Latest news with #ZaraSiZindagi
India.com
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Meet superstar who got married twice, one advice from his guru made him a star, not Rajinikanth, he is…
The life of the superstar of Indian cinema proves that if you are talented, have a rebellious nature and you get the support of the right guru, then you can become a legend. The superstar told in an interview that he started working as a barber to insult his mother. He also revealed that if he had not followed the advice of filmmaker K Balachander, he would have died while traveling in an auto. We are telling you about the personal life of Kamal Haasan, the living legend of Indian cinema, whose journey was not easy at all. The actor talked about his struggle in a conversation with 'Hollywood Reporter India'. He worked as a barber in his youth. He had no passion for this, but it was his rebellion against his mother. Kamal Haasan said, 'The person who told me about my talent is Mr. Balachander, who is another guru of mine. He was a barber, used to cut hair. I used to work in the salon most of the time, so that I could taunt my mother. She thought that I was wasting time by reading paperbacks and watching movies. So, to insult her, I became a barber.' Inspired by this short story of Kamal Haasan, filmmaker Balachander had inserted a similar scene in the climax of the film 'Zara Si Zindagi'. But, Balachander not only inspired Kamal, but also took his career to new heights with his noble advice Kamal Haasan told his mentor about his dream of becoming a director at the age of 19, but Balachander saw something else in him. Kamal said about Balachander's advice, 'He told me that if you become a director, you will be riding autorickshaws all your life. Forget the auto. If I had not followed his advice, I would have died in one of these.' The 'Vikram' star further spoke about the decisions of his colleagues in the conversation. He said, 'Many of my friends, who were more talented than me, died on the road. So, I am grateful to Mr. Balachander's advice.' Kamal Haasan further said, 'If I had taken that path, I would have died with unfulfilled dreams and anger in my heart. No one would have known that there was a dead body in that auto rickshaw.' Kamal is today an actor, writer and producer. He has done films of all kinds of genres in his decades-long career. This proves that if you have a lot of talent along with the right advice, you can reach anywhere. 70-year-old Kamal Haasan was in the limelight recently for his statements on 'India-Pakistan' tension. He is soon ready to bring the film 'Thug Life' with his second guru Mani Ratnam, which is scheduled to be released on June 5. The actor's personal life has also been full of ups and downs. He was first married to Vani Ganpati, after separating from her in 1988, he made Sarika his life partner. They got divorced in 2004.
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Kamal Haasan reveals why he became a barber in his youth. Which saloon did he work at?
In an intimate and revealing conversation with The Hollywood Reporter India , legendary actor Kamal Haasan peeled back the layers of his past, offering unexpected glimpses into his younger days. Reflecting on a time before stardom, Kamal admitted he wasn't equipped for conventional employment as a youth. Struggling to find purpose and driven by a mix of defiance and mischief, he took up an unusual job—he became a barber. Not because he had a passion for the profession, but because he wanted to provoke his mother, who was growing impatient with his seemingly idle lifestyle of reading novels and frequenting cinemas. He fondly recalled one of his earliest mentors, a humble barber who not only taught him the craft but also gave him life-changing guidance. This mentor recognized Kamal's potential and advised him to seek out filmmaker K. Balachander , predicting that he would be the ideal guide for the aspiring artist. 'The man who trimmed hair also shaped my destiny,' Kamal shared with a wry smile. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Glicemia alta? Experimente este truque simples na água Saúde Melhor Idade Veja agora Undo "I worked as a barber at a salon, but that was mostly to taunt my mother, because she thought that I was doing nothing. I was reading paperbacks and watching cinema, and she said that this isn't what I should be doing. The kind of talent I had, I didn't find work easily. I thought about what would insult my mother, and I became a barber.." he told THR. Earlier, an Only Kollywood report revealed that the superstar worked at an establishment called Ambuli Saloon. 'They wouldn't let me cut hair, but shaving was okay. Even today, all my moustaches, including the one for Virumaandi, were shaved by me,' he told the magazine. Balachander, who went on to become a towering figure in Kamal's life and career, was deeply moved by the actor's origin story and even used it as inspiration for his film Zara Si Zindagi. When Kamal, just 19 at the time, expressed a desire to become a director, Balachander gave him a sobering reality check. He warned that the path of directing could be grueling and uncertain, perhaps even ending with Kamal driving an auto-rickshaw to survive. Instead, he encouraged Kamal to explore acting—a path better suited to his unique abilities. 'He told me acting was the road I should travel,' Kamal said, his voice tinged with both gratitude and sorrow. 'Forget riding an auto rickshaw; I would've probably died in one had I not taken his advice," he said. He also described the late filmmaker as his Google and described him as a man who would always welcome questions, as he had a lot of information to share. Earlier, Haasan spoke with a heavy heart about several immensely gifted friends who were not as fortunate. Their lives ended in poverty and obscurity, despite having more talent than he did. 'They died nameless, on the streets,' he reflected, his tone somber. 'That could have been me—carrying unfulfilled dreams and unresolved pain. If not for Balachander's wisdom, I might have remained a tragic footnote.' As for the present, the iconic actor is preparing for his next major release—Thug Life, a gritty gangster saga. The film reunites him with director Mani Ratnam, decades after their collaboration on the 1987 cult classic 'Nayakan'. The trailer drops on May 17, 2025, with a grand audio launch slated for May 24 at Sairam College in Chennai. The event will feature a live performance by Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman, who has created the soundtrack. Thug Life boasts an impressive lineup of stars, including Silambarasan TR, Trisha, Abhirami, Nasser, Joju George, and Ashok Selvan—adding further excitement to one of the year's most anticipated releases.
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Kamal Haasan gets candid about his early life struggles: 'I could've died unknown in an auto rickshaw'
Cinema icon Kamal Haasan may be one of Indian cinema's most revered talents today, but his journey to the top wasn't paved with certainty—or conformity. In a heartfelt conversation with The Hollywood Reporter India, the actor-filmmaker opened up about his early struggles, the rebellious job he took on to provoke his mother, and how a single piece of advice from legendary filmmaker K Balachander changed the course of his life. Reflecting on his youth, Kamal revealed that he once worked as a barber—not out of passion, but as an act of teenage defiance. 'The person who told me that my best match would be Mr. Balachander was another guru of mine. He was a barber, and he taught me barbering,' Kamal shared. 'I worked at a salon mostly to taunt my mother. She thought I was wasting time reading paperbacks and watching films. So, to insult her, I became a barber.' It was this very anecdote that inspired Balachander to incorporate a similar scene in the climax of his film 'Zara Si Zindagi'. But it wasn't just inspiration Balachander offered Kamal—he also steered his career with life-altering advice. At 19, Kamal confessed to his mentor that he dreamed of becoming a director. But Balachander saw something else in him. 'He told me, 'If you become a director, you'll be riding around in auto rickshaws for the rest of your life,'' Kamal recalled. 'Forget riding an auto—I would've probably died in one had I not taken his advice.' The 'Vikram' star didn't hold back when speaking about the devastating paths some of his peers had taken. 'Many of my friends, who were more talented than me, died on the streets,' he said somberly. 'That's why I'm grateful to Mr. Balachander. I could've gone down that road. Died with my angst, with unfulfilled dreams, and nobody would even know there was a dead body in that auto rickshaw.' Today, Kamal Haasan stands tall as a multi-hyphenate force in Indian cinema—an actor, writer, director, producer, and visionary. His decades-long career, filled with genre-defining performances and bold cinematic choices, is a testament to talent meeting the right guidance. Up next, Kamal is set to reunite with another iconic filmmaker—his longtime collaborator and friend Mani Ratnam—for the highly anticipated 'Thug Life'. For a man who once believed he had no conventional skills to land a regular job, Kamal Haasan's life story proves that sometimes, rebellion, raw talent, and the right mentor can shape a legend. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
Indian Express
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Kamal Haasan worked as a barber to ‘insult' his mother, says he would've died penniless in an auto rickshaw had he not heeded guru's advice
Multi-hyphenate Kamal Haasan said that he didn't have the necessary skills as a youngster to land a conventional job, and so, mainly to 'insult' his mother, he began working as a barber. He also reflected on his relationship with his mentor, filmmaker-writer K Balachander, and the wisdom he gained from him. Kamal recalled a vital piece of advice that Balachander gave him, and said that it probably saved him from a sorry fate. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, he said that many of his friends have died tragic deaths despite being more talented that him. Recalling his early life and angst, he said, 'The person who told me that my best match would be Mr Balachander was another guru of mine, he was a barber, and he taught me barbering. I worked as a barber at a salon, but that was mostly to taunt my mother, because she thought that I was doing nothing. I was reading paperbacks and watching cinema, and she said that this isn't what I should be doing. The kind of talent I had, I didn't find work easily. I thought about what would insult my mother, and I became a barber.' Also read – Kamal Haasan was asked why he married twice 'despite coming from a good Brahmin family': 'I don't follow Lord Rama's path, but his father's' He said that Balachander was inspired by this story, and used it in the climax of his movie Zara Si Zindagi. He said that when he was 19, he told Balachander that he wanted to become a director, but Balachander strongly dissuaded him from pursuing that path. The filmmaker told a young Kamal that he would spend his life travelling in auto rickshaws if he became a director, and was the first person to suggest that he had the qualities to become a movie star. 'Forget riding an auto rickshaw, I would've probably died in one had I not taken his advice,' Kamal said. The legendary actor-filmmaker said that he has seen several of his friends, many of whom were more talented than him, lose their lives in tragic circumstances. 'The died on the streets,' he said, reflecting on the advice that Balachander gave him. 'That's how I decided to totally go into acting. If I had made that mistake, he would've been right… I've seen many of my friends die like that… That is why I am grateful to Mr Balachander, because I could've gone down that route. I would've died with my angst, with my unfulfilled dreams, in an auto rickshaw. And nobody would know that there is a dead body in the auto rickshaw.' Kamal Haasan is one of the most acclaimed movie stars in Indian cinema history. He will next star in the film Thug Life, directed by his longtime friend, the equally acclaimed Mani Ratnam.
