The Multifaceted Journey Of Actor-Turned-Politician Kamal Haasan

Actor-turned-politician and Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) chief Kamal Haasan is all set to be sworn in as a Rajya Sabha MP. “I am going to take the oath and register my name in Delhi today. I am going to fulfil this duty with honour given to me as an Indian,” he said, marking a turning point in his political journey that began in 2018.

Film Career

Haasan, known for his career spanning over 50 years in Indian cinema, started as a child artist in 1960 with Kalathoor Kannamma. He received the President’s Gold Medal for this film. Later, he won three National Film Awards through films like Apoorva Raagangal, Moondram Pirai, Nayakan and Indian. Many of his popular films like Sadma, Pushpaka Vimana, Thevar Magan, Chachi 420, Virumaandi, Vikram and Kalki 2898 A.D. have been produced by his company Raaj Kamal Films International.

Creative Contributions

Apart from acting in films, Kamal Haasan has worked as a screenwriter, director, lyricist, playback singer, and producer. He directed films like Hey Ram, Virumaandi, and Vishwaroopam, and also wrote and sang songs like “Arivum Anbum” during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also gained popularity on the small screen by hosting Bigg Boss Tamil on TV in 2017. The show has become one of Tamil TV’s most watched, with Haasan continuing to host multiple seasons, including Bigg Boss Ultimate.

National Recognition

He was awarded the Padma Shri (1990), Padma Bhushan (2014) by the Government of India, and the Chevalier Award (2016) by the Government of France, as well as several National and Filmfare Awards. In 2025, he was invited to become a member of the Oscar Academy for his global cine contribution.

Political Journey

Haasan entered politics with a centrist thinking through MNM. However, his party did not succeed in the 2019 general election and the 2021 assembly elections. He lost the Coimbatore South seat to BJP’s Vanathi Srinivasan in a close contest.

Recent Controversy

Kamal Haasan recently sparked controversy by claiming that “Kannada originated from Tamil,” triggering widespread protests and calls for a boycott of his work in Karnataka. The backlash led to court warnings and coincided with the box office failure of his film Thug Life, directed by Mani Ratnam.