Kamal Haasan

Kamal Haasan, born Parthasarathy Srinivasan on November 7, 1954, in Paramakudi, Ramanathapuram district, Tamil Nadu, is one of the most celebrated and versatile actors in the history of Indian cinema. Revered as “Ulaga Nayagan” (Universal Hero), he has been a transformative force in Tamil cinema for over six decades.

Kamal began his career as a child artist, winning the President’s Gold Medal for the film “Kalathur Kannamma” (1960) at age six. He rose to superstardom in the 1970s and 1980s with landmark films like “Apoorva Raagangal” (1975), “16 Vayathinile” (1977), “Moondram Pirai” (1982), “Nayakan” (1987) — which was included in Time magazine’s list of the 100 greatest films ever made — and “Indian” (1996). His commitment to method acting and physical transformations is unparalleled, as seen in “Avvai Shanmugi” (1996), “Dasavathaaram” (2008), and “Vikram” (2022).

Kamal has won four National Film Awards, 19 Filmfare Awards, and the Padma Shri (1990) and Padma Bhushan (2014). He is also a filmmaker, screenwriter, lyricist, and playback singer. In 2018, he founded the political party Makkal Needhi Maiam. With over 230 films spanning multiple languages, Kamal Haasan remains one of the most influential and innovative artists in world cinema.