‘My avarice for money stopped me…': Kamal Haasan admits to chasing wealth at the cost of learning; how success can stunt personal growth

Indian Express

3 days ago

Fame may bring fortune, but it doesn't always allow room for growth. In a recent conversation while promoting his upcoming film Thug Life, Kamal Haasan opened up about the pressures and pitfalls of superstardom. Reflecting on his journey, he admitted that the very success he once aspired to have began to hold him back.
Haasan told PTI how actors often become disconnected from reality because of the bubble of fame created around them. 'The beauty of cinema is that you can reach a larger demographic, but it also takes you away from the actual witnessing of your applause. So, you distance yourself, and arrogance sets in because you don't hear criticism, nor do you hear applause. It all comes through reporting to us, or when you meet your fans and they cheer you, but that's not the actual data.'
'Because of my work schedule, I stopped seeking more gurus. I think my avarice for money stopped me from learning. Otherwise, I would have learned more…' he mentioned. He also admitted that in his 20s, he chased wealth at the cost of self-development. 'I pursued that path for quite some time at peril to my heart. Then I woke up and started my own company. Fortunately, I did that before I became 30. It was a risky thing to do.'
Sonal Khangarot, a licensed rehabilitation counsellor and psychotherapist, tells indianexpress.com, 'High achievers often start with a deep curiosity or passion, something that fuels their learning. But as recognition and rewards pour in, the focus can shift. The schedule fills up, obligations mount, and over time, the hunger to grow is replaced by the need to maintain or amplify success.'
She continues, 'Kamal Haasan candidly calls his 'avarice for money' the barrier that stopped him from seeking more teachers. It's not always greed; often it's the fear of being left behind or the pressure to deliver that pulls people away from self-inquiry. Psychologically, this is rooted in performance-based validation, where one's worth becomes tied to output rather than growth. Without pauses for reflection or continued learning, high achievers risk stagnation, burnout, or losing touch with what originally inspired them.'
Haasan mentioned that arrogance can stem from being disconnected from honest feedback. In many cases, arrogance is not born from an inflated ego but from a distorted mirror. Khangarot states, 'When you're constantly praised, protected from criticism, and surrounded by people who only see your highlight reel, your self-perception becomes skewed. You start believing the filtered reality that others present to you. Over time, this can dull one's emotional insight, lower empathy, and create a subtle disconnection from the self. As Kamal says, when you stop hearing honest feedback, you lose a vital anchor to reality. Psychologically, this results in what we call 'echo chambers of affirmation'—where you only hear what affirms you and nothing that challenges you. This leaves no room for self-correction, essential for growth and humility.'