Kamal Haasan Biography(2025): The Definitive Guide to a Controversial & Legendary Career

Kamal Haasan Biography: The Definitive Guide to a Controversial & Legendary Career

This photo by Gage Skidmore via flickr commons license under [CC By 2.0]

Kamal Haasan is a Best and Famous Actor in Indian cinema, widely recognised for his immense talent and versatility. Born on November 7, 1954, in Paramakudi, Tamil Nadu, India, he has made exceptional contributions to the film industry as an actor, filmmaker, dancer, writer, producer, playback singer, and choreographer.

His career, spanning over six decades, began as a child artist, and he has since starred in over 220 films, predominantly in Tamil, but also in Malayalam, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, and Bengali cinema.

He is a recipient of four National Film Awards, 19 Filmfare Awards, and the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres from the French government, among numerous other accolades. Haasan’s artistic genius extends beyond acting.

He has written and directed critically acclaimed films, showcasing a bold vision and a commitment to pushing cinematic boundaries. His production company, Raaj Kamal Films International, has been instrumental in creating some of Indian cinema’s most iconic works.

With a massive and loyal fan base, he continues to be a profound influence on generations of artists and a cultural icon whose legacy is etched in the annals of film history.

Let’s talk about the Kamal Haasan awards, Kamal Haasan daughters, Kamal Haasan height and age, and Kamal Haasan Biography.

Biography & Wiki

Original/Real Name	Parthasarathy Srinivasan
Nickname	Ulaganayagan, Nammavar, Kamal Haasan
Occupation	Actor, Filmmaker, Politician, Producer, Screenwriter, Playback Singer, Dancer
Famous For	Versatility, 4 National Film Awards, 19 Filmfare Awards, Anbe Sivam, Nayagan
Date of Birth	November 7, 1954
Age (As of 2025)	71 Years
Birthplace	Paramakudi, Tamil Nadu, India
Hometown	Paramakudi, Tamil Nadu, India
Nationality	Indian
Religion	Atheist (Born into a Hindu family)
Ethnicity	Tamil
Zodiac Sign	Scorpio
Mother Tongue	Tamil
Debut	Child Actor: Kalathur Kannamma (1960)

Height, Weight & Body Measurements

Category	Details
Height (Centimetres)	165 cm (approx.)
Height (metres)	1.65 m (approx.)
Height (Inches)	5′ 5″ (approx.)
Weight (Kilograms)	75 kg (approx.)
Weight (Pounds)	165 lbs (approx.)
Body Type	Athletic
Hair Colour	Black/Salt and Pepper
Eye’s Colour	Dark brown

Family and Relatives

Relationship	Name
Father	D. Srinivasan (Lawyer, Freedom Fighter)
Mother	Rajalakshmi Srinivasan (Homemaker)
Siblings	Charuhasan, Chandrahasan, Nalini Raghu
Marital Status	Divorced
Ex-Wife 1	Vani Ganapathy (m. 1978; div. 1988)
Ex-Wife 2	Sarika (m. 1988; div. 2004)
Children	Shruti Haasan, Akshara Haasan
Partner	Gautami Tadimalla (2005 – 2016)

Relationship Timeline

Date/Year	Partner Name	Relationship Type
1970s	Srividya	Dating
1978 – 1988	Vani Ganapathy	Marriage
1988 – 2004	Sarika	Live-in relationship → Marriage
2005 – 2016	Gautami Tadimalla	Live-in relationship

Family Timeline

Date/Year	Event
1954	Kamal Haasan is born to D. Srinivasan and Rajalakshmi.
1978	Marries classical dancer Vani Ganapathy.
1986	Daughter Shruti Haasan is born to Kamal Haasan and actress Sarika.
1988	Divorces Vani Ganapathy and marries Sarika.
1991	Daughter Akshara Haasan is born.
2004	Divorces Sarika.
2005 – 2016	Is in a live-in relationship with actress Gautami.

Education Qualification and Schooling/College

Field	Information
School	Paramakudi Primary School, Hindu Higher Secondary School (Madras/Chennai)
College / University	Did not attend college
Course Studied	N/A (focused on acting and filmmaking)
Highest Qualification	High School (left studies early to pursue cinema)
Education Type	Public & Private Schooling
Academic Interests	Acting, Dance, Music, Literature
Early Career	Debuted as a child actor in Kalathur Kannamma (1959) at age 4
Job Type	Actor, Filmmaker, Screenwriter, Producer, Politician

Social Media Links

Platform	Link
Twitter (X)	@ikamalhaasan
Facebook	@iKamalHaasan
Instagram	@ikamalhaasan

Early Career

• Entered cinema as a child actor in 1960 with Kalathur Kannamma, earning national recognition with the President’s Gold Medal.
• Took a break from acting during schooling, later returning to the industry in his late teens.
• Worked behind the scenes as a dance assistant and choreographer, gaining technical and performance experience.
• Landed small supporting and cameo roles in early 1970s Tamil films, which helped him build a screen presence.
• Made his Malayalam cinema debut with Kanyakumari (1974), winning his first regional award as an adult actor.
• Achieved his first major Tamil breakthrough in Apoorva Raagangal (1975), a film noted for its bold storyline.
• Throughout the mid-70s, he steadily rose to prominence by experimenting with diverse characters across Tamil, Malayalam, and Telugu films.

Career Highlights

• 1960s – Child Prodigy
• Started acting and debuted at age six in Kalathur Kannamma, earning national honours for his performance.
• Quickly became a recognisable face in Tamil cinema before stepping away to focus on education.
• 1970s – Return & Breakthrough
• Re-entered the industry in his late teens, starting behind the camera as a dance assistant.
• Took on supporting roles in Tamil films, gradually gaining attention for his versatility.
• Won and praised enthusiastically in Malayalam cinema with Kanyakumari (1974).
• Broke into the Tamil mainstream with Apoorva Raagangal (1975), noted for its unconventional narrative.
• 1980s – Rise to National Fame
• Starred in landmark films like Moondram Pirai and Nayakan, both earning him National Film Awards.
• Took on challenging roles that explored complex human emotions and social themes.
• Experimented with silent storytelling in Pushpaka Vimana (1987), which became an international festival favourite
• 1990s – Versatility & Experimentation
• Balanced mainstream hits with artistic projects such as Mahanadi and Kuruthipunal.
• Produced and acted in Thevar Magan, which received national recognition.
• Delivered a powerhouse dual-role performance in Indian (1996), winning another National Award.
• 2000s – Actor-Filmmaker Phase
• Took creative control with movie projects like Hey Ram and Virumaandi, serving as actor, writer, and director.
• Gained a cult following for Anbe Sivam (2003), praised for its humanist themes.
• Continued to explore unique storytelling in films like Dasavathaaram (2008), where he played ten different roles.
• 2010s – Big Screen & Television
• Directed and starred in the ambitious Vishwaroopam series, blending espionage with socio-political commentary.
• Entered television as the host of Bigg Boss Tamil in 2017, boosting his connection with his career and younger audiences.
• 2020s – Legacy & Reinvention
• Made a strong box-office comeback with Vikram (2022), re-establishing his action-hero appeal.
• Took on a pivotal role in Kalki 2898 AD (2024), a pan-Indian sci-fi epic.
• Preparing for the highly anticipated Thug Life (2025) with Mani Ratnam.
• Expanded his influence into politics, becoming a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha.

Career Timeline

Year / Period	Milestone / Achievement
1960	Made debut as a child actor in Kalathur Kannamma; won President’s Gold Medal
1970–1973	Worked as assistant choreographer and had minor/uncredited appearances; debuted in Maanavan (1970) and Arangetram (1973); antagonist role in Sollathaan Ninaikkiren (1973) (Wikipedia)
1973–1975	First lead role in Malayalam film Kanyakumari – won Filmfare Award; breakthrough in Tamil via Apoorva Raagangal (1975) (Wikipedia)
1980s	Established as a powerhouse actor with landmark films like Nayakan (1987), earning critical acclaim and National Awards (Wikipedia, The Economic Times)
1987	Featured in Pushpaka Vimana, a unique dialogue-free film with widespread acclaim and awards (Wikipedia)
1990s	Delivered diverse performances in Indian (1996), among other genre-defining roles (The Times of India, Onmanorama)
2000s	Took creative control acting, directing, and writing in films like Hey Ram and Virumaandi (2004) (dtnext, Wikipedia)
2003	Anbe Sivam released; now considered a cult classic and showcased his humanist viewpoint (Wikipedia)
2010s	Hosted Bigg Boss Tamil beginning in 2017 and continued multi-season hosting (MagZetine, Filmy Today)
2024–2025	Celebrated over 64 years in cinema; lead roles in modern films like Kalki 2898 AD and Thug Life reflect sustained box-office appeal and versatility (Onmanorama, The Times of India)
2025 (Politics)	Made debut as a child actor in Kalathur Kannamma; won the President’s Gold Medal

Awards

Kamal Hassan Awards are

National Film Awards

• Best Child Artist: Kalathur Kannamma (1960)
• Best Actor: Moondram Pirai (1983)
• Best Actor: Nayakan (1987)
• Best Feature Film in Tamil (as producer): Thevar Magan (1992)
• Best Actor: Indian (1996)

Civilian Honors

• Padma Shri (1990)
• Padma Bhushan (2014)
• Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters) from the French government (2016)

Filmfare Awards

• He holds a record of 19 Filmfare Awards in five different languages. After his last award in 2000 for Hey Ram, he wrote to the organisation requesting no further awards.

Tamil Nadu State Film Awards

• He has won nine Tamil Nadu State Film Awards for his performances

Other Notable Awards

• Kalaimamani Award from the Government of Tamil Nadu (1980)
• NTR National Award from the Government of Andhra Pradesh (2014)
• Living Legend Award from FICCI (2007)
• Prix Henri-Langlois Award (French Award for cinematic achievements) (2016)

Award Timeline

Year	Civilian honour – Government of India	Category / Context
1960	President’s Gold Medal (National Award)	Best Child Actor – Kalathur Kannamma
1979	Kalaimamani (Tamil Nadu State Award)	Award / Honour
1982	National Film Award	Best Actor – Moondram Pirai
1987	National Film Award	Best Actor – Nayakan
1992	National Film Award (Producer)	Best Feature Film in Tamil – Thevar Magan
1996	National Film Award	Best Actor – Indian
1990	Padma Shri	Civilian honor – Government of India
1992–1996	Tamil Nadu State Film Awards (multiple years)	Best Actor
2004	Best Asian Film Award at PiFan	Virumaandi
2013	Honorary Doctorate	Sathyabama Deemed University
2014	Padma Bhushan	Civilian honour – Government of India
2016	Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Chevalier)	Tamil Nadu government honours

Net Worth

Kamal Hassan Biography and Networth are

• Estimated Net Worth: Around ₹450 crore (~USD 70 million) per media reports.
• Declared Net Worth (Post-Liabilities): Approximately ₹256.5 crore based on his 2025 Rajya Sabha nominations.

Net Worth Timeline

Year	Estimated Net Worth (INR)
1960s – 1980s	N/A
1990s	N/A
2019	~₹250 crore
2021	~₹300 crore
2022	~₹388 – ₹450 crore
2025	~₹450 crore

Business or Brand Ventures

• Raaj Kamal Films International: is his film production company, launched in 1981. It has produced many of his praised films as well as projects for other actors.
• KH House of Khaddar: A fashion and lifestyle brand established in 2018. The brand’s mission is to adopt modern ideas and make popular/fashionable
  Khadi, a traditional handmade-spun fabric, is and support for weavers. It has been showcased at international events like Paris and New York Fashion Weeks.
• Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM): While not a traditional business, it is a significant venture. It is the political party he established in 2018, which is a major part of his public, political and professional life.
• Bigg Boss Tamil: Kamal Haasan is the first host in Bigg Boss Tamil, and Kamal Haasan is highly successful reality TV show Bigg Boss Tamil, which is a major source of his annual income and career.

Collaborations

Directors

• K. Balachander
• Mani Ratnam
• Singeetam Srinivasa Rao
• S. Shankar
• K. S. Ravikumar
• Lokesh Kanagaraj

Writers

• Crazy Mohan³
• Sujatha⁴
• B. Jeyamohan

Co-Stars

• Sridevi
• Gouthami
• Sarika
• Suhasini Maniratnam
• Shruti Haasan
• Fahadh Faasil
• Vijay Sethupathi
• Suriya

Fan Following

Platform / Group	Approximate Following
Twitter (X)	7+ million followers
Facebook	5+ million followers
Instagram	3+ million followers
Makkal Needhi Maiam	Millions of supporters
Fan Clubs (Narpani Iyakkam)	Millions of members
Overall Pan-Indian Reach	Widespread admiration

Fashion Timeline

Year/Era	Iconic Looks & Style
1970s	The Romantic Hero
1980s	The Action & Urban Trendsetter
1990s	The Master of Disguise
2000s	The Bold & Experimental
2010s – Present 2025	The Modern Statesman & Designer

Movies / Major Projects

1970s

• Apoorva Raagangal
• 16 Vayathinile
• Sigappu Rojakkal

1980s

• Moondram Pirai
• Nayagan
• Anbe Sivam
• Pushpaka Vimana
• Apoorva Sago
• dharargal

1990s

• Michael Madana Kama Rajan
• Gunaa
• Thevar Magan
• Mahanadi
• Indian
• Chachi 420

2000s

• Hey Ram
• Panchatanthiram
• Virumaandi
• Dasavatharam

2010s

• Vishwaroopam
• Papanasam
• Vikram

2020s

• Vikram(2022)
• Indian 2
• Kalki 2898 AD (cameo)
• Thug Life (upcoming)
• Indian 3 (upcoming)

Hit & Flop Movies

Hits

• 16 Vayathinile (1977)
• Moondram Pirai (1982)
• Nayakan (1987)
• Apoorva Sagodharargal (1989)
• Thevar Magan (1992)
• Indian (1996)
• Chachi 420 (1997)
• Panchatanthiram (2002)
• Virumaandi (2004)
• Dasavatharam (2008)
• Vishwaroopam (2013)
• Papanasam (2015)
• Vikram (2022)

Flops

• Hey Ram (2000)
• Aalavandhan (2001)
• Anbe Sivam (2003) (initially a flop, now a cult classic)
• Mumbai Xpress (2005)
• Vishwaroopam II (2018)
• Indian 2 (2024)
• Thug Life (2025)

Movie Timeline

Year	Movie Title
1960	Kalathur Kannamma
1973	Arangetram
1975	Apoorva Raagangal
1979	Kalyanaraman
1980	Vikram
1987	Nayakan
1988	Sathya
1989	Apoorva Sagodharargal
1990	Michael Madana Kama Rajan
1992	Thevar Magan
1994	Mahanadi
1996	Avvai Shanmugi
1997	Chachi 420
2000	Hey Ram
2002	Panchathanthiram
2003	Anbe Sivam
2004	Virumaandi
2008	Dasavathaaram
2010	Manmadhan Ambu
2013	Vishwaroopam
2015	Uttama Villain
2018	Vishwaroopam II
2019	Kadaram Kondan
2022	Vikram
2024	Kalki 2898 AD
2025	Thug Life

Upcoming Projects

Kamal Hassan’s upcoming Major Projects

• Indian 3
• Vikram 2
• Thevar Magan 2
• Papanasam 2
• KH237
• Thalaivan Irukkindran

Upcoming Movie Trailers

Favourite Things and Dislikes – Kamal Haasan Biography

Favourite Actor	Sivaji Ganesan, Marlon Brando
Favourite Actress	Savitri, Ingrid Bergman
Favourite Color	Black, White
Favourite Food	South Indian vegetarian dishes, Dosa
Favourite Drink	Filter Coffee
Favourite Music	Carnatic, Jazz
Favourite Singer	SP Balasubrahmanyam, Ilaiyaraaja
Favourite Car Brand	BMW, Audi
Favourite Animal	Dogs
Favourite Place	Chennai, London
Favourite Hobby	Writing, Reading, Filmmaking
Favourite Car	BMW 7 Series
Favourite App	Twitter (X), Instagram
Dislikes	Corruption, Dishonesty, Violence

Quick Facts about Kamal Haasan Biography

• Full Name: Parthasarathy Srinivasan
• Nickname: Ulaganayagan, Nammavar
• Date of Birth: November 7, 1954
• Age (2025): 71 Years
• Zodiac Sign: Scorpio
• Birthplace: Paramakudi, Tamil Nadu, India
• Nationality: Indian
• Height: 5’5″ (165 cm) (approx.)
• Weight: Approx. 75 kg (165 lbs)
• Eye Colour: Dark Brown
• Hair Colour: Black/Salt and Pepper
• Religion: Atheist (Born into a Hindu family)
• Ethnicity: Tamil
• Parents: D. Srinivasan (father), Rajalakshmi (mother)
• Siblings: Charuhasan, Chandrahasan, Nalini Raghu
• Children: Shruti Haasan, Akshara Haasan
• Education: Hindu Higher Secondary School
• Marriages: 2 (Vani Ganapathy, Sarika)
• Current Relationship: Private (was in a live-in relationship with Gautami Tadimalla from 2005-2016)
• Business Brands: Raaj Kamal Films International, KH House of Khaddar
• Net Worth (2025): Approx. $54 million (₹450 crore)
• Hobbies: Reading, travelling, writing, dancing
• Fun Fact: He is a trained Bharatanatyam dancer and is fluent in multiple languages.

Quote Section

“I don’t believe in being typecast — every role should challenge me as an actor and as a human being.”
— Kamal Haasan

“Cinema is not just entertainment; it’s a medium to make people think.”
— Kamal Haasan

“Art should disturb the comfortable and comfort the disturbed.”
— Kamal Haasan

“Failure is only a stepping stone to something greater.”
— Kamal Haasan

“I live my life like an open book, but not everyone can read every chapter.”
— Kamal Haasan

Instagram Post

FAQ

• What’s Kamal Haasan’s’s full name?
  Kamal Haasan’s full name is Parthasarathy Srinivasan. He was latterly named Kamal Haasan.
• What’s his notorious surname?
  He’s extensively known as” Ulaganayagan,” which translates to” Universal Hero.”
• When did he start his acting career?
  Kamal Haasan made his debut as a child artist at the age of 6 in the 1960 film * Kalathur Kannamma *.
• Is Kamal Haasan married?
  He has been married twice and is now disassociated. His ex-wives are Vani Ganapathy and Sarika. He was also in a long- term relationship with actress Gautami.
• How many children does he have?
  He has two daughters, Shruti Haasan and Akshara Haasan

Career

• How many films has he acted in?
  He has acted in over 235 films across multiple languages, including Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, and Kannada.
• What are some of his most notorious flicks?
  Some of his most critically accredited and commercially successful flicks include * Nayakan *, * Anbe Sivam *, * Thevar Magan *, * Indian *, and * Vikram *.
• Has he won any major awards?
  Yes, he has won four National Film Awards, 19 Filmfare Awards, and has been recognised with the Padma Shri( 1990) and the Padma Bhushan( 2014) by the Government of India.
• What’s his record related to the Oscars?
  Seven of his films have been submitted by India for the Academy Award for Stylish Foreign Language Film, which is the most for any Indian actor.
• What’s his part in * Bigg Boss Tamil ?
  He’s the host of the reality TV show * Bigg Boss Tamil *, a part he has held since its commencement.