Kamal Haasan Quotes

24 Sourced Quotes

Balachander is my inspiration. He had a heart problem 40 years back. He has been making films for another 46 years. He can never grow old. My father used to be like that until he suffered a stroke. Then I suddenly realized he was an old man. That's also true of my brothers Chandra Haasan and to an extent Charu Haasan. I can never imagine them being old.

Kamal Haasan
I had to read it out to my sister, who was witness to my early dark days, when my mother was afraid what would happen to me. But, I knew I couldn't read without choking up, so I asked Gautami to read it out for me.

Kamal Haasan
For two and a half years, I rigorously trained seven to eight hours a day in two disciplines of dance but moved on to the most versatile medium called cinema which encompassed every form of art.

Kamal Haasan
Actors can be refined and be better. I'm an improved version of whatever you've seen earlier. I do not say this with arrogance, but it is my duty to be better than my predecessor and it's my duty to see that my successor is better than me.

Kamal Haasan
With this film I have made more money than any of my other films. It was a high-wire act.

Kamal Haasan
For the Tamil language version of 'Dasavatharam', she was my coach for my American accent. She had just returned from the US and was the perfect medium to help her father's Madrasi accent to be transformed into a yankee accent. She was a bully. She made me do many retakes in the dubbing. And after dubbing, she wanted me to correct some more of my accent. Everyone thought that was taking it a little too far.

Kamal Haasan
To have won a place in his heart among all those he has mentored and created, itself is a distinction.

Kamal Haasan
Someone once asked me what my working timetable was like and when was the last time I went on a holiday. I said about 20 years back. I don't work anymore, because I get paid to do what I like most. So it's like a paid holiday.

Kamal Haasan
Who will speak like that? In our generation there have not been friends like Rajini and I are. He could have just said a few words of praise and gone away – and then there was no need to say.

Kamal Haasan
I am looking for excellence. Anyone can struggle but they cannot make a 'perfect' film.

Kamal Haasan
When we talk career, we get into an argument. In Hindi films, she is facing the same problems I did. If a K. Balachander hadn't come along to do 'Ek Duuje Ke Liye' with me in Hindi, I wonder what would've happened to me! I would have suffered much worse because Shruti is far more savvy than me.

Kamal Haasan
I am awestruck and I am happy to see that the book fair happens. I've learnt everything I know on the go, like my mother tongue.

Kamal Haasan
I was always a reluctant actor! I continue to be that. I announce a project, the camera rolls and I'm happy. I'm fortunate to be doing leading parts even now. Except for my mentor K. Balachander, for whom I can do even a walk-on part. When he directed his 100th film, I just walked in to do a small role. I just clowned around on camera.

Kamal Haasan
I'm proud of her [Shruti] because she isn't doing a product of our home banner Rajkamal Films. The only thing Rajkamal did for her was to give her a chance to do the background score in 'Unnaipol Oruvan'. It wouldn't matter to me if she failed as a movie actress. But right now it looks like a winning streak.

Kamal Haasan
I receive them only when he thinks I deserve it — I have to work for them!

Kamal Haasan
Glad my name came up. Thank audience, mentor, all who made my workplace enjoyable.

Kamal Haasan
I have great respect for the unconditional teachers called books. Because from a book, you can either learn, or you can't.

Kamal Haasan
He is a cool cat. I was surprised when he had a heart problem... People think my film with Mani, 'Nayakan', is my best work. To an extent it's true. But I'd like to think my best is yet to come.

Kamal Haasan
It is an award for American excellence that excludes and sometimes gracefully includes some other countries. It is an institution or brand created by Hollywood to promote itself, an award decided by 15 people. How nice it would have been if Satyajit Ray, instead of all his awards, got a few more audiences?

Kamal Haasan
Here are his earlier letters to me, that I've framed. I call them 'my degrees'.

Kamal Haasan
I use the word 'guru' for him in the mythological sense — all other educationists ask for payment for knowledge imparted; this gentleman paid me and taught me. What a journey it has been, after I met him at the age of 17-and-a-half.

Kamal Haasan
I prepare even for a conversation with him — I never want to say too little or too much. And, I never disturb him except when I feel I've done something worthwhile. It's a rare relationship — unconditional and professional.

Kamal Haasan
It is wrong to celebrate 100 years of cinema with just India. It is 100 years of cinema for Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka. All these places saw Indian cinema as it was produced in Lahore, Mumbai, Chennai — it went all the way. It is 100 years of cinema of what used to be my India, my Pakistan, my Afghanistan and my Sri Lanka. That's how an artist looks at it and it'll soon be my world. It is the governments and political interests that create borders.

Kamal Haasan
Direction is a lot of responsibility. But if you've been trained under Balachander as I have, it's a lot easier. You have everything down on paper before you start shooting. By now while directing I am experienced enough to know my moves.

Kamal Haasan