Announcing New Political Party, Kamal Haasan

After years of seeing him on the screen, I met Kamal Haasan in person for the first time on November 4. The first thing that struck me about him was his erudition, his multiculturalism and his fierce individualism. Taking some tough questions from an astute Chennai audience, he was unfazed.

- Barkha Dutt

“A politician is not a shepherd; you are not cattle,” he declared as he officially revealed the much anticipated decision by him to contest elections. Contentiously calling for the dismissal of the present AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu—“Sheer inactivity is reason enough,” he said, when I pushed him to make a legal case—the much admired actor has run into an early controversy with his remarks on Hindu extremism. Sticking to his stand, Kamal Haasan told me some words were lost in translation. “I said extremism, not terrorism. The threat from the Hindu Mahasabha to shoot me only proved my point. Hindus are aping Muslim fundamentalists.” Some say Kamal Haasan may be too much of his own person to make it in the hurly-burly politics. But he is more than ready to take the risk. And his first step will be to communicate directly with the people. His team has created a special app that will enable voters and fans to connect with him directly on problems that they confront; he promises to take them to the concerned authorities and demand accountability. When I asked Kamal Haasan about the other cinematic giant who may well become his political challenger—Rajinikanth—he revealed that Rajini was the first person he confided in about his decision to enter politics. Who has a better chance, I teased. “I have as much of a chance as him,” said Kamal Haasan, confidently, getting ready for his newest avatar after more than 50 years as an actor. Kamal Haasan, who still describes himself as a “reluctant performer” on screen, is the exact opposite as he opens a difficult new innings on his 63rd birthday on November 7.