"The moment you become a star, you are talking about money and fame. It’s not about the content or artists’ skill any more. Always the collection matters"
He has a filmography of 150 and enjoys superstar status but actor-filmmaker Kamal Haasan says he is a dissatisfied man. He wants to learn and achieve more on the creative front and also wants his movie business to flourish.
“If I have the sense of satisfaction, I won’t be working or giving this interview. There is a lot more to learn and I am a dissatisfied man. I am happy, but not content,” Kamal said.
“I came as a technician first and by default I became an actor. But I am happy and not complaining,” he added.
The multi-faceted star, who is a National Award winner as well as a Padma Shri awardee, is afraid of losing his zeal to perform.
“Achievements are decided by people and I think necessity is the mother of invention. I live by the necessity, but somebody will call it as invention or achievement. What scares me most is when I lose the need to perform with the excitement of any creativity. If it happens, I will live with it too. I will find something else,” he said.
He started as a child artist in 1960, and established himself with movies like Moondram Pirai, Saagar, Sadma and Pushpak.
Currently he is looking forward to the release of his next Tamil film Vishwaroopam, which will release as Vishwaroop in Hindi. Directed by Kamal, the film is coming out Jan 11 and the cast includes Shekhar Kapur and Rahul Bose.
Kamal, whose daughter Shruthi too is in showbiz, rues how almost all actors across the board have become “businessmen”.
“Most stars are businessmen. The moment you become a star, you are talking about money and fame. It’s not about the content or artists’ skill any more. Always the collection matters. The numbers have now increased to match along with the population,” he said.
Having said that, he admits that if Vishwaroopam doesn’t cross Rs.150 crore, then it’s a failure for him.
“If this film doesn’t cross Rs.150 crore, then it is a failure for me. I would call it a weak attempt if it doesn’t. It has to cross Rs.150 crore, and we really hope that we cross in the first week itself,” said Kamal, who has made lavish films like Hey Ram and Dasavatharam.
“It’s the most costly project and ambitious too by virtue of what we have tried to achieve and the ambition was realised because of the technicians. I have the best team working with me,” he said.
At 58, he still feels he is a part of the competition.
“I feel the competition all the time. Well, I have competitors in various ages — from 18 to 65, I have competitors,” he conceded.
The star culture is different in Bollywood and the southern film industry, he admits.
“Yes, it is different. People are the same. The love is unanimously the same,” he said, adding that fans in the south show their love by “building a temple”, while in Mumbai “we have some religious rituals”.
“Pooja happened when Amitji (Amitabh Bachchan) was unwell. They don’t make a big fuss about it because not all the actors here are politicians. There (south) politics and cinema are very closely related and that’s why you feel the difference.”
Do you discuss your films with family members?
“It depends on who is qualified. I have meetings with qualified people first and then take a general view because not everyone in my family is qualified to make films,” said the actor candidly.
What exactly Kamal will say about broadcasting his movie on cable first
before releasing it in theaters. I am sure he will probably have an
explanation for this, but isn't it a business and isn't he an actor.
As if he is not at all getting paid for his films and roles.Dude your accounts are overflowing with cash. Every time you act you get an amount with which I can sit idle for whole of my life. If I am fruit seller then its my profession.I cant say fruit cultivation is my passion so I sell fruits. Who will act without any remuneration? Infact everyone is coming to this field for money,that too AWESOME money. Dont be so polite Kamal.I admire you for the skills and talent you have got but don't agree with your statement.
This man is trying singlehandedly to bring about a revolution in the Indian film industry. The saddest part is, none of his colleagues actors/actresses have come out openly supporting his initiative out of fear of losing their hold. True admiration is not in praising him in public functions but supporting him in times like these. He has been entertaining us for so long and has taken many risks.I wish this excellent artist all the best and wish he gets the profit that he is targeting.
Dont forget -you are in the business of acting. so nothing wrong in actors turning businessmen. Never your statements make sense.
It is the gullibility of people that makes the actors rich and powerful. If we refrain from watchin movies for a month the whole filmdom would tear apart. People do not know the power in them. It is they and their gullibilities make certain godmen rich, certain actors fame and all for good nothing.
If there are no movies can't the world go on? It can go better. It is the movies that give a 3 hour thrill corrupt the younger generation. Movie makers are ready to show anything if it can generate money. It is money going in the wrong hands and encouraging them to do more and more wrongs. Unrealistic portrayal of characters has led to immorality to be part of our life and accepted as right. Please those who read this refrain from going to the movies for a month and encourage others also to do this. Then let us see if the actors are powerful or the people are powerful.
I do not buy the pontifecating of any actor in India,in the past 50 years ago some social awareness movies were made by Mehboob Khan,shantaram,S Ray but not any more,now we do not even have actors like Dilip,Dev or Balraj Sahani or Asok Kumar,neither Singers like Saigal,Rafi or Kishore, they no longer have any pretences,either.now what you guys have is meaningless valgur Nach-gana,mindless gun fight,rapes and poor acting.Nothing to be excited about.I think we should stop pretending and call spade a spade.None of our rich actors who are filthy rich get involed in good causes,charity or philanthrophy,they are into building obnoxious palaces and cars for themselves ,they no longer feel guilty or shame when they see poverty and abject filth around them.I feel sorry for them,look at Mukesh ambani building a disgraceful home for himself,what a horrible set of people and low social awareness? how can people like to sleep at night?My God,have they any Decency left ?Not I guess.
The fate of film artists are fixed one. All enter as small fish and develop as their age grows.Their requirement for money also increases due to their new connection.Finally , they end their film career with minimum saving. For this there is no exception . Be it a actor, director or singer. This is the characteristic of the film world.Hence, Kamal is no exception.
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