Highlights
- He's arguably the only megastar in South Indian cinema who can compete with Rajinikanth. After playing 10 roles in Dasavatharam and starring in a remake of A Wednesday with Mohanlal, Kamal Haasan's much awaited film Manmadhan Ambu, meaning Cupid's Arrow is being released across the globe today.
- Most Kamal films are controversial and This time as well, a few religious outfits had objected to a song, forcing the producer to delete it.
- In an Exclusive chat with NDTV's Sanjay Pinto, Kamal Haasan lashes out at the self styled censors.
- The 'Universal Hero' as he's called also denied reports of the DMK's first family having a strangehold on the Tamil film industry and divulged the secret behind his new look - with biriyani and without botox!
- NDTV: How did you manage this look? Kamal Hassan has always looked 20 years younger than his real age! You've given many young heroes a run for their money now. What's the secret? Would you mind spilling the beans? Botox? Or staying away from all those Samco biriyanis next door?!
- Kamal: "I do a little bit of samco biriyani but not botox at all. See my face. There is also a lot of working out. Gowthami takes care of my diet. Unkind and kind at the same time.
- Ques: Recently there was a book released about Rajinikanth's punch dialogues called punch tantra. Many believe if there's a book on Kamal Hasaan…probably, it could be on deleted scenes?!
- Kamal: Oh..that will be very interesting. Some of them for sure.
- NDTV: In fact I have got your screenplay of Hey Ram, where you included many of those deleted scenes.
- Kamal: Deleted scenes were done by censors but some of it, I fought and got back. Some of it, I thought would be a good political statement made.
- NDTV: This time around also with Manmadhan Ambu, you said that had you been the producer, you would not have deleted those scenes that some sections found objectionable, hurting religious sentiments. Kamal: You know the censors have allowed it. These are rabble rousing people who are looking for publicity. NDTV: What was the objection really to that song?
- Kamal: They claim that I had said Dhondhiganpathi. Dhondhiganpathi is which you find in all prayer songs. Probably I am considered to be a rationalist and hence I can't say it, but they can. This is not about hurting people."
- NDTV: Does it make you sad that despite getting a U-certificate from the Censor Board, there are almost parallel censor boards operating with impunity? Kamal: This also came from the producer. The request came from the producer. They didn't want to take it. Probably they couldn't pack a punch or perhaps didnt want to take a risk with elections coming up. That is something I would take on…if I were a producer."
- NDTV: Many people believe the Tamil film industry today dominated by three power centres. Red giant owned by M K Stalin's son, Cloud 9 by Alagiri's son and and Sun pictures by the Marans. What's your take on this?
- Kamal: It's always been the survival of the fittest. One time it was dominated by AVM, Nagi reddy Saheb and Vasan. Rest was Jupiter studio. It used be four or five big players even then.
He's arguably the only megastar in South Indian cinema who can compete with Rajinikanth. After playing 10 roles in
Dasavatharam and starring in a remake of
A Wednesday with Mohanlal, Kamal Haasan's much awaited film
Manmadhan Ambu, meaning Cupid's Arrow is releasing across the globe today.
Most Kamal films are controversial and this time as well, a few religious outfits had objected to a song, forcing the producer to delete it.
In an exclusive chat with NDTV's Sanjay Pinto, Kamal Haasan lashes out at the self styled censors.
The 'Universal Hero' as he's called also denied reports of the DMK's first family having a strange hold on the Tamil film industry and divulged the secret behind his new look.
NDTV: Kamal Hassan has always looked 20 years younger than his real age! You've given many young heroes a run for their money now. What's the secret? Would you mind spilling the beans? Botox? Or staying away from all those Samco biriyanis next door?
Kamal: "I do a little bit of samco biriyani but not botox at all. See my face. There is also a lot of working out. Gauthami takes care of my diet. Unkind and kind at the same time.
Ques: Recently there was a book released about Rajinikanth's punch dialogues called
Punch Tantra. Many believe if there's a book on Kamal Hasaan...probably, it could be on deleted scenes?
Kamal: Oh..that will be very interesting. Some of them for sure.
NDTV: I have got your screenplay of
Hey Ram, where you included many of those deleted scenes.
Kamal: Deleted scenes were done by censors but some of it, I fought and got back. Some of it, I thought would be a good political statement made.
NDTV: This time around also with
Manmadhan Ambu, you said that had you been the producer, you would not have deleted those scenes that some sections found objectionable, hurting religious sentiments.
Kamal: You know the censors have allowed it. These are rabble rousing people who are looking for publicity.
NDTV: What was the objection really to that song?
Kamal: They claim that I had said Dhondhiganpathi. Dhondhiganpathi is which you find in all prayer songs. Probably I am considered to be a rationalist and hence I can't say it, but they can. This is not about hurting people.
NDTV: Does it make you sad that despite getting a U-certificate from the censor board, there are almost parallel censor boards operating with impunity?
Kamal: The request came from the producer. They didn't want to take it. Probably they couldn't pack a punch or perhaps didn't want to take a risk with elections coming up. That is something I would take on...if I were a producer.
NDTV: Many people believe the Tamil film industry today dominated by three power centres. Red giant owned by M K Stalin's son, Cloud 9 by Alagiri's son and and Sun pictures by the Marans. What's your take on this?
Kamal: It's always been the survival of the fittest. One time it was dominated by AVM, Nagi Reddy Saheb and Vasan. Rest was Jupiter studio. It used be four or five big players even then.
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