Kamal to re-launch Shruti Haasan

Kamal to re-launch Shruti Haasan

August 20, 2010

First it was mom Sarika whose good friends were used to launch daughter Shruti Haasan's career in Hindi cinema. Now, apparently dad Kamal Hassan has taken over the responsibility to put his daughter's career on the right track in Bollywood.

Her first attempt at stardom in "Luck" was a big fiasco. So now "Ghajini" director A.R. Murugadoss has been asked to create an impressive re-launch film for the pretty actress.

Murugadoss admits that his multilingual film "Ezham Arivu" ("The Seventh Sense") is planned as a re-launch for Shruti in Bollywood.

"It is a medical thriller with some of the most costly special effects ever done in southern cinema. We want to take the sci-fi to a new level in the South. Shruti has a very powerful role and yes, we're hoping it would launch her career in Hindi cinema," said Murugadoss.

The story goes that Murugadoss had gone to Kamal Haasan to collaborate on a project. Instead Kamal suggested that he work with Shruti whose experience in Mumbai was far from satisfying.

That's how Murugadoss ended up signing Shruti opposite Suriya in the Tamil "Ezham Arivu" ("The Seventh Sense"). Originally the film was meant to be in Tamil and Telugu. But now a Hindi version is also being made. It will be made in Tamil Nadu. (GUL)

"Universal Hero" Kamal Haasan to direct again

"Universal Hero" Kamal Haasan to direct again

July 6, 2010

Film icon Kamal Haasan will wear the director’s hat for a third time in his 50-year-long career even as younger daughter Akshara steps into the film industry as assistant to Rahul Dholakia.

Akshara does not want to follow elder sister Shruthi’s example and don the grease paint, said Haasan who was here for the inauguration of an retrospective of his films.

In his career spanning five decades, Haasan has only helmed two films, Hey Ram (2000) and Veeru Mandi (2004), and he is raring to call the shots again, having already zeroed in on prospective scripts.

"I will direct more films. Many young actors want me to direct and guide them. There are so many actors, people and talents, who haven’t got their moment of glory and if possible I’d like to help all of them. There are some scripts I am looking at," said Haasan.

The 55-year-old, who won his first National Award in 1960 at the age of five for his debut in Kalathur Kannamma, said that both his daughters are fiercely independant and make their own decisions.

"I don’t interfere in their career decisions, I give advise when it’s asked for. Akshara has started as an assistant on a film, though it’s not a part of my production house," said Haasan of his 19-year-old daughter.

Akshara and Shruthi are Haasan’s daughters with actress Sarika, who separated from the actor in 2002.

Haasan had flown in to attend the inauguration from Italy where he is shooting with Madhavan and Trisha for the film Manmadhan Ambu. (CHIT)

It's Gauthami, not Mrs Kamal Hassan

It's Gauthami, not Mrs Kamal Hassan

July 5, 2010

Film icon Kamal Hassan was left blushing during the gala inauguration of a retrospective of his films, when his partner Gauthami was referred to as Mrs Kamal Hassan on stage, in front of a packed audience.

The 55-year-old veteran was accompanied by the South Indian actress and her daughter Subbalakshmi at the function which was attended by Minister of Information and broadcasting Ambika Soni among others.

S M Khan, the Director of Directorate of Film Festivals which organised the event, thanked "Mr Kamal Hassan and Mrs Kamal Hassan" for attending the event.

"They are not married and have always been very open about the nature of their relationship. The mistake rarely happens because every body knows that they are not married," said a source close to the actor.

The Padmashri winning actor and director, however, later took the mic to wish Gauthami a very happy birthday and thanked her for accompanying him to the event.

Soni also congratulated the actress on her birthday, thanking her for taking out time to be at the event.

Hassan and Gauthami have been together for the past three years after the actor split from his wife Sarika in 2002.

The actor's two daughters with Sarika, Shruthi and Akshara often make public appearances with Gauthami. (GUL)