Kamal Haasan
Actor, filmmaker and politician known for daring roles in Tamil cinema
- Age
- 71 yrs
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Kamal Haasan is an actor, director, writer and producer who has worked in Indian cinema since childhood. Known for transformative roles in films such as Nayakan, Indian and Dasavathaaram, he has won several National Film Awards and founded the political party Makkal Needhi Maiam.
Biography
Child actor
Kamal Haasan made his debut at the age of six in Kalathur Kannamma (1960), winning the President’s gold medal for his performance. He returned to films as a young man after working as a dance assistant, and K. Balachander gave him important early roles in films such as Arangetram and Apoorva Raagangal.
A restless performer
He became known for taking risks: playing a man with amnesia in Moondram Pirai (1982), a Bombay gangster in Mani Ratnam’s Nayakan (1987), a dwarf in Apoorva Sagodharargal (1989) and an ageing freedom fighter in Indian (1996). In Dasavathaaram (2008) he played ten different characters. He often uses prosthetic make-up and has written and directed films such as Hey Ram (2000) and Vishwaroopam (2013).
Later career
After a quieter period, the action thriller Vikram (2022) became one of the biggest hits of his career. He reunited with Mani Ratnam for Thug Life (2025). Kamal Haasan has also hosted the Tamil version of Bigg Boss.
Politics and family
In 2018 he launched the party Makkal Needhi Maiam, which contested state and national elections in Tamil Nadu, and he later allied with the DMK. In 2025 he was elected to the Rajya Sabha. He received the Padma Shri in 1990 and the Padma Bhushan in 2014. His daughters Shruti Haasan and Akshara Haasan are actors.
Why they matter
If Rajinikanth is Tamil cinema’s great star, Kamal Haasan is its great experimenter. Across six decades he has used make-up, technology and unconventional scripts to test what a commercial film could be — playing a dwarf, a deaf-mute, an old freedom fighter and ten characters in one film. Many techniques now common in Indian cinema, from prosthetics to new sound formats, were tried early in his films. His career shows how a star can use popularity to take creative risks rather than simply repeat formulas.
Timeline
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1954
Born in Paramakudi, Madras State (now Tamil Nadu)
-
1960
Debut as a child actor
Wins the President’s gold medal.
-
1982
Moondram Pirai
-
1987
Nayakan
-
1990
Padma Shri
-
1996
Indian
-
2008
Dasavathaaram
Plays ten roles.
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2014
Padma Bhushan
-
2018
Founds Makkal Needhi Maiam
-
2022
Vikram
-
2025
Elected to the Rajya Sabha
Notable works
-
1987
Nayakan Film
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1982
Moondram Pirai Film
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1996
Indian Film
-
2000
Hey Ram Film
Also writer and director.
-
2003
Anbe Sivam Film
-
2008
Dasavathaaram Film
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2022
Vikram Film
Awards and honours
-
Padma Shri
1990
-
Padma Bhushan
2014
Did you know?
-
1
He won a national honour for acting at the age of six.
-
2
In Dasavathaaram he played ten different characters.
-
3
Fans call him “Ulaganayagan”, the universal hero.
Connections
Related people
Also born on 7 November
Frequently asked
Who is Kamal Haasan?
Kamal Haasan is an actor, director, writer and producer who has worked in Indian cinema since childhood. Known for transformative roles in films such as Nayakan, Indian and Dasavathaaram, he has won several National Film Awards and founded the political party Makkal Needhi Maiam.
How old is Kamal Haasan?
Kamal Haasan is 71 years old, born on 7 November 1954 in Paramakudi, Madras State (now Tamil Nadu).
Where is Kamal Haasan from?
Kamal Haasan was born in Paramakudi, Madras State (now Tamil Nadu).
What is Kamal Haasan known for?
Kamal Haasan is best known for Nayakan, Moondram Pirai, Indian, Anbe Sivam, Dasavathaaram, Vikram.
What awards has Kamal Haasan received?
Notable honours include Padma Shri (1990), Padma Bhushan (2014).
References
- Kamal Haasan — Wikipedia. Wikipedia. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Kamal Haasan — IMDb. IMDb. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Kamal Haasan — Hindi Wikipedia. Wikipedia (Hindi). Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Kamal Haasan (Q381477) — structured data. Wikidata. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
Includes material from the Wikipedia article “Kamal Haasan”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. That text is available under the same licence. Learn more
External links
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About this profile
- Researched by the TrackFame editorial team; reviewed by Sanjay Sokal under our editorial policy
- First published 27 October 2026
- Last updated
Cite this page
“Kamal Haasan.” TrackFame, last updated 28 October 2026. https://trackfame.com/person/kamal-haasan
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