india-today-yahoopartner-blog

[india-today-yahoopartner-blog]

Kamal Haasan on Om Puri's death: I've accepted death as part of life

Kamal Haasan, at the India Today South Conclave 2017, opened up on his relationship with actor Om Puri, who passed away on January 6. Haasan and Puri have worked together on the much-acclaimed film Chachi 420.

At the Conclave, when Haasan was asked how Om Puri's death affected him, the actor was stoic.

He said, "Death affects anyone. I, over time, have accepted death as part of life. Without which, life doesn't make full meaning. It's a full stop in a sentence. It's a marker of sorts. I would complain about death if I'd have seen at least one man escape it. We have to accept it."

ALSO READ: Kamal Haasan reveals why he left Bombay and returned to Tamil cinema

Haasan shared an anecdote from the Chachi 420 shoot, when Om Puri went on improvising in front of the camera. The Vishwaroopam actor also spoke about what he loved about Om Puri.

"For me, the most touching thing apart from his talent, was the simplicity he approached everything with. His performances, his friendship, his relationships. He remembers to say thank you for the smallest of things. He is concerned about hurting people. He will quickly come up with an apology when he thinks he is rude to someone."

Om Puri passed away on January 6 after a massive heart attack.

ALSO WATCH: Remembering Om Puri's legacy on and off screen

#movies #_lmsid:a0Vd0000002uQfeEAE #_revsp:india_today_57 #_draft:true #_uuid:11014041-062d-3f11-a814-b7f7a09e86b3

[india-today-yahoopartner-blog]

Kamal Haasan on Om Puri's death: I've accepted death as part of life

Kamal Haasan, at the India Today South Conclave 2017, opened up on his relationship with actor Om Puri, who passed away on January 6. Haasan and Puri have worked together on the much-acclaimed film Chachi 420.

At the Conclave, when Haasan was asked how Om Puri's death affected him, the actor was stoic.

He said, "Death affects anyone. I, over time, have accepted death as part of life. Without which, life doesn't make full meaning. It's a full stop in a sentence. It's a marker of sorts. I would complain about death if I'd have seen at least one man escape it. We have to accept it."

ALSO READ: Kamal Haasan reveals why he left Bombay and returned to Tamil cinema

Haasan shared an anecdote from the Chachi 420 shoot, when Om Puri went on improvising in front of the camera. The Vishwaroopam actor also spoke about what he loved about Om Puri.

"For me, the most touching thing apart from his talent, was the simplicity he approached everything with. His performances, his friendship, his relationships. He remembers to say thank you for the smallest of things. He is concerned about hurting people. He will quickly come up with an apology when he thinks he is rude to someone."

Om Puri passed away on January 6 after a massive heart attack.

ALSO WATCH: Remembering Om Puri's legacy on and off screen

#movies #_lmsid:a0Vd0000002uQfeEAE #_revsp:india_today_57 #_uuid:9fcfd78b-f81c-362b-85ba-8a98b12bf29c #_draft:true

[india-today-yahoopartner-blog]

Kamal Haasan on Om Puri's death: I've accepted death as part of life

Kamal Haasan, at the India Today South Conclave 2017, opened up on his relationship with actor Om Puri, who passed away on January 6. Haasan and Puri have worked together on the much-acclaimed film Chachi 420.

At the Conclave, when Haasan was asked how Om Puri's death affected him, the actor was stoic.

He said, "Death affects anyone. I, over time, have accepted death as part of life. Without which, life doesn't make full meaning. It's a full stop in a sentence. It's a marker of sorts. I would complain about death if I'd have seen at least one man escape it. We have to accept it."

ALSO READ: Kamal Haasan reveals why he left Bombay and returned to Tamil cinema

Haasan shared an anecdote from the Chachi 420 shoot, when Om Puri went on improvising in front of the camera. The Vishwaroopam actor also spoke about what he loved about Om Puri.

"For me, the most touching thing apart from his talent, was the simplicity he approached everything with. His performances, his friendship, his relationships. He remembers to say thank you for the smallest of things. He is concerned about hurting people. He will quickly come up with an apology when he thinks he is rude to someone."

Om Puri passed away on January 6 after a massive heart attack.

ALSO WATCH: Remembering Om Puri's legacy on and off screen

#movies #_lmsid:a0Vd0000002uQfeEAE #_revsp:india_today_57 #_draft:true #_uuid:4c96e43c-84a0-378a-8603-3855459e3502

[india-today-yahoopartner-blog]

This is how Farah Khan is celebrating her 52nd birthday

She started her career as a choreographer in Bollywood back in the early 90s has come a long way in the last 25 years. From a choreographer to a director to an actor to a reality show judge to a TV host, Farah Khan has juggled between many professions and that too seamlessly. And as the master of all trades turn 52, she has ditched a big birthday bash and taken off to Austria on a solo trip to ring in her birthday.

ALSO READ: Farah Khan slams Surrogacy Bill, says 'now you are telling us when to have children'

According to a report in Mumbai Mirror, Farah wanted to take a much-needed break before she ventures into new projects and that's the reason she is off to Austria for her 52nd birthday.

A source was quoted as telling the daily, "Farah is known for throwing lavish birthday parties with home-cooked food. But this year she wanted a quiet day and took off to an Austrian spa for digital and physical detox."

In fact, the spa is quite popular with Bollywood stars like Sonam Kapoor, Parineeti Chopra and Alia Bhatt.

"Farah has been really busy juggling between reality shows, Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 9 and Indian Idol 9, which she is judging and her next film script so she needed this 'me' time. She'll be back by the end of this week," added the source.

#movies #_lmsid:a0Vd0000002uQfeEAE #_revsp:india_today_57 #_draft:true #_uuid:57b20af7-d539-397a-965c-37f967e32c75

[india-today-yahoopartner-blog]

Dangal box-office collection: Aamir's film to become first to cross Rs 350cr

Aamir Khan-starrer Dangal is breaking a record one day and making a new one the next day.

Yesterday, Dangal became the highest-grossing Hindi film of all time leaving PK, Bajrangi Bhaijaan and Sultan behind.

MOVIE REVIEW: Dangal

Now, Aamir Khan's Dangal is all set to be the first film to cross Rs 350 crore in domestic box-office earnings.

Here is the day-wise breakdown of Dangal's total box office collection so far:

Day 1 (Friday) - December 23: Rs 29.78 crore

Day 2 (Saturday) - December 24: Rs 34.82 crore

Day 3 (Sunday) - December 25: Rs 42.35 crore

Day 4 (Monday) - December 26: Rs 25.48 crore

Day 5 (Tuesday) - December 27: Rs 23.07 crore

Day 6 (Wednesday) - December 28: Rs 21.20 crore

Day 7 (Thursday) - December 29: Rs 20.29 crore

WEEK 2

Day 8 (Friday) - December 30: Rs 18.59 crore

Day 9 (Saturday) - December 31: Rs 23.07 crore

Day 10 (Sunday) - January 1: Rs 31.27 crore

Day 11 (Monday) - January 2: Rs 13.45 crore

Day 12 (Tuesday) - January 3: Rs 12 crore

Day 13 (Wednesday) - January 4: Rs 9.23 crore

Day 14 (Thursday) - January 4: Rs 9.12 crore

WEEK 3

Day 15 (Friday) - January 4: Rs 6.66 crore

Day 16 (Saturday) - January 4: Rs 10.80 crore

Day 17 (Sunday) - January 4: Rs 14.33 crore

Total collection (18 days) - Rs 345.30 crore

Dangal is based on the real-life story of Haryanvi wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat and his struggle to turn his daughters Geet Phogat and Babita Kumari into world-class wrestlers.

While Aamir's performance has Mahavir Singh Phogat has been appreciated, actors Zaira Wasim/Fatima Sana Shaikh (playing Geeta Phogat) and Suhani Bhatnagar/Sanya Malhotra (playing Babita Kumari) have also caught the attention of the critics.

Keeping in mind Dangal's themes of patriotism and women empowerment, the state governments of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh have declared Aamir's film tax-free.

WATCH DANGAL MOVIE REVIEW: Aamir surpasses all expectations with this film

#movies #_lmsid:a0Vd0000002uQfeEAE #_revsp:india_today_57 #_uuid:ce6807d1-b36f-350b-971c-81847b8e9dc3 #_draft:true

[india-today-yahoopartner-blog]

Dangal box-office collection: Aamir's film to become first to cross Rs 350cr

Aamir Khan-starrer Dangal is breaking a record one day and making a new one the next day.

Yesterday, Dangal became the highest-grossing Hindi film of all time leaving PK, Bajrangi Bhaijaan and Sultan behind.

MOVIE REVIEW: Dangal

Now, Aamir Khan's Dangal is all set to be the first film to cross Rs 350 crore in domestic box-office earnings.

Here is the day-wise breakdown of Dangal's total box office collection so far:

Day 1 (Friday) - December 23: Rs 29.78 crore

Day 2 (Saturday) - December 24: Rs 34.82 crore

Day 3 (Sunday) - December 25: Rs 42.35 crore

Day 4 (Monday) - December 26: Rs 25.48 crore

Day 5 (Tuesday) - December 27: Rs 23.07 crore

Day 6 (Wednesday) - December 28: Rs 21.20 crore

Day 7 (Thursday) - December 29: Rs 20.29 crore

WEEK 2

Day 8 (Friday) - December 30: Rs 18.59 crore

Day 9 (Saturday) - December 31: Rs 23.07 crore

Day 10 (Sunday) - January 1: Rs 31.27 crore

Day 11 (Monday) - January 2: Rs 13.45 crore

Day 12 (Tuesday) - January 3: Rs 12 crore

Day 13 (Wednesday) - January 4: Rs 9.23 crore

Day 14 (Thursday) - January 4: Rs 9.12 crore

WEEK 3

Day 15 (Friday) - January 4: Rs 6.66 crore

Day 16 (Saturday) - January 4: Rs 10.80 crore

Day 17 (Sunday) - January 4: Rs 14.33 crore

Total collection (18 days) - Rs 345.30 crore

Dangal is based on the real-life story of Haryanvi wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat and his struggle to turn his daughters Geet Phogat and Babita Kumari into world-class wrestlers.

While Aamir's performance has Mahavir Singh Phogat has been appreciated, actors Zaira Wasim/Fatima Sana Shaikh (playing Geeta Phogat) and Suhani Bhatnagar/Sanya Malhotra (playing Babita Kumari) have also caught the attention of the critics.

Keeping in mind Dangal's themes of patriotism and women empowerment, the state governments of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh have declared Aamir's film tax-free.

WATCH DANGAL MOVIE REVIEW: Aamir surpasses all expectations with this film

#movies #_lmsid:a0Vd0000002uQfeEAE #_revsp:india_today_57 #_uuid:e4168623-6b8c-3bfa-9083-7847c84bad74 #_draft:true

[india-today-yahoopartner-blog]

Dangal box-office collection: Aamir's film to become first to cross Rs 350cr

Aamir Khan-starrer Dangal is breaking a record one day and making a new one the next day.

Yesterday, Dangal became the highest-grossing Hindi film of all time leaving PK, Bajrangi Bhaijaan and Sultan behind.

MOVIE REVIEW: Dangal

Now, Aamir Khan's Dangal is all set to be the first film to cross Rs 350 crore in domestic box-office earnings.

Here is the day-wise breakdown of Dangal's total box office collection so far:

Day 1 (Friday) - December 23: Rs 29.78 crore

Day 2 (Saturday) - December 24: Rs 34.82 crore

Day 3 (Sunday) - December 25: Rs 42.35 crore

Day 4 (Monday) - December 26: Rs 25.48 crore

Day 5 (Tuesday) - December 27: Rs 23.07 crore

Day 6 (Wednesday) - December 28: Rs 21.20 crore

Day 7 (Thursday) - December 29: Rs 20.29 crore

WEEK 2

Day 8 (Friday) - December 30: Rs 18.59 crore

Day 9 (Saturday) - December 31: Rs 23.07 crore

Day 10 (Sunday) - January 1: Rs 31.27 crore

Day 11 (Monday) - January 2: Rs 13.45 crore

Day 12 (Tuesday) - January 3: Rs 12 crore

Day 13 (Wednesday) - January 4: Rs 9.23 crore

Day 14 (Thursday) - January 4: Rs 9.12 crore

WEEK 3

Day 15 (Friday) - January 4: Rs 6.66 crore

Day 16 (Saturday) - January 4: Rs 10.80 crore

Day 17 (Sunday) - January 4: Rs 14.33 crore

Total collection (18 days) - Rs 345.30 crore

Dangal is based on the real-life story of Haryanvi wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat and his struggle to turn his daughters Geet Phogat and Babita Kumari into world-class wrestlers.

While Aamir's performance has Mahavir Singh Phogat has been appreciated, actors Zaira Wasim/Fatima Sana Shaikh (playing Geeta Phogat) and Suhani Bhatnagar/Sanya Malhotra (playing Babita Kumari) have also caught the attention of the critics.

Keeping in mind Dangal's themes of patriotism and women empowerment, the state governments of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh have declared Aamir's film tax-free.

WATCH DANGAL MOVIE REVIEW: Aamir surpasses all expectations with this film

#movies #_lmsid:a0Vd0000002uQfeEAE #_revsp:india_today_57 #_uuid:9b2ed097-5972-30b2-82d5-15f23618b76e #_draft:true

[india-today-yahoopartner-blog]

Dangal box-office collection: Aamir's film to become first to cross Rs 350cr

Aamir Khan-starrer Dangal is breaking a record one day and making a new one the next day.

Yesterday, Dangal became the highest-grossing Hindi film of all time leaving PK, Bajrangi Bhaijaan and Sultan behind.

MOVIE REVIEW: Dangal

Now, Aamir Khan's Dangal is all set to be the first film to cross Rs 350 crore in domestic box-office earnings.

Here is the day-wise breakdown of Dangal's total box office collection so far:

Day 1 (Friday) - December 23: Rs 29.78 crore

Day 2 (Saturday) - December 24: Rs 34.82 crore

Day 3 (Sunday) - December 25: Rs 42.35 crore

Day 4 (Monday) - December 26: Rs 25.48 crore

Day 5 (Tuesday) - December 27: Rs 23.07 crore

Day 6 (Wednesday) - December 28: Rs 21.20 crore

Day 7 (Thursday) - December 29: Rs 20.29 crore

WEEK 2

Day 8 (Friday) - December 30: Rs 18.59 crore

Day 9 (Saturday) - December 31: Rs 23.07 crore

Day 10 (Sunday) - January 1: Rs 31.27 crore

Day 11 (Monday) - January 2: Rs 13.45 crore

Day 12 (Tuesday) - January 3: Rs 12 crore

Day 13 (Wednesday) - January 4: Rs 9.23 crore

Day 14 (Thursday) - January 4: Rs 9.12 crore

WEEK 3

Day 15 (Friday) - January 4: Rs 6.66 crore

Day 16 (Saturday) - January 4: Rs 10.80 crore

Day 17 (Sunday) - January 4: Rs 14.33 crore

Total collection (18 days) - Rs 345.30 crore

Dangal is based on the real-life story of Haryanvi wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat and his struggle to turn his daughters Geet Phogat and Babita Kumari into world-class wrestlers.

While Aamir's performance has Mahavir Singh Phogat has been appreciated, actors Zaira Wasim/Fatima Sana Shaikh (playing Geeta Phogat) and Suhani Bhatnagar/Sanya Malhotra (playing Babita Kumari) have also caught the attention of the critics.

Keeping in mind Dangal's themes of patriotism and women empowerment, the state governments of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh have declared Aamir's film tax-free.

WATCH DANGAL MOVIE REVIEW: Aamir surpasses all expectations with this film

#movies #_lmsid:a0Vd0000002uQfeEAE #_revsp:india_today_57 #_draft:true #_uuid:46546f42-3289-3168-957b-e1f60bf4fadd

[india-today-yahoopartner-blog]

Kamal Haasan at India Today Conclave: I used to bully Sridevi in school

The India Today South Conclave 2017 saw acting legend Kamal Haasan speaking at a session called One Actor, Many Roles: Conversation About The Craft. Moderated by K Hariharan, professor, film studies and broadcast journalism, Ashoka University, the session had Haasan speaking about his craft, his acting.

ALSO READ: Kamal Haasan at South Conclave 2017 - Left Bombay because of too many underworld issues

ALSO READ: Randamoozham- Mohanlal's next to cost Rs 600 crore?

One of the hit pairs of Kollywood are Kamal Haasan and Sridevi. They have worked together in blockbusters like Moondram Pirai, Varumayin Niram Sigappu and Sigappu Rojakkal to name a few.

When asked about working with Sridevi, Kamal Haasan jokingly said that he used to bully her a lot.

Speaking at the event, Kamal Haasan said, "The first thing about Sridevi is that her absorbing quality is astounding. I was a senior student in K Balachander's school. When the teacher wasn't around, I used to bully her. Though we did several romantic scenes, the bond we shared was more like schoolmates hanging around."

Kamal Haasan talked about a lot of things at the event, including his favorite actors, why he left Bollywood and late actor Om Puri.

On the work front, Kamal Haasan will be next seen in the trilingual comedy film Sabash Naidu.

#movies #_uuid:e7781c32-f78b-31e1-8345-9f78b494a0fa #_lmsid:a0Vd0000002uQfeEAE #_revsp:india_today_57 #_draft:true

[india-today-yahoopartner-blog]

Kamal Haasan at India Today Conclave: I used to bully Sridevi in school

The India Today South Conclave 2017 saw acting legend Kamal Haasan speaking at a session called One Actor, Many Roles: Conversation About The Craft. Moderated by K Hariharan, professor, film studies and broadcast journalism, Ashoka University, the session had Haasan speaking about his craft, his acting.

ALSO READ: Kamal Haasan at South Conclave 2017 - Left Bombay because of too many underworld issues

ALSO READ: Randamoozham- Mohanlal's next to cost Rs 600 crore?

One of the hit pairs of Kollywood are Kamal Haasan and Sridevi. They have worked together in blockbusters like Moondram Pirai, Varumayin Niram Sigappu and Sigappu Rojakkal to name a few.

When asked about working with Sridevi, Kamal Haasan jokingly said that he used to bully her a lot.

Speaking at the event, Kamal Haasan said, "The first thing about Sridevi is that her absorbing quality is astounding. I was a senior student in K Balachander's school. When the teacher wasn't around, I used to bully her. Though we did several romantic scenes, the bond we shared was more like schoolmates hanging around."

Kamal Haasan talked about a lot of things at the event, including his favorite actors, why he left Bollywood and late actor Om Puri.

On the work front, Kamal Haasan will be next seen in the trilingual comedy film Sabash Naidu.

#movies #_lmsid:a0Vd0000002uQfeEAE #_revsp:india_today_57 #_draft:true #_uuid:c99eab13-6173-3bcd-90ee-4d7815da641f

[india-today-yahoopartner-blog]

India Today Conclave: Kamal Haasan reveals why he left Bombay

The India Today South Conclave 2017 saw acting legend Kamal Haasan speaking at a session called One Actor, Many Roles: Conversation About The Craft. Moderated by K Hariharan, professor, film studies and broadcast journalism, Ashoka University, the session had Haasan speaking about his craft, his acting.

The session began with a small film outlining the oeuvre of Kamal Haasan.

Hariharan, who is penning a book on Kamal Haasan, began the session with an anecdote. Kamal, who calls himself a 'reluctant actor', says, "I still am. If only the actor wasn't paid so much, I'd still continue to be one. The enticement is so much, the benefits that come out of being an actor that I let the animal free. About this 'bahurupi' thing, it only goes to say that I hate the idea of being a star. What happens to a star? I'm not putting the status down. The star is himself a person whatever role he plays. Even a great artist like Chaplin couldn't break out of the mould. Everyone called him the Tramp wherever he went. That is the fear that drives me to change my face. It is the need of the filmmaker to change his face."

"It's not as difficult as a parental responsibility. They say a bunch of lies. There are euphemisms which could be mistaken for lies. About how I was born; at about 10 or 11, the boy thinks no one came out naturally. As an actor, you do say those lies because people keep reminding you that you have a social responsibility. It's a double-edged sword, you have to wield it carefully."

ON NOT SMOKING ON SCREEN

"I started smoking because of only one man. That one man who wanted us to feel like smoking is Mr Sivaji Ganesan. It was the way he did it: very enticing, inviting. I lost quite a few of my friends to cancer. It doesn't affect the character. If it is very necessary for an actor to smoke, I will."

ON HIS FAVOURITE CHARACTERS

"Dilip Kumar, Charlie Chaplin and Sivaji Ganesan. They were ahead of their times. How to escape that captivity you are in because of peer pressure. In that sense, to go totally away from that environment... I was very surprised by Sivaji Ganesan when I asked him about that little tremor when he walked. Of all the names he said, he said Orson Welles. Because he was somewhat built like me. And I changed it to my style (Sivaji Ganesan). I admired the way he escaped his environment and did his own thing."

"About Dilip Saab, I had the great opportunity of meeting him. I used to kneel and kiss his hand. After Nayak, he told me he is the Godfather, and he's kneeling and kissing my hand. Everyone thinks I'm also deaf, I'm only old. The kind of progress that he has in mind. He himself thinks he's old-fashioned. These are truly trendsetters. Not that Dilip sa'ab didn't get his due, but I feel this younger generation doesn't know what Dilip Sa'ab is."

THE BOMBAY DREAM

"The times... those times were like that. I was a poorer cousin of Hindi cinema. I had to do my own laundry and stuff like that. They were spoilt and rich., Thet could do 6 films at a time. I thought that was very defeating. That was one of the reasons. Too many underworld connections. I didn't want to stay there to either oppose it or succumb to the threat. I was one of the actors to decide that OI would not have anything to do with black money. I'm quite happy. I drove in a car. It is quite possible. Someone else did it earlier. Cameraman Vincent. He never touched black money. It was much before any government threatened him to not keep black money. My brother and I made that ca;ll."

ON OM PURI

How did this death affect you. "Death affects anyone. I, over time, have accepted death as part of life. Without which, life doesn't make full meaning. It's a full stop in a sentence. It's a marker of sorts. I would complain about death if I'd have seen at least one man escape it. We have to accept it."

"For me, the most touching thing apart from his talent, it was his simplicity he approached everything with.His performances, his friendship, his relationships., He remembers to say thank you for the smallest of things. He is concerned about hurting people. He will quickly come up with an apology when he thinks he is rude."

ON BEING BASHED FOR HIS ROLES

"You're saying Sabash to only Naidus... what about the other communities? I don't know whether to take them seriously or ignore them. Ignoring them seems to anger them anymore. Like Twitter, Anybody can say anything... that's become the order of the day. There was a film called Vasool Raja MBBS. The medical council said they were offended because you're calling us collectors of money. I refused to change the title. Don't give me this hypocritical thing. Vishwaroopam, for that matter. Everyone said it's an anti-Muslim film. The only good guy in the film is the Indian Muslim guy. A congresswoman said Hey Ram had to be banned without even seeing the film."

WHY WOULD AN ACTOR WANT TO BECOME A PRODUCER AT 25?

"I had great advisors and friends who believed in me. They all were very concerned for me. It was holding back and I turned producer when I was 25, actually."

"Imagine somebody sitting behind you on the mad horse (of production) and holding the reins!

COMEDY VS SERIOUS FILMS

"Comedy is nothing disrespectful. When I make either of the films., I look for quality in them. I don;'t want to make a film with my National Awards in mind. Even the silent nod from the audience is what I aim at."

Soft corner for serious films. "All comedians are serious people. If they were to vent their anger directly, they would be more hated than loved. With humour, you can gently give them the injection that they deserve."

THREE BEST CHARACTERS HE'S PLAYED

"I'd say I don't know whether I'm successful playing it... it's Kamal Haasan! I'm trying to make it convincing. It is very difficult. I like certain movies, but I grow out of them. These are all technical matters. The character just walked with me. If you see Naidu for that matter, all of it is me, but it's not me. If I'd been religious or spiritual, I'd say that something came into me. It is very enjoyable. It is a roller-coaster ride where you don't know hoe Naidu would behave. What will happen next. In Hindi, it's called Subhash Kundu... I have very little acting to do. That's very interesting for me."

#movies #_uuid:64eb465e-9714-3e85-b3d6-ea76ccfb1116 #_lmsid:a0Vd0000002uQfeEAE #_revsp:india_today_57 #_draft:true

[india-today-yahoopartner-blog]

India Today Conclave: Kamal Haasan reveals why he left Bombay

The India Today South Conclave 2017 saw acting legend Kamal Haasan speaking at a session called One Actor, Many Roles: Conversation About The Craft. Moderated by K Hariharan, professor, film studies and broadcast journalism, Ashoka University, the session had Haasan speaking about his craft, his acting.

The session began with a small film outlining the oeuvre of Kamal Haasan.

Hariharan, who is penning a book on Kamal Haasan, began the session with an anecdote. Kamal, who calls himself a 'reluctant actor', says, "I still am. If only the actor wasn't paid so much, I'd still continue to be one. The enticement is so much, the benefits that come out of being an actor that I let the animal free. About this 'bahurupi' thing, it only goes to say that I hate the idea of being a star. What happens to a star? I'm not putting the status down. The star is himself a person whatever role he plays. Even a great artist like Chaplin couldn't break out of the mould. Everyone called him the Tramp wherever he went. That is the fear that drives me to change my face. It is the need of the filmmaker to change his face."

"It's not as difficult as a parental responsibility. They say a bunch of lies. There are euphemisms which could be mistaken for lies. About how I was born; at about 10 or 11, the boy thinks no one came out naturally. As an actor, you do say those lies because people keep reminding you that you have a social responsibility. It's a double-edged sword, you have to wield it carefully."

ON NOT SMOKING ON SCREEN

"I started smoking because of only one man. That one man who wanted us to feel like smoking is Mr Sivaji Ganesan. It was the way he did it: very enticing, inviting. I lost quite a few of my friends to cancer. It doesn't affect the character. If it is very necessary for an actor to smoke, I will."

ON HIS FAVOURITE CHARACTERS

"Dilip Kumar, Charlie Chaplin and Sivaji Ganesan. They were ahead of their times. How to escape that captivity you are in because of peer pressure. In that sense, to go totally away from that environment... I was very surprised by Sivaji Ganesan when I asked him about that little tremor when he walked. Of all the names he said, he said Orson Welles. Because he was somewhat built like me. And I changed it to my style (Sivaji Ganesan). I admired the way he escaped his environment and did his own thing."

"About Dilip Saab, I had the great opportunity of meeting him. I used to kneel and kiss his hand. After Nayak, he told me he is the Godfather, and he's kneeling and kissing my hand. Everyone thinks I'm also deaf, I'm only old. The kind of progress that he has in mind. He himself thinks he's old-fashioned. These are truly trendsetters. Not that Dilip sa'ab didn't get his due, but I feel this younger generation doesn't know what Dilip Sa'ab is."

THE BOMBAY DREAM

"The times... those times were like that. I was a poorer cousin of Hindi cinema. I had to do my own laundry and stuff like that. They were spoilt and rich., Thet could do 6 films at a time. I thought that was very defeating. That was one of the reasons. Too many underworld connections. I didn't want to stay there to either oppose it or succumb to the threat. I was one of the actors to decide that OI would not have anything to do with black money. I'm quite happy. I drove in a car. It is quite possible. Someone else did it earlier. Cameraman Vincent. He never touched black money. It was much before any government threatened him to not keep black money. My brother and I made that ca;ll."

ON OM PURI

How did this death affect you. "Death affects anyone. I, over time, have accepted death as part of life. Without which, life doesn't make full meaning. It's a full stop in a sentence. It's a marker of sorts. I would complain about death if I'd have seen at least one man escape it. We have to accept it."

"For me, the most touching thing apart from his talent, it was his simplicity he approached everything with.His performances, his friendship, his relationships., He remembers to say thank you for the smallest of things. He is concerned about hurting people. He will quickly come up with an apology when he thinks he is rude."

ON BEING BASHED FOR HIS ROLES

"You're saying Sabash to only Naidus... what about the other communities? I don't know whether to take them seriously or ignore them. Ignoring them seems to anger them anymore. Like Twitter, Anybody can say anything... that's become the order of the day. There was a film called Vasool Raja MBBS. The medical council said they were offended because you're calling us collectors of money. I refused to change the title. Don't give me this hypocritical thing. Vishwaroopam, for that matter. Everyone said it's an anti-Muslim film. The only good guy in the film is the Indian Muslim guy. A congresswoman said Hey Ram had to be banned without even seeing the film."

WHY WOULD AN ACTOR WANT TO BECOME A PRODUCER AT 25?

"I had great advisors and friends who believed in me. They all were very concerned for me. It was holding back and I turned producer when I was 25, actually."

"Imagine somebody sitting behind you on the mad horse (of production) and holding the reins!

COMEDY VS SERIOUS FILMS

"Comedy is nothing disrespectful. When I make either of the films., I look for quality in them. I don;'t want to make a film with my National Awards in mind. Even the silent nod from the audience is what I aim at."

Soft corner for serious films. "All comedians are serious people. If they were to vent their anger directly, they would be more hated than loved. With humour, you can gently give them the injection that they deserve."

THREE BEST CHARACTERS HE'S PLAYED

"I'd say I don't know whether I'm successful playing it... it's Kamal Haasan! I'm trying to make it convincing. It is very difficult. I like certain movies, but I grow out of them. These are all technical matters. The character just walked with me. If you see Naidu for that matter, all of it is me, but it's not me. If I'd been religious or spiritual, I'd say that something came into me. It is very enjoyable. It is a roller-coaster ride where you don't know hoe Naidu would behave. What will happen next. In Hindi, it's called Subhash Kundu... I have very little acting to do. That's very interesting for me."

#movies #_lmsid:a0Vd0000002uQfeEAE #_revsp:india_today_57 #_draft:true #_uuid:1ea8f785-8e2a-344c-986e-aa38ae3deec6

[india-today-yahoopartner-blog]

India Today Conclave: Kamal Haasan reveals why he left Bombay

The India Today South Conclave 2017 saw acting legend Kamal Haasan speaking at a session called One Actor, Many Roles: Conversation About The Craft. Moderated by K Hariharan, professor, film studies and broadcast journalism, Ashoka University, the session had Haasan speaking about his craft, his acting.

The session began with a small film outlining the oeuvre of Kamal Haasan.

Hariharan, who is penning a book on Kamal Haasan, began the session with an anecdote. Kamal, who calls himself a 'reluctant actor', says, "I still am. If only the actor wasn't paid so much, I'd still continue to be one. The enticement is so much, the benefits that come out of being an actor that I let the animal free. About this 'bahurupi' thing, it only goes to say that I hate the idea of being a star. What happens to a star? I'm not putting the status down. The star is himself a person whatever role he plays. Even a great artist like Chaplin couldn't break out of the mould. Everyone called him the Tramp wherever he went. That is the fear that drives me to change my face. It is the need of the filmmaker to change his face."

"It's not as difficult as a parental responsibility. They say a bunch of lies. There are euphemisms which could be mistaken for lies. About how I was born; at about 10 or 11, the boy thinks no one came out naturally. As an actor, you do say those lies because people keep reminding you that you have a social responsibility. It's a double-edged sword, you have to wield it carefully."

ON NOT SMOKING ON SCREEN

"I started smoking because of only one man. That one man who wanted us to feel like smoking is Mr Sivaji Ganesan. It was the way he did it: very enticing, inviting. I lost quite a few of my friends to cancer. It doesn't affect the character. If it is very necessary for an actor to smoke, I will."

ON HIS FAVOURITE CHARACTERS

"Dilip Kumar, Charlie Chaplin and Sivaji Ganesan. They were ahead of their times. How to escape that captivity you are in because of peer pressure. In that sense, to go totally away from that environment... I was very surprised by Sivaji Ganesan when I asked him about that little tremor when he walked. Of all the names he said, he said Orson Welles. Because he was somewhat built like me. And I changed it to my style (Sivaji Ganesan). I admired the way he escaped his environment and did his own thing."

"About Dilip Saab, I had the great opportunity of meeting him. I used to kneel and kiss his hand. After Nayak, he told me he is the Godfather, and he's kneeling and kissing my hand. Everyone thinks I'm also deaf, I'm only old. The kind of progress that he has in mind. He himself thinks he's old-fashioned. These are truly trendsetters. Not that Dilip sa'ab didn't get his due, but I feel this younger generation doesn't know what Dilip Sa'ab is."

THE BOMBAY DREAM

"The times... those times were like that. I was a poorer cousin of Hindi cinema. I had to do my own laundry and stuff like that. They were spoilt and rich., Thet could do 6 films at a time. I thought that was very defeating. That was one of the reasons. Too many underworld connections. I didn't want to stay there to either oppose it or succumb to the threat. I was one of the actors to decide that OI would not have anything to do with black money. I'm quite happy. I drove in a car. It is quite possible. Someone else did it earlier. Cameraman Vincent. He never touched black money. It was much before any government threatened him to not keep black money. My brother and I made that ca;ll."

ON OM PURI

How did this death affect you. "Death affects anyone. I, over time, have accepted death as part of life. Without which, life doesn't make full meaning. It's a full stop in a sentence. It's a marker of sorts. I would complain about death if I'd have seen at least one man escape it. We have to accept it."

"For me, the most touching thing apart from his talent, it was his simplicity he approached everything with.His performances, his friendship, his relationships., He remembers to say thank you for the smallest of things. He is concerned about hurting people. He will quickly come up with an apology when he thinks he is rude."

ON BEING BASHED FOR HIS ROLES

"You're saying Sabash to only Naidus... what about the other communities? I don't know whether to take them seriously or ignore them. Ignoring them seems to anger them anymore. Like Twitter, Anybody can say anything... that's become the order of the day. There was a film called Vasool Raja MBBS. The medical council said they were offended because you're calling us collectors of money. I refused to change the title. Don't give me this hypocritical thing. Vishwaroopam, for that matter. Everyone said it's an anti-Muslim film. The only good guy in the film is the Indian Muslim guy. A congresswoman said Hey Ram had to be banned without even seeing the film."

WHY WOULD AN ACTOR WANT TO BECOME A PRODUCER AT 25?

"I had great advisors and friends who believed in me. They all were very concerned for me. It was holding back and I turned producer when I was 25, actually."

"Imagine somebody sitting behind you on the mad horse (of production) and holding the reins!

COMEDY VS SERIOUS FILMS

"Comedy is nothing disrespectful. When I make either of the films., I look for quality in them. I don;'t want to make a film with my National Awards in mind. Even the silent nod from the audience is what I aim at."

Soft corner for serious films. "All comedians are serious people. If they were to vent their anger directly, they would be more hated than loved. With humour, you can gently give them the injection that they deserve."

THREE BEST CHARACTERS HE'S PLAYED

"I'd say I don't know whether I'm successful playing it... it's Kamal Haasan! I'm trying to make it convincing. It is very difficult. I like certain movies, but I grow out of them. These are all technical matters. The character just walked with me. If you see Naidu for that matter, all of it is me, but it's not me. If I'd been religious or spiritual, I'd say that something came into me. It is very enjoyable. It is a roller-coaster ride where you don't know hoe Naidu would behave. What will happen next. In Hindi, it's called Subhash Kundu... I have very little acting to do. That's very interesting for me."

#movies #_lmsid:a0Vd0000002uQfeEAE #_revsp:india_today_57 #_draft:true #_uuid:45a7c4a0-81cd-35ac-889d-50b08eb5c5b1

[india-today-yahoopartner-blog]

India Today Conclave: Kamal Haasan reveals why he left Bombay

The India Today South Conclave 2017 saw acting legend Kamal Haasan speaking at a session called One Actor, Many Roles: Conversation About The Craft. Moderated by K Hariharan, professor, film studies and broadcast journalism, Ashoka University, the session had Haasan speaking about his craft, his acting.

The session began with a small film outlining the oeuvre of Kamal Haasan.

Hariharan, who is penning a book on Kamal Haasan, began the session with an anecdote. Kamal, who calls himself a 'reluctant actor', says, "I still am. If only the actor wasn't paid so much, I'd still continue to be one. The enticement is so much, the benefits that come out of being an actor that I let the animal free. About this 'bahurupi' thing, it only goes to say that I hate the idea of being a star. What happens to a star? I'm not putting the status down. The star is himself a person whatever role he plays. Even a great artist like Chaplin couldn't break out of the mould. Everyone called him the Tramp wherever he went. That is the fear that drives me to change my face. It is the need of the filmmaker to change his face."

"It's not as difficult as a parental responsibility. They say a bunch of lies. There are euphemisms which could be mistaken for lies. About how I was born; at about 10 or 11, the boy thinks no one came out naturally. As an actor, you do say those lies because people keep reminding you that you have a social responsibility. It's a double-edged sword, you have to wield it carefully."

ON NOT SMOKING ON SCREEN

"I started smoking because of only one man. That one man who wanted us to feel like smoking is Mr Sivaji Ganesan. It was the way he did it: very enticing, inviting. I lost quite a few of my friends to cancer. It doesn't affect the character. If it is very necessary for an actor to smoke, I will."

ON HIS FAVOURITE CHARACTERS

"Dilip Kumar, Charlie Chaplin and Sivaji Ganesan. They were ahead of their times. How to escape that captivity you are in because of peer pressure. In that sense, to go totally away from that environment... I was very surprised by Sivaji Ganesan when I asked him about that little tremor when he walked. Of all the names he said, he said Orson Welles. Because he was somewhat built like me. And I changed it to my style (Sivaji Ganesan). I admired the way he escaped his environment and did his own thing."

"About Dilip Saab, I had the great opportunity of meeting him. I used to kneel and kiss his hand. After Nayak, he told me he is the Godfather, and he's kneeling and kissing my hand. Everyone thinks I'm also deaf, I'm only old. The kind of progress that he has in mind. He himself thinks he's old-fashioned. These are truly trendsetters. Not that Dilip sa'ab didn't get his due, but I feel this younger generation doesn't know what Dilip Sa'ab is."

THE BOMBAY DREAM

"The times... those times were like that. I was a poorer cousin of Hindi cinema. I had to do my own laundry and stuff like that. They were spoilt and rich., Thet could do 6 films at a time. I thought that was very defeating. That was one of the reasons. Too many underworld connections. I didn't want to stay there to either oppose it or succumb to the threat. I was one of the actors to decide that OI would not have anything to do with black money. I'm quite happy. I drove in a car. It is quite possible. Someone else did it earlier. Cameraman Vincent. He never touched black money. It was much before any government threatened him to not keep black money. My brother and I made that ca;ll."

ON OM PURI

How did this death affect you. "Death affects anyone. I, over time, have accepted death as part of life. Without which, life doesn't make full meaning. It's a full stop in a sentence. It's a marker of sorts. I would complain about death if I'd have seen at least one man escape it. We have to accept it."

"For me, the most touching thing apart from his talent, it was his simplicity he approached everything with.His performances, his friendship, his relationships., He remembers to say thank you for the smallest of things. He is concerned about hurting people. He will quickly come up with an apology when he thinks he is rude."

ON BEING BASHED FOR HIS ROLES

"You're saying Sabash to only Naidus... what about the other communities? I don't know whether to take them seriously or ignore them. Ignoring them seems to anger them anymore. Like Twitter, Anybody can say anything... that's become the order of the day. There was a film called Vasool Raja MBBS. The medical council said they were offended because you're calling us collectors of money. I refused to change the title. Don't give me this hypocritical thing. Vishwaroopam, for that matter. Everyone said it's an anti-Muslim film. The only good guy in the film is the Indian Muslim guy. A congresswoman said Hey Ram had to be banned without even seeing the film."

WHY WOULD AN ACTOR WANT TO BECOME A PRODUCER AT 25?

"I had great advisors and friends who believed in me. They all were very concerned for me. It was holding back and I turned producer when I was 25, actually."

"Imagine somebody sitting behind you on the mad horse (of production) and holding the reins!

COMEDY VS SERIOUS FILMS

"Comedy is nothing disrespectful. When I make either of the films., I look for quality in them. I don;'t want to make a film with my National Awards in mind. Even the silent nod from the audience is what I aim at."

Soft corner for serious films. "All comedians are serious people. If they were to vent their anger directly, they would be more hated than loved. With humour, you can gently give them the injection that they deserve."

THREE BEST CHARACTERS HE'S PLAYED

"I'd say I don't know whether I'm successful playing it... it's Kamal Haasan! I'm trying to make it convincing. It is very difficult. I like certain movies, but I grow out of them. These are all technical matters. The character just walked with me. If you see Naidu for that matter, all of it is me, but it's not me. If I'd been religious or spiritual, I'd say that something came into me. It is very enjoyable. It is a roller-coaster ride where you don't know hoe Naidu would behave. What will happen next. In Hindi, it's called Subhash Kundu... I have very little acting to do. That's very interesting for me."

#movies #_lmsid:a0Vd0000002uQfeEAE #_revsp:india_today_57 #_draft:true #_uuid:26abaeb0-b68e-3782-b135-13ef8520a745

[india-today-yahoopartner-blog]

India Today Conclave: Kamal Haasan reveals why he left Bombay

The India Today South Conclave 2017 saw acting legend Kamal Haasan speaking at a session called One Actor, Many Roles: Conversation About The Craft. Moderated by K Hariharan, professor, film studies and broadcast journalism, Ashoka University, the session had Haasan speaking about his craft, his acting.

The session began with a small film outlining the oeuvre of Kamal Haasan.

Hariharan, who is penning a book on Kamal Haasan, began the session with an anecdote. Kamal, who calls himself a 'reluctant actor', says, "I still am. If only the actor wasn't paid so much, I'd still continue to be one. The enticement is so much, the benefits that come out of being an actor that I let the animal free. About this 'bahurupi' thing, it only goes to say that I hate the idea of being a star. What happens to a star? I'm not putting the status down. The star is himself a person whatever role he plays. Even a great artist like Chaplin couldn't break out of the mould. Everyone called him the Tramp wherever he went. That is the fear that drives me to change my face. It is the need of the filmmaker to change his face."

"It's not as difficult as a parental responsibility. They say a bunch of lies. There are euphemisms which could be mistaken for lies. About how I was born; at about 10 or 11, the boy thinks no one came out naturally. As an actor, you do say those lies because people keep reminding you that you have a social responsibility. It's a double-edged sword, you have to wield it carefully."

ON NOT SMOKING ON SCREEN

"I started smoking because of only one man. That one man who wanted us to feel like smoking is Mr Sivaji Ganesan. It was the way he did it: very enticing, inviting. I lost quite a few of my friends to cancer. It doesn't affect the character. If it is very necessary for an actor to smoke, I will."

ON HIS FAVOURITE CHARACTERS

"Dilip Kumar, Charlie Chaplin and Sivaji Ganesan. They were ahead of their times. How to escape that captivity you are in because of peer pressure. In that sense, to go totally away from that environment... I was very surprised by Sivaji Ganesan when I asked him about that little tremor when he walked. Of all the names he said, he said Orson Welles. Because he was somewhat built like me. And I changed it to my style (Sivaji Ganesan). I admired the way he escaped his environment and did his own thing."

"About Dilip Saab, I had the great opportunity of meeting him. I used to kneel and kiss his hand. After Nayak, he told me he is the Godfather, and he's kneeling and kissing my hand. Everyone thinks I'm also deaf, I'm only old. The kind of progress that he has in mind. He himself thinks he's old-fashioned. These are truly trendsetters. Not that Dilip sa'ab didn't get his due, but I feel this younger generation doesn't know what Dilip Sa'ab is."

THE BOMBAY DREAM

"The times... those times were like that. I was a poorer cousin of Hindi cinema. I had to do my own laundry and stuff like that. They were spoilt and rich., Thet could do 6 films at a time. I thought that was very defeating. That was one of the reasons. Too many underworld connections. I didn't want to stay there to either oppose it or succumb to the threat. I was one of the actors to decide that OI would not have anything to do with black money. I'm quite happy. I drove in a car. It is quite possible. Someone else did it earlier. Cameraman Vincent. He never touched black money. It was much before any government threatened him to not keep black money. My brother and I made that ca;ll."

ON OM PURI

How did this death affect you. "Death affects anyone. I, over time, have accepted death as part of life. Without which, life doesn't make full meaning. It's a full stop in a sentence. It's a marker of sorts. I would complain about death if I'd have seen at least one man escape it. We have to accept it."

"For me, the most touching thing apart from his talent, it was his simplicity he approached everything with.His performances, his friendship, his relationships., He remembers to say thank you for the smallest of things. He is concerned about hurting people. He will quickly come up with an apology when he thinks he is rude."

ON BEING BASHED FOR HIS ROLES

"You're saying Sabash to only Naidus... what about the other communities? I don't know whether to take them seriously or ignore them. Ignoring them seems to anger them anymore. Like Twitter, Anybody can say anything... that's become the order of the day. There was a film called Vasool Raja MBBS. The medical council said they were offended because you're calling us collectors of money. I refused to change the title. Don't give me this hypocritical thing. Vishwaroopam, for that matter. Everyone said it's an anti-Muslim film. The only good guy in the film is the Indian Muslim guy. A congresswoman said Hey Ram had to be banned without even seeing the film."

WHY WOULD AN ACTOR WANT TO BECOME A PRODUCER AT 25?

"I had great advisors and friends who believed in me. They all were very concerned for me. It was holding back and I turned producer when I was 25, actually."

"Imagine somebody sitting behind you on the mad horse (of production) and holding the reins!

COMEDY VS SERIOUS FILMS

"Comedy is nothing disrespectful. When I make either of the films., I look for quality in them. I don;'t want to make a film with my National Awards in mind. Even the silent nod from the audience is what I aim at."

Soft corner for serious films. "All comedians are serious people. If they were to vent their anger directly, they would be more hated than loved. With humour, you can gently give them the injection that they deserve."

THREE BEST CHARACTERS HE'S PLAYED

"I'd say I don't know whether I'm successful playing it... it's Kamal Haasan! I'm trying to make it convincing. It is very difficult. I like certain movies, but I grow out of them. These are all technical matters. The character just walked with me. If you see Naidu for that matter, all of it is me, but it's not me. If I'd been religious or spiritual, I'd say that something came into me. It is very enjoyable. It is a roller-coaster ride where you don't know hoe Naidu would behave. What will happen next. In Hindi, it's called Subhash Kundu... I have very little acting to do. That's very interesting for me."

#movies #_lmsid:a0Vd0000002uQfeEAE #_revsp:india_today_57 #_draft:true #_uuid:15cc32ff-212f-3e95-83fc-b5c341324807

[india-today-yahoopartner-blog]

India Today Conclave: Kamal Haasan reveals why he left Bombay

The India Today South Conclave 2017 saw acting legend Kamal Haasan speaking at a session called One Actor, Many Roles: Conversation About The Craft. Moderated by K Hariharan, professor, film studies and broadcast journalism, Ashoka University, the session had Haasan speaking about his craft, his acting.

The session began with a small film outlining the oeuvre of Kamal Haasan.

Hariharan, who is penning a book on Kamal Haasan, began the session with an anecdote. Kamal, who calls himself a 'reluctant actor', says, "I still am. If only the actor wasn't paid so much, I'd still continue to be one. The enticement is so much, the benefits that come out of being an actor that I let the animal free. About this 'bahurupi' thing, it only goes to say that I hate the idea of being a star. What happens to a star? I'm not putting the status down. The star is himself a person whatever role he plays. Even a great artist like Chaplin couldn't break out of the mould. Everyone called him the Tramp wherever he went. That is the fear that drives me to change my face. It is the need of the filmmaker to change his face."

"It's not as difficult as a parental responsibility. They say a bunch of lies. There are euphemisms which could be mistaken for lies. About how I was born; at about 10 or 11, the boy thinks no one came out naturally. As an actor, you do say those lies because people keep reminding you that you have a social responsibility. It's a double-edged sword, you have to wield it carefully."

ON NOT SMOKING ON SCREEN

"I started smoking because of only one man. That one man who wanted us to feel like smoking is Mr Sivaji Ganesan. It was the way he did it: very enticing, inviting. I lost quite a few of my friends to cancer. It doesn't affect the character. If it is very necessary for an actor to smoke, I will."

ON HIS FAVOURITE CHARACTERS

"Dilip Kumar, Charlie Chaplin and Sivaji Ganesan. They were ahead of their times. How to escape that captivity you are in because of peer pressure. In that sense, to go totally away from that environment... I was very surprised by Sivaji Ganesan when I asked him about that little tremor when he walked. Of all the names he said, he said Orson Welles. Because he was somewhat built like me. And I changed it to my style (Sivaji Ganesan). I admired the way he escaped his environment and did his own thing."

"About Dilip Saab, I had the great opportunity of meeting him. I used to kneel and kiss his hand. After Nayak, he told me he is the Godfather, and he's kneeling and kissing my hand. Everyone thinks I'm also deaf, I'm only old. The kind of progress that he has in mind. He himself thinks he's old-fashioned. These are truly trendsetters. Not that Dilip sa'ab didn't get his due, but I feel this younger generation doesn't know what Dilip Sa'ab is."

THE BOMBAY DREAM

"The times... those times were like that. I was a poorer cousin of Hindi cinema. I had to do my own laundry and stuff like that. They were spoilt and rich., Thet could do 6 films at a time. I thought that was very defeating. That was one of the reasons. Too many underworld connections. I didn't want to stay there to either oppose it or succumb to the threat. I was one of the actors to decide that OI would not have anything to do with black money. I'm quite happy. I drove in a car. It is quite possible. Someone else did it earlier. Cameraman Vincent. He never touched black money. It was much before any government threatened him to not keep black money. My brother and I made that ca;ll."

ON OM PURI

How did this death affect you. "Death affects anyone. I, over time, have accepted death as part of life. Without which, life doesn't make full meaning. It's a full stop in a sentence. It's a marker of sorts. I would complain about death if I'd have seen at least one man accept it. We have to accept it."

"For me, the most touching thing apart from his talent, it was his simplicity he approached everything with.His performances, his friendship, his relationships., He remembers to say thank you for the smallest of things. He is concerned about hurting people. He will quickly come up with an apology when he thinks he is rude."

ON BEING BASHED FOR HIS ROLES

"You're saying Sabash to only Naidus... what about the other communities? I don't know whether to take them seriously or ignore them. Ignoring them seems to anger them anymore. Like Twitter, Anybody can say anything... that's become the order of the day. There was a film called Vasool Raja MBBS. The medical council said they were offended because you're calling us collectors of money. I refused to change the title. Don't give me this hypocritical thing. Vishwaroopam, for that matter. Everyone said it's an anti-Muslim film. The only good guy in the film is the Indian Muslim guy. A congresswoman said Hey Ram had to be banned without even seeing the film."

WHY WOULD AN ACTOR WANT TO BECOME A PRODUCER AT 25?

"I had great advisors and friends who believed in me. They all were very concerned for me. It was holding back and I turned producer when I was 25, actually."

"Imagine somebody sitting behind you on the mad horse (of production) and holding the reins!

COMEDY VS SERIOUS FILMS

"Comedy is nothing disrespectful. When I make either of the films., I look for quality in them. I don;'t want to make a film with my National Awards in mind. Even the silent nod from the audience is what I aim at."

Soft corner for serious films. "All comedians are serious people. If they were to vent their anger directly, they would be more hated than loved. With humour, you can gently give them the injection that they deserve."

THREE BEST CHARACTERS HE'S PLAYED

"I'd say I don't know whether I'm successful playing it... it's Kamal Haasan! I'm trying to make it convincing. It is very difficult. I like certain movies, but I grow out of them. These are all technical matters. The character just walked with me. If you see Naidu for that matter, all of it is me, but it's not me. If I'd been religious or spiritual, I'd say that something came into me. It is very enjoyable. It is a roller-coaster ride where you don't know hoe Naidu would behave. What will happen next. In Hindi, it's called Subhash Kundu... I have very little acting to do. That's very interesting for me."

#movies #_lmsid:a0Vd0000002uQfeEAE #_revsp:india_today_57 #_uuid:fb7e5f4c-b26b-35fd-a6db-8a7fdca6711f #_draft:true

[india-today-yahoopartner-blog]

India Today COnclave: Kamal Haasan reveals why he left Bombay

The India Today South Conclave 2017 saw acting legend Kamal Haasan speaking at a session called One Actor, Many Roles: Conversation About The Craft. Moderated by K Hariharan, professor, film studies and broadcast journalism, Ashoka University, the session had Haasan speaking about his craft, his acting.

The session began with a small film outlining the oeuvre of Kamal Haasan.

Hariharan, who is penning a book on Kamal Haasan, began the session with an anecdote. Kamal, who calls himself a 'reluctant actor', says, "I still am. If only the actor wasn't paid so much, I'd still continue to be one. The enticement is so much, the benefits that come out of being an actor that I let the animal free. About this 'bahurupi' thing, it only goes to say that I hate the idea of being a star. What happens to a star? I'm not putting the status down. The star is himself a person whatever role he plays. Even a great artist like Chaplin couldn't break out of the mould. Everyone called him the Tramp wherever he went. That is the fear that drives me to change my face. It is the need of the filmmaker to change his face."

"It's not as difficult as a parental responsibility. They say a bunch of lies. There are euphemisms which could be mistaken for lies. About how I was born; at about 10 or 11, the boy thinks no one came out naturally. As an actor, you do say those lies because people keep reminding you that you have a social responsibility. It's a double-edged sword, you have to wield it carefully."

ON NOT SMOKING ON SCREEN

"I started smoking because of only one man. That one man who wanted us to feel like smoking is Mr Sivaji Ganesan. It was the way he did it: very enticing, inviting. I lost quite a few of my friends to cancer. It doesn't affect the character. If it is very necessary for an actor to smoke, I will."

ON HIS FAVOURITE CHARACTERS

"Dilip Kumar, Charlie Chaplin and Sivaji Ganesan. They were ahead of their times. How to escape that captivity you are in because of peer pressure. In that sense, to go totally away from that environment... I was very surprised by Sivaji Ganesan when I asked him about that little tremor when he walked. Of all the names he said, he said Orson Welles. Because he was somewhat built like me. And I changed it to my style (Sivaji Ganesan). I admired the way he escaped his environment and did his own thing."

"About Dilip Saab, I had the great opportunity of meeting him. I used to kneel and kiss his hand. After Nayak, he told me he is the Godfather, and he's kneeling and kissing my hand. Everyone thinks I'm also deaf, I'm only old. The kind of progress that he has in mind. He himself thinks he's old-fashioned. These are truly trendsetters. Not that Dilip sa'ab didn't get his due, but I feel this younger generation doesn't know what Dilip Sa'ab is."

THE BOMBAY DREAM

"The times... those times were like that. I was a poorer cousin of Hindi cinema. I had to do my own laundry and stuff like that. They were spoilt and rich., Thet could do 6 films at a time. I thought that was very defeating. That was one of the reasons. Too many underworld connections. I didn't want to stay there to either oppose it or succumb to the threat. I was one of the actors to decide that OI would not have anything to do with black money. I'm quite happy. I drove in a car. It is quite possible. Someone else did it earlier. Cameraman Vincent. He never touched black money. It was much before any government threatened him to not keep black money. My brother and I made that ca;ll."

ON OM PURI

How did this death affect you. "Death affects anyone. I, over time, have accepted death as part of life. Without which, life doesn't make full meaning. It's a full stop in a sentence. It's a marker of sorts. I would complain about death if I'd have seen at least one man accept it. We have to accept it."

"For me, the most touching thing apart from his talent, it was his simplicity he approached everything with.His performances, his friendship, his relationships., He remembers to say thank you for the smallest of things. He is concerned about hurting people. He will quickly come up with an apology when he thinks he is rude.

ON BEING BASHED FOR HIS ROLES

"You're saying Sabash to only Naidus... what about the other communities? I don't know whether to take them seriously or ignore them. Ignoring them seems to anger them anymore. Like Twitter, Anybody can say anything... that's become the order of the day. There was a film called Vasool Raja MBBS. The medical council said they were offended because you're calling us collectors of money. I refused to change the title. Don't give me this hypocritical thing. Vishwaroopam, for that matter. Everyone said it's an anti-Muslim film. The only good guy in the film is the Indian Muslim guy. A congresswoman said Hey Ram had to be banned without even seeing the film."

WHY WOULD AN ACTOR WANT TO BECOME A PRODUCER AT 25?

"I had great advisors and friends who believed in me. They all were very concerned for me. It was holding back and I turned producer when I was 25, actually."

"Imagine somebody sitting behind you on the mad horse (of production) and holding the reins!

COMEDY VS SERIOUS FILMS

"Comedy is nothing disrespectful. When I make either of the films., I look for quality in them. I don;'t want to make a film with my National Awards in mind. Even the silent nod from the audience is what I aim at."

Soft corner for serious films. "All comedians are serious people. If they were to vent their anger directly, they would be more hated than loved. With humour, you can gently give them the injection that they deserve."THREE BEST CHARACTERS HE'S PLAYED

"I'd say I don't know whether I'm successful playing it... it's Kamal Haasan! I'm trying to make it convincing. It is very difficult. I like certain movies, but I grow out of them. These are all technical matters. The character just walked with me. If you see Naidu for that matter, all of it is me, but it's not me. If I'd been religious or spiritual, I'd say that something came into me. It is very enjoyable. It is a roller-coaster ride where you don't know hoe Naidu would behave. What will happen next. In Hindi, it's called Subhash Kundu... I have very little acting to do. That's very interesting for me."

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