg Boss Tamil Season 6. Next, Kamal Haasan is returning as a host in Bigg Boss Tamil(Season 7)

Kamal Haasan launched his personal fashion line brand called KH House of Khaddar (KHHK).{{cite news|url= https://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/fashion/khaddar-vs-burger/article38328872.ece|title=On Republic Day, Kamal Haasan launches the website for his new fashion label KH House of Khaddar|website=The Hindu |date=26 January 2022 |last1=Paitandy |first1=Priyadarshini }}

Haasan was born into a Tamil family{{Cite web |date=17 May 2013 |title=I get devastated at the idea of marriage: Shruti Haasan |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news-interviews/I-get-devastated-at-the-idea-of-marriage-Shruti-Haasan/articleshow/20084486.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030124223/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news-interviews/I-get-devastated-at-the-idea-of-marriage-Shruti-Haasan/articleshow/20084486.cms |archive-date=30 October 2014 |url-status=live |website=The Times of India}} in the town of Paramakudi, in the Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu, to criminal defence lawyer D. Srinivasan and Rajalakshmi, a housewife.{{Cite web |last=Kumar|first=Rajitha |year=2000 |title=Kamal, as we know him |url=http://cricket.rediff.com/movies/2000/nov/08kamal.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728103013/http://cricket.rediff.com/movies/2000/nov/08kamal.htm |archive-date=28 July 2011 |access-date=30 June 2009 |publisher=Rediff}} During 2013 his daughter Shruti Haasan appeared on an episode of Neengalum Vellalam Oru Kodi, where "phone a friend" option is availed to Shruti and when she called her father Kamal, he stated that his parents named him Parthasarathy before he was called as Kamal Haasan and his mother always used to call him by that name.{{Cite news |date=5 April 2012 |title=Kamal reveals his real name! |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/Kamal-reveals-his-real-name/articleshow/12545914.cms |url-status=live |access-date=2 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521022957/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-04-05/news-interviews/31293640_1_kamal-haasan-elephant-ulaga-nayagan |archive-date=21 May 2013}} In an interview with Karan Thapar, Haasan said his father was literate in Sanskrit. Haasan was the youngest of four children; his siblings are Charuhasan, Chandrahasan and Nalini (Raghu). His two older brothers followed their father's example and studied law. Haasan continued his education in Sir M.Ct. Muthiah Chettiar Boys Higher Secondary School{{Cite news |date=1 February 2020 |title=Kamal Haasan's reunion with his schoolmates |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/kamal-haasans-reunion-with-his-schoolmates/articleshow/73840812.cms |url-status=live |access-date=20 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011154057/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/kamal-haasans-reunion-with-his-schoolmates/articleshow/73840812.cms |archive-date=11 October 2020}} and Hindu Higher Secondary School in Madras (now Chennai).{{Citation needed|date=January 2022}}

Haasan has alluded to his parents in some of his works, notably Unnaipol Oruvan and in the song "Kallai Mattum" in Dasavathaaram.{{Cite web |last=Pavithra Srinivasan |year=2008 |title=Dasavatharam music is mediocre |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2008/apr/28ssdas.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090606112512/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2008/apr/28ssdas.htm |archive-date=6 June 2009 |access-date=30 June 2009 |publisher=Rediff}} His oldest brother Charuhasan, like Haasan, is a National Film Award-winning actor who appeared in the Kannada film Tabarana Kathe. Charuhasan's daughter Suhasini is also a National Film Award winner married to director (and fellow award-winner) Mani Ratnam, who collaborated with Haasan on 1987's Nayakan.{{Cite web |year=2003 |title=Married to the medium |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20030412/windows/main4.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090413132659/http://tribuneindia.com/2003/20030412/windows/main4.htm |archive-date=13 April 2009 |access-date=30 June 2009 |website=The Tribune}} Chandrahasan has produced several of Haasan's films and was an executive with Raaj Kamal Films International, he died in March 2017.{{Cite web |date=19 March 2017 |title=Kamal Haasan's brother and producer Chandrahasan died |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/kamal-haasan-brother-and-producer-chandrahasan-dies-in-london-4575812/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170508022836/http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/kamal-haasan-brother-and-producer-chandrahasan-dies-in-london-4575812/ |archive-date=8 May 2017 |access-date=19 March 2017 |website=The Indian Express}} Chandrahasan's daughter Anu Hasan has had supporting roles in several films, including Suhasini's Indira. Haasan's sister, Nalini Raghu, is a dance teacher for whom he named an auditorium (Nalini Mahal).{{Cite news |last=Ramani|first=Nandini |date=21 November 2003 |title=Married to the medium |work=The Hindu |url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2003/11/21/stories/2003112101220400.htm |url-status=dead |access-date=13 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108145018/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2003/11/21/stories/2003112101220400.htm |archive-date=8 November 2012}} Her son, Gautham, played Haasan's grandson in "Hey Ram".

File:Kamal Haasan with Akshara &Shruti Haasan at Alice in wonderland premiere.jpg (left) and Akshara (right)]]

In 1978, at age 24, Haasan married dancer Vani Ganapathy.{{cite news|author=Indiatimes Movies|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/us|title=Kamal Haasan made a flowery entry|work=The Times of India|publisher=Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd|access-date=31 December 2008|date=31 December 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521024317/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-12-31/did-you-know-/27897283_1_kamal-haasan-low-key-affair-entry|archive-date=21 May 2013|url-status=live}} She acted with Haasan in the 1975 movie Melnaattu Marumagal. After marriage, Vani worked as Haasan's costume designer for several movies. They divorced ten years later.{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/madhur-vani/article28459907.ece|title=Madhur Vani|date=29 December 2003|newspaper=The Hindu|access-date=6 July 2020}}

Haasan and actress Sarika began living together in 1988, marrying after the birth of their first child, Shruti (born 1986).{{cite web |last=Gupta |first=Priya |date=17 May 2013 |title=I get devastated at the idea of marriage: Shruti Haasan |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news-interviews/I-get-devastated-at-the-idea-of-marriage-Shruti-Haasan/articleshow/20084486.cms? |work=The Times of India |access-date=7 April 2014 |archive-date=30 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030124223/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news-interviews/I-get-devastated-at-the-idea-of-marriage-Shruti-Haasan/articleshow/20084486.cms |url-status=live}} Shruti is a singer and a Tollywood-Kollywood actress. Their younger daughter, Akshara (born 1991), is an assistant director and actress. Sarika stopped acting soon after their marriage, Sarika worked as Haasan's costume designer for the movie Hey Ram and won the National Film Award for Best Costume Designer.{{cite web|url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm47NFAAward.aspx|title=47th National Film Awards|publisher=International Film Festival of India|access-date=13 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505163411/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm47NFAAward.aspx|archive-date=5 May 2014|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://dff.nic.in/2011/47th_nff_2000.pdf|title=47th National Film Awards|publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals|access-date=13 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022161229/http://dff.nic.in/2011/47th_nff_2000.pdf|archive-date=22 October 2013|url-status=live}} In 2002, the couple filed for divorce, which became final in 2004.{{cite news|author=Jha, Subhash K. |year=2003 |title=My main concern is the kids |work=The Times of India |access-date=30 June 2009 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/delhi-times/my-main-concern-is-the-kids/articleshow/231833.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203010011/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/231833.cms |archive-date= 3 February 2009 }} After their divorce, Sarika acted in movies and TV serials, winning the National Film Award for Best Actress for the 2005 film Parzania.{{cite web |title=53rd National Film Awards – 2006 |url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm53NFAAward.aspx |publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals |accessdate=1 December 2012 |page=30|url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815224948/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm53NFAAward.aspx |archivedate=15 August 2016 }}

From 2005 to 2016, Haasan was in a relationship with actress Gautami, he co-stared with her frequently during the late 1980s and early 1990s.{{cite web|last=Bhattacharya |first=Ananya |title=Kamal Haasan and Gautami part ways after living together for 13 years |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/kamal-haasan-gautami-split-living-together-13-years-live-in/1/799818.html |website=India Today |date=1 November 2016 |access-date=1 November 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161102170331/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/kamal-haasan-gautami-split-living-together-13-years-live-in/1/799818.html |archive-date= 2 November 2016 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.india.com/showbiz/gautami-opens-up-on-kamal-haasan-after-13-years-together-our-paths-have-irreversibly-diverged-1625151/|title=Gautami opens up on Kamal Haasan: After 13 years together, our paths have irreversibly diverged|work=India.com|date=2 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161102154728/http://www.india.com/showbiz/gautami-opens-up-on-kamal-haasan-after-13-years-together-our-paths-have-irreversibly-diverged-1625151/ |archive-date= 2 November 2016}}

Early in his career, he co-starred in several films with Srividya with whom he was in relationship. Haasan visited Srividya on her deathbed in 2006.{{cite web |author= |year=2008 |title=Wasn't Ranjith telling Sreevidya's tale? |publisher=Nowrunning.com |access-date=30 June 2009 |url=http://www.nowrunning.com/news/news.aspx?it=18176 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091026143217/http://www.nowrunning.com/news/news.aspx?it=18176 |archive-date=26 October 2009 }}

Haasan is an rationalist and has often questioned the existence of God and has highlighted the theme in his films like Anbe Sivam and Dasavathaaram.{{cite web|author=Vijayasarathy, R G |year=2008 |title=Dasavathaaram is spectacular |publisher=Rediff |access-date=13 June 2008 |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2008/jun/13dasa.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080617213231/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2008/jun/13dasa.htm |archive-date=17 June 2008 }} He was mistaken to be Muslim because of his Arabic-sounding name, most notably when he was denied preclearance to travel to the United States by Customs and Border Protection authorities at Toronto Pearson International Airport in 2002.{{cite news|author=Jha, Subhah K |title=Harrowing time in Toronto |work=The Hindu |access-date=3 May 2002 |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2002/05/03/stories/2002050300320300.htm |date=3 May 2002 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030704155016/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2002/05/03/stories/2002050300320300.htm |archive-date= 4 July 2003 }}

In Sanskrit Kamal means "lotus", but it was rumoured that his name originated with a friend of his father (Yaakob Hassan, a Muslim freedom fighter who was imprisoned along with Kamal's father by the British). In a BBC interview with Karan Thapar, Haasan said that his last name derives from the Sanskrit word hasya, and although the Yaakob Hassan connection was publicised by the media it was only "a story".{{cite web|year=2010 |work=BBC Hardtalk |access-date=26 April 2010 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A01JVLKHbTM&feature=g-vrec |title=Karan Thapar interview with Kamal Haasan |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130730124413/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A01JVLKHbTM&feature=g-vrec |archive-date=30 July 2013 }} Haasan is considered left-leaning or independent. Although he initially abstained from politics, he entered regional politics in Tamil Nadu in 2018.{{cite news|year=2003 |title=Kamal Haasan sees Red |publisher=Rediff |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/mar/24south.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120914022851/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/mar/24south.htm |archive-date=14 September 2012 }} He also said that his entering politics would result in his death within a year.{{cite news|author=Shilpa Jamkhandikar |title=Just A Minute With: actor Kamal Haasan |publisher=The Reuters |access-date=3 May 2012 |url=http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-39105920090417 |date=17 April 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022190015/http://in.reuters.com/article/2009/04/17/idINIndia-39105920090417 |archive-date=22 October 2012 }}

File:M.B. Nirmal with Kamal Haasan.JPG (right) in Chennai]]

Haasan is the first Tamil actor to convert his fan clubs into welfare organisations{{cite news|title=Kamal Haasan on a noble cause|access-date=17 December 2011|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/news-interviews/Kamal-Haasan-on-a-noble-cause/articleshow/10617254.cms|date=7 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521022326/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-11-07/news-interviews/30363367_1_kamal-haasan-kamal-fans-fan-clubs|archive-date=21 May 2013|work=The Times of India|url-status=live}} and is involved in social-service activities through the clubs under the name Kamal Narpani Iyakkam (Kamal Welfare Association).{{cite web|year=2008 |title=Kamal fires club secretary |publisher=cinesouth.com |access-date=17 January 2011 |url=http://www.cinesouth.com/masala/hotnews/new/16082008-2.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708154329/http://www.cinesouth.com/masala/hotnews/new/16082008-2.shtml |archive-date= 8 July 2011 }}{{cite web |year=2009 |title=I believe in excellence – Kamal Haasan |publisher=southdreamz.com |access-date=17 January 2011 |url=http://www.southdreamz.com/2009/11/i-believe-in-excellence-kamal-hassan.html |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716113858/http://www.southdreamz.com/2009/11/i-believe-in-excellence-kamal-hassan.html |archive-date=16 July 2011 }} His fan clubs help organise blood- and eye-donation drives, and donate educational materials to students.{{cite web|year=2010 |title=Kamal Haasan launches eye-donation campaign |publisher=The India daily |access-date=22 January 2011 |url=http://www.theindiadaily.com/kamal-haasan-launches-eye-donation-campaign/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110420055225/http://www.theindiadaily.com/kamal-haasan-launches-eye-donation-campaign/ |archive-date=20 April 2011 }}{{cite web|year=2010 |title=Kamal Haasan helps 30000 students |publisher=extramirchi.com |access-date=17 January 2011 |url=http://www.extramirchi.com/bollywood/kamal-haasan-helps-30000-students/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110128062024/http://www.extramirchi.com/bollywood/kamal-haasan-helps-30000-students/ |archive-date=28 January 2011 }}{{cite news|author= |title=Spreading the message of sharing and learning |work=The Hindu |access-date=22 January 2011 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/article615507.ece |date=5 September 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100908090624/http://www.thehindu.com/news/article615507.ece |archive-date= 8 September 2010 }}

Haasan received the first Abraham Kovoor National Award for his humanist activities and secular life in 2004.{{cite web|year=2007 |title=The legend turns 53 |publisher=Zee News |access-date=30 June 2009 |url=http://www.zeenews.com/news405995.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091026160459/http://www.zeenews.com/news405995.html |archive-date=26 October 2009 }} He was project ambassador for Hridayaragam 2010, which raised funds for an orphanage for HIV/AIDS-affected children.{{cite web|year=2009 |title=Kamal Hasan supports cause of Aids affected kids! |publisher=aidsroko.com |access-date=17 January 2011 |url=http://www.aidsroko.com/aids-hiv-article/kamal-hasan-supports-cause-of-aids-affected-kids/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101205031909/http://www.aidsroko.com/aids-hiv-article/kamal-hasan-supports-cause-of-aids-affected-kids/ |archive-date=5 December 2010 }} In September 2010 Haasan launched a children's cancer relief fund and gave roses to children with cancer at Sri Ramachandra University in Porur, Chennai.{{cite web |year=2010 |title=Kamal does it again |publisher=BizHat.com |access-date=17 January 2011 |url=http://filmreviews.bizhat.com/tamil/kamal-does-it-again/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402140436/http://filmreviews.bizhat.com/tamil/kamal-does-it-again/ |archive-date=2 April 2012 }} He has pledged his product-endorsement income to social causes.{{cite web|year=2010 |title=Kamal pledges support |website=Behindwoods.com |access-date=17 January 2011 |url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news-1/nov-10-05/kamal-haasan-30-11-10-02.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110103054233/http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news-1/nov-10-05/kamal-haasan-30-11-10-02.html |archive-date= 3 January 2011 }}{{cite web |title=Kamal Hassan gets branded |access-date=2 May 2012 |url=http://www.bollywood.com/kamal-haasan-gets-branded |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130824190229/http://www.bollywood.com/kamal-haasan-gets-branded |archive-date=24 August 2013 }} Haasan, along with his partner Gautami, won {{INR}} 5 million on Neengalum Vellalam Oru Kodi in March 2013 and donated the prize money to Petral Thaan Pillaya, a nonprofit organization supporting cancer patients.{{Cite web|date=25 March 2013|title=Kamal Haasan would make a great quiz master, says Siddharth Basu|url=https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/kamal-haasan-would-make-a-great-quiz-master-says-siddharth-basu-611350|access-date=25 August 2021|website=NDTV}}

Haasan was nominated by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Swachh Bharat campaign. He chose to clean the Madambakkam lake in Chennai with the Environmentalist Foundation of India's Arun Krishnamurthy on 7 November 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/Kamal-Calls-for-Sweeping-Change/2014/11/08/article2512298.ece|title=Kamal Calls for 'Sweeping' Change|work=The Indian Express|date=8 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141221235535/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/Kamal-Calls-for-Sweeping-Change/2014/11/08/article2512298.ece |archive-date=21 December 2014 }}{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/kamal-haasan-launches-swachch-bharat-campaign-at-madambakkam-on-his-birthday/article6574542.ece|title=Kamal Haasan celebrates birthday with a clean up drive|newspaper=The Hindu|date=7 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017104147/http://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/kamal-haasan-launches-swachch-bharat-campaign-at-madambakkam-on-his-birthday/article6574542.ece |archive-date=17 October 2015|last1=Madhavan|first1=T.|last2=Krishnaswamy|first2=G.}}

Known for refusing any kind of brand endorsement, Haasan endorsed Pothys for the first time in 2015.{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/in-a-first-kamal-haasan-to-feature-in-commercial/article7679166.ece |title=In a first, Kamal Haasan to feature in commercial |author=Udhav Naig |work=The Hindu |date=23 September 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017104147/http://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/in-a-first-kamal-haasan-to-feature-in-commercial/article7679166.ece |archive-date=17 October 2015 }} His daughter, Shruti has previously endorsed Pothys. In the past, Haasan has stated that should he ever act in commercials, the revenue earned from them would be donated to HIV affected children.{{cite web|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/kamal-haasan-to-endorse-textile-showroom-brand-pothys/1/479024.html |title=Kamal Haasan to endorse textile showroom brand Pothys |work=India Today |date=21 September 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017104147/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/kamal-haasan-to-endorse-textile-showroom-brand-pothys/1/479024.html |archive-date=17 October 2015 }}

Haasan publishes the magazine Mayyam, by the Kamal Haasan Welfare Association (Narpani Iyakkam). His views on cinema, child and drug abuse, and the Kashmir conflict have been published as Thedi Theerpom Va (Come, Let's Find and Solve) by his fan club.{{cite web |author= |year=2010 |title=Kamal's Magazine |publisher=ScreenIndia.com South Screen |access-date=22 January 2011 |url=http://www.screenindia.com/old/mar12/south2.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080601024603/http://www.screenindia.com/old/mar12/south2.htm |archive-date=1 June 2008 }} He is also interested in Tamil literature.{{cite news|author=Malathi Rangarajan |title=Cupid Calling |work=The Hindu |access-date=22 January 2011 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article945879.ece |date=11 December 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101216013204/http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article945879.ece |archive-date=16 December 2010 }}{{cite news|author=Malathi Rangarajan |title=Now it's the turn of Kamal Haasan ... the writer |work=The Hindu |access-date=10 October 2012 |url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2007/10/26/stories/2007102650130200.htm |date=26 October 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005010029/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2007/10/26/stories/2007102650130200.htm |archive-date= 5 October 2013 }}

He formed the centrist party Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM), a regional political party in Tamil Nadu. He formally announced the party's formation on 21 February 2018 in Madurai. The party's flag displays six joined hands in a circle in alternate red and white colours with a white star at its centre in a black background. Haasan began his political journey from late President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam's residence and his memorial at Rameswaram. His party contested in 37 seats in 2019 Indian general election and lost. Makkal Needhi Maiam's vote share in the 2019 Lok Sabha election was 3.72% (in the seats it contested).{{cite news |title=A great beginning, says Kamal Haasan. |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/a-great-beginning-says-kamal-haasan/article27241455.ece |work=The Hindu |date=25 May 2019 |access-date=6 June 2020 |archive-date=2 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190602183044/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/a-great-beginning-says-kamal-haasan/article27241455.ece |url-status=live }}

He unsuccessfully contested the 2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election from Coimbatore South and lost to BJP Mahila Morcha President Vanathi Srinivasan by a narrow margin.{{Cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/politics/coimbatore-south-election-result-2021-live-updates-coimbatore-south-winner-loser-leading-trailing-mla-margin-3694766.html|title = Tamil Nadu: Kamal Haasan Loses to BJP's Vanathi Srinivasan in Coimbatore South|date = 3 May 2021}}

{{Main|List of awards and nominations received by Kamal Haasan}}

File:Kamal Haasan interviews Ang Lee.jpg]]

Haasan received, in 1990, the Padma Shri, and, in 2014, the Padma Bhushan for his contributions to Indian cinema.{{cite web|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/kamal-hassan-turns-57/1/158991.html |title=Kamal Hassan turns 57 |work=India Today |date=7 November 2011 |access-date=7 November 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111150726/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/kamal-hassan-turns-57/1/158991.html |archive-date=11 November 2013 }} At age six, he won the President's gold medal for Best Child Actor for his debut film, Kalathur Kannamma.{{cite web|url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm40thNFAAward.aspx?PdfName=40NFA.pdf |title=Directorate of Film Festival |publisher=Iffi.nic.in |access-date=17 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151008114601/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm40thNFAAward.aspx?PdfName=40NFA.pdf |archive-date=8 October 2015 }} He is tied with Mammootty for the second most Best Actor National Film Awards with three. He won a National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil for producing the 1992 Tamil film, Thevar Magan. He has a record 20 Filmfare Awards in five languages; after his last award, in 2000, he wrote to the organisation requesting no further awards.{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/1404447/report-the-next-decade-will-be-the-best-of-my-career-kamal-haasan|title=The next decade will be the best of my career: Kamal Haasan|publisher=DNA India|access-date=30 May 2013|date=2 July 2010|archive-date=11 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011154059/https://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-the-next-decade-will-be-the-best-of-my-career-kamal-haasan-1404447|url-status=live}} In 2003, his films Hey Ram, Pushpak, Nayakan and Kuruthipunal were showcased in the "Director in Focus" category at the Rotterdam Film Festival.{{cite news|year=2001 |title=Director in Focus |work=The Hindu |access-date=22 January 2011 |url=http://hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2004/07/30/stories/2004073001610100.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101125134302/http://hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2004/07/30/stories/2004073001610100.htm |archive-date=25 November 2010 }} In 2004, Virumaandi won the inaugural Best Asian film award at the Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival (PiFan).{{cite web|year=2004 |title=Virumandi wins at Puchon Film Fest |website=IndiaGlitz |access-date=22 January 2011 |url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/hindi/article/10030.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613091331/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/hindi/article/10030.html |archive-date=13 June 2011 }}

In 2005, Sathyabama Deemed University awarded Haasan an honorary doctorate.{{cite web|year=2005 |title=Dr Kamal Haasan! |publisher=Rediff News |access-date=17 January 2011 |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2005/jan/24spice.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514065835/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2005/jan/24spice.htm |archive-date=14 May 2011 }} He received the Chevalier Sivaji Ganesan Award for Excellence in Indian Cinema at the inaugural Vijay Awards in 2006.{{cite web|year=2006 |title=Star-spangled it was |publisher=Goldentamilcinema.net |access-date=18 January 2011 |url=http://www.goldentamilcinema.net/new/news_25-12-06.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090608121104/http://www.goldentamilcinema.net/new/news_25-12-06.htm |archive-date=8 June 2009 }} He received the Living Legend Award in 2007 from FICCI.{{cite web|year=2007 |title=Kamal Haasan to receive Living Legend Award |website=IndiaGlitz.com |access-date=17 January 2011 |url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/29781.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613145155/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/29781.html |archive-date=13 June 2011 }} In 2010, the United Progressive Alliance government organised a retrospective of his films. Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni said the actor was unique, since his films broke regional and language barriers.{{cite news|title=Retrospective of Kamal Haasan films opens |access-date=18 January 2011 |url=http://www.hindu.com/2010/07/03/stories/2010070364451600.htm |date=3 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100808202224/http://www.hindu.com/2010/07/03/stories/2010070364451600.htm |work=The Hindu |archive-date= 8 August 2010 }} That year, the government of Kerala honoured him for 50 years in Indian cinema during statewide Onam celebrations in Thiruvananthapuram.{{cite news|title=Kerala honours Kamal Haasan |publisher=The Hindu News |access-date=18 January 2011 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/arts/article588181.ece |date=22 August 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100825092207/http://www.thehindu.com/arts/article588181.ece |archive-date=25 August 2010 }}

Haasan received the Kalaimamani Award from the government of Tamil Nadu in 1979.{{cite web |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/regional/kamal-hassan-to-be-honoured-at-mumbai-film-fest/article1-1121153.aspx |title=Kamal Haasan to be honoured at Mumbai Film Fest |date=12 September 2013 |work=Hindustan Times |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131221134136/http://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/regional/kamal-hassan-to-be-honoured-at-mumbai-film-fest/article1-1121153.aspx |archive-date=21 December 2013 }} Other honours include Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, Nandi, Screen and Vijay Awards, including four awards for his performance in Dasavathaaram. In 2009 he was appointed chairman of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) Media and Entertainment Business Conclave, organised by FICCI's entertainment division.{{cite web |year=2009 |title=Kamal Haasan appointed as chairman FICCI Media and Entertainment Business Conclave |publisher=The Indian Film Industry Official |access-date=21 January 2011 |url=http://www.businessofcinema.com/news.php?newsid=14712 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111025082351/http://businessofcinema.com/news.php?newsid=14712 |archive-date=25 October 2011 }} He is on the academic advisory council for ISFM (International school of Film+Media),{{cite web |year=2011 |title=Kamal Hassan and Anushka Shetty join ISFM as academic advisors |access-date=14 October 2011 |url=http://www.businessofcinema.com/news.php?newsid=19205 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111017112002/http://businessofcinema.com/news.php?newsid=19205 |archive-date=17 October 2011 }} and was the first Indian actor invited aboard an American ship as a special friend of the US.{{cite news|title=Kamal Haasan in mid-ocean when earthquake stuck|access-date=3 May 2012|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Kamal-Haasan-in-mid-ocean-when-earthquake-stuck/articleshow/12685899.cms|date=16 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521023229/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-04-16/news-interviews/31349356_1_tsunami-earthquake-ship|archive-date=21 May 2013|work=The Times of India|url-status=live}} In April 2013 he received an award on behalf of Indian cinema from Chris Brown, executive vice-president for conventions and business operations of the National Association of Broadcasters, as part of the New York Festivals International Film & TV Awards.{{cite news|title=Kamal receives award in New York Film Festival|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/tamil/news-interviews/Kamal-receives-award-in-New-York-Film-Festival/articleshow/19490712.cms|access-date=21 April 2013|date=11 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130416075746/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-04-11/news-interviews/38462260_1_vishwaroopam-indian-cinema-special-award|archive-date=16 April 2013|work=The Times of India|url-status=live}} He is one of 20 film celebrities recognised by Coca-Cola India with the launch of the 24th edition of the Limca Book of Records in 2013.{{cite web|title=Kamal Haasan, Mani Ratnam and Prabhu Deva are the chosen ones |year=2013 |url=http://behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-10/kamal-haasan-mani-ratnam-and-prabhu-deva-are-the-chosen-ones-kamal-haasan-coca-cola-16-04-13.html |access-date=23 April 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130418232522/http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-10/kamal-haasan-mani-ratnam-and-prabhu-deva-are-the-chosen-ones-kamal-haasan-coca-cola-16-04-13.html |archive-date=18 April 2013 }} Recently honoured with S. S. Vasan Award for his lifetime achievement in film industry by Ananda Vikatan.{{cite web|url=http://www.vikatan.com/news/album/general/6468-192762-ananda-vikatan-awards-2016.album |title=Ananda Vikatan Awards 2016 ஆனந்த விகடன் விருதுகள் 2016 |website=vikatan.com |date=13 January 2017 |access-date=17 January 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118053113/http://www.vikatan.com/news/album/general/6468-192762-ananda-vikatan-awards-2016.album |archive-date=18 January 2017 }}

File:Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan at audio release of Shamitabh.jpg]]Mani Ratnam who directed Haasan in Nayakan, has said that there are many things he can do that no other actor can.{{cite news |author=Shiva Kumar |date=25 August 2006 |title=Mani misses working with Kamal |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2006/08/25/stories/2006082502240100.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111062838/http://hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2006/08/25/stories/2006082502240100.htm |archive-date=11 November 2012 |access-date=21 January 2011 |work=The Hindu}} Veteran actor Nagesh called Haasan the best actor he had ever seen.{{cite news |author=Malathi Rangarajan |date=27 July 2007 |title=Behind that humorous veneer |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/behind-that-humorous-veneer/article2273149.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160328065205/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/behind-that-humorous-veneer/article2273149.ece |archive-date=28 March 2016 |access-date=12 July 2013 |newspaper=The Hindu}} His contributions to the film industry have been praised by his contemporaries, including Mammootty, Mohanlal, Prithviraj Sukumaran, Sridevi, Amitabh Bachchan, Venkatesh, Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan.{{cite news |date=19 August 2009 |title=Sridevi calls me sir, says Kamal Hassan |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/sridevi-was-like-a-sibling-to-me-says-kamal-haasan/99484-8.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130824013706/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/sridevi-was-like-a-sibling-to-me-says-kamal-haasan/99484-8.html |archive-date=24 August 2013 |access-date=12 July 2013 |publisher=CNN-IBN}}{{cite news |author=Shiva Kumar |date=25 August 2006 |title=I wanted to touch him:SRK on Kamal Haasan |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2006/08/25/stories/2006082502240100.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111062838/http://hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2006/08/25/stories/2006082502240100.htm |archive-date=11 November 2012 |access-date=21 January 2011 |work=The Hindu}}{{cite news |author=Shiva Kumar |date=25 August 2006 |title=Aamir on Kamal |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2006/08/25/stories/2006082502240100.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111062838/http://hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2006/08/25/stories/2006082502240100.htm |archive-date=11 November 2012 |access-date=21 January 2011 |work=The Hindu}}{{cite news |date=1 October 2009 |title=I want to work with Kamal Haasan again |url=http://www.southdreamz.com/2009/10/i-want-to-work-with-kamal-hassan-again-says-mohanlal.html |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121221074021/http://www.southdreamz.com/2009/10/i-want-to-work-with-kamal-hassan-again-says-mohanlal.html |archive-date=21 December 2012 |access-date=24 May 2013 |publisher=Southdreamz.com}} Younger actors (Suriya and Madhavan){{cite web |year=2009 |title=Surya on Kamal |url=http://www.southdreamz.com/2009/08/kamal-hassan-comments-on-suryas-speech.html |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009183952/http://www.southdreamz.com/2009/08/kamal-hassan-comments-on-suryas-speech.html |archive-date=9 October 2011 |publisher=southdreamz.com}}{{cite web |year=2010 |title=Kamal's advise to Surya |url=http://www.southdreamz.com/2010/03/kamal-haasans-advise-to-suriya.html |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009184054/http://www.southdreamz.com/2010/03/kamal-haasans-advise-to-suriya.html |archive-date=9 October 2011 |publisher=southdreamz.com}}{{cite web |author=Subhash K Jha |year=2003 |title=Maddy on Kamal |url=http://in.rediff.com/movies/2003/jan/09kamal.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160326014635/http://in.rediff.com/movies/2003/jan/09kamal.htm |archive-date=26 March 2016 |access-date=22 January 2011 |work=Rediff.com}} and filmmakers (Bala, Ameer and Gautham Menon) have been inspired by him.{{cite web |date=1 June 2010 |title=Bala says Anbe Sivam inspired him |url=http://tamilmovies.ebest.in/tamil-movie-news/bala-says-anbe-sivam-inspired-me/story_1613.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100605035657/http://tamilmovies.ebest.in/tamil-movie-news/bala-says-anbe-sivam-inspired-me/story_1613.html |archive-date=5 June 2010 |work=tamilmovies.ebest}}{{cite web |year=2009 |title=Second Innings |url=http://www.goergo.in/?p=3910 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130824213321/http://www.goergo.in/?p=3910 |archive-date=24 August 2013 |publisher=Ergo}}{{cite web |year=2009 |title=Surya most versatile after Kamal – Gautham Menon |url=http://www.goergo.in/?p=3120 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130824215259/http://www.goergo.in/?p=3120 |archive-date=24 August 2013 |access-date=3 May 2012 |publisher=Ergo}}{{cite web |author=Shiva Kumar |year=2006 |title=Gautham on Kamal |url=http://www.southdreamz.com/2010/08/ajith-kumar-snubs-gautham-menon.html |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009183928/http://www.southdreamz.com/2010/08/ajith-kumar-snubs-gautham-menon.html |archive-date=9 October 2011 |access-date=22 January 2011}}

Hollywood filmmaker Barrie M. Osburne called Haasan's knowledge of literature, history and films "encyclopedic",{{cite news |date=11 June 2012 |title=Kamal Hassan, Barrie M Osborne to work together |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/kamal-hassan-barrie-m-osborne-iifa-vishwaroop-ramayan-singapore/1/200189.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120904042800/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/kamal-hassan-barrie-m-osborne-iifa-vishwaroop-ramayan-singapore/1/200189.html |archive-date=4 September 2012 |work=India Today}} and Ang Lee said he was stunned by his brilliance and knowledge of films.{{cite news |date=2 November 2012 |title=Ang Lee: Totally stunned by Kamal Haasan's brilliance |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/ang-lee-totally-stunned-by-kamal-haasans-brilliance/303474-8-67.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131208083738/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/ang-lee-totally-stunned-by-kamal-haasans-brilliance/303474-8-67.html |archive-date=8 December 2013 |work=IBN Live}} Some of his films were inspired from Hollywood films.{{cite news |date=13 August 2014 |title=Kamal-Haasan-condoles-Robin-Williams-death – The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Kamal-Haasan-condoles-Robin-Williams-death-but-calls-it-a-cop-out/articleshow/40140589.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150430074430/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Kamal-Haasan-condoles-Robin-Williams-death-but-calls-it-a-cop-out/articleshow/40140589.cms |archive-date=30 April 2015 |access-date=19 January 2015 |work=The Times of India}}{{cite web |date=3 July 2014 |title=uttama villain inspiration woody allens movie kamal haasan |url=http://newsmix.in/uttama-villain-inspiration-woody-allens-movie-kamal-haasan/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150119213950/http://newsmix.in/uttama-villain-inspiration-woody-allens-movie-kamal-haasan/ |archive-date=19 January 2015 |access-date=19 January 2015 |publisher=newsmix.in}}

'The Week', in its 13 September 1992 edition, reported that Chiranjeevi charged Rs. 12.5 million per film, which was the highest remuneration for an Indian actor at the time. In 1994, Haasan became the first Indian actor to charge 15 million per film.{{Cite news |date=2015-02-24 |title=Kamal Haasan was the first actor to get paid Rs. 1 crore |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/did-you-know/kamal-haasan-was-the-first-actor-to-get-paid-rs-1-crore/articleshow/45106288.cms |access-date=2024-08-04 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}

In 2019, he passed a controversial remark that independent India's first terrorist was a Hindu during his election campaign.{{Cite news |last=PTI |date=2019-05-13 |title=Free India's first terrorist was a Hindu, his name is Nathuram Godse: Kamal Haasan |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/free-indias-first-terrorist-was-hindu-his-name-was-godse-says-kamal-haasan/article27114060.ece/ |access-date=2025-05-24 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}

In 2015, Haasan was criticised by the-then Tamil Nadu Finance Minister O. Panneerselvam, who stated that Haasan was "confused" and had "blabbered", unaware of the ground reality for his statement on the government's response to rain relief efforts.{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/tn-finance-minister-slams-kamal-hassan-for-flaying-relief-measures/article7952750.ece|title=TN Finance Minister slams Kamal Hassan for flaying relief measures|newspaper=The Hindu|date=5 December 2015|access-date=14 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170212011743/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/tn-finance-minister-slams-kamal-hassan-for-flaying-relief-measures/article7952750.ece|archive-date=12 February 2017|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Kamal-Haasan-talking-gibberish-not-in-his-senses-says-state-finance-minister-OPanneerselvam/articleshow/50056081.cms|title=Kamal Haasan talking gibberish, not in his senses, says state finance minister O Panneerselvam|work=The Times of India|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208015536/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Kamal-Haasan-talking-gibberish-not-in-his-senses-says-state-finance-minister-OPanneerselvam/articleshow/50056081.cms |date= 8 December 2015|url-status=live|archive-date=8 December 2015}} Haasan was also criticised by Nayakan{{'s}} producer Muktha Srinivasan for his article in The Hindu taking unnecessary credit for that film.{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-sundaymagazine/living-in-past-glory/article4039603.ece|title=Living in past glory – Visakhapatnam|date=28 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130125060843/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-sundaymagazine/living-in-past-glory/article4039603.ece |archive-date=25 January 2013|access-date=14 July 2016|newspaper=The Hindu}} Directors like Bharathan, who was irked by the unnecessary interferences of Kamal during the filming of Thevar Magan, and Balachandra Menon, who criticized Kamal for making his film, Kanden Seethaiyai, shelved by leaving the project, were some of the filmmakers who had rifts with Kamal.{{cite web | url=https://www.ibtimes.co.in/heres-why-balachandra-menon-called-kamal-haasan-insane-646835 | title=Here's why Balachandra Menon called Kamal Haasan 'insane' | website=International Business Times | date=16 September 2015 }} Sibi Malayil was supposed to direct the film Gunaa. But when he understood that Kamal Haasan would take the decisions regarding the making of film, Sibi withdrew from the project.{{cite web | url=https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2024/03/06/cameraman-venu-malayalam-movie-manjummel-boys-tamil-movie-kamal-haasan-gunaa.html | title=As 'Manjummel Boys' rocks BO, cameraman Venu offers a flashback into Kamal's daring shoot in Guna caves 3 decades ago }}

Haasan has been accused of self-indulgence,{{cite news

|title=The legendary Kamalhassan speaks

|website=Sify |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/malayalam/interview.php?id=13302467&cid=2408&page=1

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105033200/http://www.sify.com/movies/malayalam/interview.php?id=13302467&cid=2408&page=1

|archive-date= 5 November 2013

}} and has been criticised for sexually explicit scenes and themes, offending religious sentiments and superficiality on social issues depicted in his films.{{cite news|title=Kamal Haasan's Dasavatharam faces ire of Hindu outfits |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/kamal-hassans-dasavatharam-faces-ire-of-hindu-outfits/64674-8.html |access-date=24 January 2011 |newspaper=CNN-IBN |date=6 May 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111105031719/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/kamal-hassans-dasavatharam-faces-ire-of-hindu-outfits/64674-8.html |archive-date= 5 November 2011 }}{{cite news|title=கமலுக்கு இந்து மக்கள் கட்சி நோட்டீஸ் |url=https://cinema.dinamalar.com/tamil-news/2978/cinema/Kollywood/.htm |access-date=24 January 2011 |newspaper=Dina Malar |date=10 December 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710130659/http://cinema.dinamalar.com/tamil-news/2978/cinema/Kollywood/.htm |archive-date=10 July 2011 }}Kamala Haasan – Nigazha Marutha Arputham (The Miracle that never happened) by Charu Nivedita, India Today, Jan 2009 There have also been complaints about his obsession with perfection, which may have caused some of his films to run over budget.{{cite web|author=Prem Panicker |year=2003 |title=The result was a nightmare... – Prem Panicker |work=Rediff.com |access-date=22 January 2011 |url=http://in.rediff.com/movies/2003/nov/08kamal5.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622104924/http://in.rediff.com/movies/2003/nov/08kamal5.htm |archive-date=22 June 2011 }}{{cite news|title=As star power wanes.. |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2002/11/08/stories/2002110801030300.htm |access-date=24 January 2011 |date=8 November 2002 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140607065307/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2002/11/08/stories/2002110801030300.htm |newspaper=The Hindu |archive-date= 7 June 2014 }}{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/tamil/news-and-interviews/When-Parvathy-slipped-in-front-of-Kamal/articleshow/37640825.cms |title=When Parvathy slipped in front of Kamal – The Times of India |work=The Times of India |date=3 July 2014 |access-date=3 July 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810094320/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/tamil/news-and-interviews/When-Parvathy-slipped-in-front-of-Kamal/articleshow/37640825.cms |archive-date=10 August 2014 }} He was also accused of kissing actress Rekha Harris without her consent in a scene during the shooting of Punnagai Mannan. Many, including singer Chinmayi Sripaada, consider it as sexual harassment.{{cite news | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/chinmayi-on-rekhas-revelation-about-punnagai-mannan-kissing-scene/articleshow/74302265.cms | title=Chinmayi on Rekha's revelation about Punnagai Mannan kissing scene | newspaper=The Times of India | date=25 February 2020 }} His former partner Gautami had said that Kamal Haasan hasn't paid her salary dues since 2016. She also accused Haasan of hurting her film prospects by preventing her from working with others.{{cite news | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/chennai/gautami-says-kamal-haasan-hasnt-paid-her-salary-dues-since-2016/articleshow/63065036.cms | title=Gautami says Kamal Haasan hasn't paid her salary dues since 2016 | newspaper=The Times of India | date=25 February 2018 }} In November 2017, Haasan said that right-wing Hindus have started employing extremism to propagate their communal agenda.{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/saffron-terrorism-kamal-haasan-says-right-wing-hindus-have-started-employing-terrorism/articleshow/61453672.cms|title=Kamal Haasan says right wing Hindus have started employing terrorism|website=The Times of India|date=2 November 2017 |access-date=2 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171103135840/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/saffron-terrorism-kamal-haasan-says-right-wing-hindus-have-started-employing-terrorism/articleshow/61453672.cms|archive-date=3 November 2017|url-status=live}}

In May 2025, Hassan made a statement that "Kannada was born out of Tamil", which offended Kannadigas and Pro-Kannada activists. His refusal to apologise sparked wide spread protests in Karnataka and led to the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce calling for ban on the release of Thug Life. On 3 June 2025, the Karnataka High Court, warned Haasan that he cannot use his right to speech "to hurt sentiments".{{Cite news |last=Mathur |first=Abhimanyu |date=3 June 2025 |title=Kamal Haasan faces ire of Karnataka High Court for not apologising in Kannada row: 'Are you a historian or linguist' |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/tamil-cinema/kamal-haasan-earns-the-ire-of-karnataka-high-court-for-not-apologising-over-kannada-row-thug-life-101748933814429.html |access-date=14 June 2025 |work=Hindustan Times}}{{cite web | url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/kamal-haasan-5-observations-karnataka-high-court-made-on-thug-life-actors-kannada-tamil-remark-8575357 | title="Won't Permit Anyone To...": 5 Observations Court Made in Kamal Haasan Case }}

• Kamal Haasan's unrealized projects
• Raaj Kamal Films International
• Makkal Needhi Maiam
• Haasan family

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

{{Sister project links|d=Q381477|c=Category:Kamal Haasan|q=Kamal Haasan|b=no|wikt=no|s=no|v=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|species=no|n=no}}

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{{Kamal Haasan}}

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{{Filmfare Award for Best Actor}}

{{Filmfare Award for Best Story}}

{{Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Malayalam}}

{{Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil}}

{{Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu}}

{{Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Kannada}}

{{Nandi Award for Best Actor}}

{{National Film Award Best Actor}}

{{Padma Bhushan Award recipients 2010–2019}}

{{Tamil Nadu State Award for Best Actor}}

{{Zee Cine Award for Best Actor in a Comic Role}}

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{{Raaj Kamal Films International}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Haasan, Kamal}}

Category:Living people

Category:1954 births

Category:Male actors from Chennai

Category:Filmfare Awards winners

Category:Indian atheists

Category:Indian male film actors

Category:Indian male screenwriters

Category:Film producers from Chennai

Category:Male actors in Hindi cinema

Category:Male actors in Kannada cinema

Category:Male actors in Malayalam cinema

Category:Male actors in Telugu cinema

Category:Male actors in Tamil cinema

Category:Tamil male actors

Category:Tamil film directors

Category:Tamil film producers

Category:Tamil playback singers

Category:Tamil screenwriters

Category:Tamil film poets

Category:Tamil Nadu State Film Awards winners

Category:People from Ramanathapuram district

Category:Best Actor National Film Award winners

Category:Nandi Award winners

Category:Recipients of the Rashtrapati Award

Category:20th-century Indian male actors

Category:21st-century Indian male actors

Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in arts

Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts

Category:Indian male child actors

Category:20th-century Indian composers

Category:Chevaliers of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres

Category:Hindi-language film directors

Category:Tamil-language film directors

Category:20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights

Category:21st-century Indian dramatists and playwrights

Category:Indian Tamil people

Category:Screenwriters from Tamil Nadu

Category:Indian actor-politicians

Category:Indian political party founders

Category:Makkal Needhi Maiam politicians

Category:Zee Cine Awards winners