Kamal Haasan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kamal Haasan
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Haasan at San Diego Comic-Con in 2023
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| Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha | |
| Assumed office 25 July 2025 |
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| Preceded by | Vaiko |
| Constituency | Tamil Nadu |
| Parliamentary Chairperson of the Makkal Needhi Maiam | |
| Assumed office 25 July 2025 |
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| Preceded by | Position established |
| President of the Makkal Needhi Maiam | |
| Assumed office 21 February 2018 |
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| Preceded by | Position established |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Parthasarathy Srinivasan
7 November 1954 Paramakudi, Madras State, India |
| Nationality | India |
| Spouses |
Vani Ganapathy
(m. 1978; div. 1988)Sarika Thakur
(m. 1988; div. 2004) |
| Domestic partner | Gautami (2005–2016) |
| Children |
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| Relatives | See Haasan family |
| Occupation |
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| Awards |
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Kamal Haasan (born Parthasarathy Srinivasan on November 7, 1954) is a famous Indian actor, filmmaker, and politician. He is known for his work in Tamil cinema but has also acted in films in many other Indian languages. Many people consider him one of the greatest actors in the history of Indian Cinema.
Haasan is also famous for bringing new technologies and ideas to Tamil films. He has won many awards for his work, including four National Film Awards and eighteen Filmfare Awards South. The Indian government honored him with the Padma Shri in 1990 and the Padma Bhushan in 2014. In 2025, he was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which is a big honor for filmmakers.
Besides acting, Haasan started his own political party called Makkal Needhi Maiam in 2018. He also does a lot of work to help people in need.
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Early Life and Family
Kamal Haasan was born in Paramakudi, a town in Tamil Nadu, India. His father, D. Srinivasan, was a lawyer, and his mother, Rajalakshmi, was a housewife. He has two older brothers, Charuhasan and Chandrahasan, and a sister, Nalini.
His family moved to Madras (now Chennai) for his brothers' education. In Chennai, Haasan became very interested in movies and art. His father encouraged him to follow his passions.
Film Career
A Star from Childhood
Kamal Haasan started his acting career as a child. His first movie was Kalathur Kannamma in 1960. He was only six years old but won the President's Gold Medal for his performance. After his first film, he acted in five more movies as a child artist.
He took a break from films for seven years. When he returned, he worked as a dance assistant. He also had small roles in a few movies. His first big role as an adult was in the 1973 film Arangetram.
Becoming a Leading Actor
Haasan's career took off with the 1975 film Apoorva Raagangal. He played a young man who falls in love with an older woman. This role won him his first Filmfare Award as a lead actor.
Throughout the late 1970s, he starred in many successful films. He won four Best Actor awards in a row. He acted in films in different languages, including Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, and Telugu. By the end of the decade, he was a major star across South India.
Success in the 1980s
In the 1980s, Haasan became a national star. He starred in the Bollywood hit Ek Duuje Ke Liye (1981). He also produced his 100th film, Raja Paarvai, where he played a blind violinist.
He won his first National Film Award for Best Actor for the movie Moondram Pirai (1982). In this film, he played a kind schoolteacher. He won his second National Award for Nayakan (1987), where he played a powerful community leader. Nayakan was so popular that it was included on Time's All-Time 100 Movies list.
One of his most famous roles from this time was in Apoorva Sagodharargal (1989). In this movie, he played a man who was a dwarf, which was a very challenging role.
The Creative 1990s
In the 1990s, Haasan continued to experiment with different roles. In Michael Madana Kama Rajan (1990), he played four different characters (quadruplets). He also wrote the story for the hit film Thevar Magan (1992).
He won his third National Award for Best Actor for the film Indian (1996). In it, he played both an old freedom fighter and his son. He also directed his first Bollywood film, Chachi 420 (1997), where he dressed up as a woman to be close to his daughter.
New Millennium, New Roles
In 2000, Haasan directed and starred in Hey Ram, a historical film about an important time in India's past. He also starred in many successful comedies like Thenali and Panchatanthiram.
In Dasavathaaram (2008), he amazed audiences by playing ten different roles in one movie. The film was a huge success. It was one of the first modern science-fiction movies made in India.
His 2013 film Vishwaroopam was an action-packed spy thriller. It was very successful and won two National Film Awards.
Recent Work and Future Projects
In 2022, Haasan starred in the action film Vikram. It was a massive box office hit and became one of the highest-grossing Tamil films ever. The song "Pathala Pathala" from the movie, which Haasan sang, became very popular online.
He then appeared in the science-fiction epic Kalki 2898 AD (2024) and the sequel Indian 2 (2024). His film Thug Life, made with famous director Mani Ratnam, was released in June 2025.
Behind the Scenes
Kamal Haasan is not just an actor. He has written the stories for many of his films. He also has his own production company, Raaj Kamal Films International. He has directed four movies and has even worked as a makeup artist and singer. He has sung many songs for his films in different languages.
Hosting 'Bigg Boss Tamil'
In 2017, Haasan began hosting the popular reality TV show Bigg Boss Tamil. The show became a huge hit in Tamil Nadu. He has hosted most of the seasons, becoming a familiar face on television for millions of viewers.
Personal Life
Kamal Haasan has been married twice. His first marriage was to dancer Vani Ganapathy from 1978 to 1988.
He later married actress Sarika Thakur. They have two daughters, Shruti Haasan and Akshara Haasan. Both Shruti and Akshara are also working in the film industry. Shruti is a well-known actress and singer. Akshara is an actress and assistant director. Haasan and Sarika separated in 2004.
Haasan is known for being a rationalist, which means he bases his beliefs on reason and knowledge rather than faith.
Helping Others
Kamal Haasan is known for his humanitarian work. He was one of the first actors to turn his fan clubs into welfare organizations. These groups organize blood donation drives and help poor students with school supplies.
He has supported many causes, including helping children with cancer and those affected by HIV/AIDS. In 2014, he was nominated by India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Swachh Bharat Mission, a campaign to clean up India.
Political Career
On February 21, 2018, Kamal Haasan started his own political party called Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM). The name means "People's Justice Centre." He said he wanted to bring a new kind of politics to Tamil Nadu that focuses on helping people.
His party contested in the 2019 Indian general election and the 2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election. In 2021, Haasan ran for a seat in Coimbatore but lost by a very small number of votes. In July 2025, he became a Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha for Tamil Nadu.
Awards and Legacy
Kamal Haasan has won more than 200 awards. He has won the most Filmfare Awards of any actor, with 20 wins. He has also won four National Film Awards.
Many famous actors and directors, both in India and around the world, have praised his work. Hollywood director Barrie M. Osborne (producer of The Lord of the Rings) called his knowledge of film "encyclopedic."
He has inspired a whole new generation of actors and filmmakers in India. His dedication to his craft and his willingness to take on new challenges have made him a true legend of Indian cinema.
Images for kids
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Haasan with Rajinikanth
See also
In Spanish: Kamal Haasan para niños
- Kamal Haasan's unrealized projects
- Raaj Kamal Films International
- Makkal Needhi Maiam
- Haasan family
