Happy Birthday Kamal Haasan: 6 reasons why 'Ulaganayagan' is a powerhouse of talent

Kamal Haasan is arguably one of the biggest superstars in Indian cinema who enjoys massive stardom across the nation. On 'Ulaganayagan''s 68th birthday, we list the reasons that make him an inspiration for his fans. 

A powerhouse of talent: Kamal Haasan was a child prodigy who began acting at the tender age of 3. Kamal’s first screen performance in ‘Kalathur Kannamma’ (1960) fetched him the President’s Gold Medal for ‘Best Actor’. Credit: Special Arrangement

Learning from the best: Kamal was groomed under the legendary K Balachander, widely regarded as a storyteller par excellence. 'KB Sir' gave him his first major break with the 1975 release ‘Apoorva Raagangal’, opening new avenues for the then-aspiring actor. Later, the duo collaborated on films like ‘Avargal’, ‘Varumayin Niram Sivappu’ and ‘16 Vayathinile’. Kamal also worked with stalwarts such as S Srinivasa Rao and A Bhimsingh, which helped him learn about cinema. Credit: Special Arrangement

The OG Pan-India actor: While Kamal Haasan is referred to as the 'greatest Kollywood actor of all time', this title does not do justice to his abilities as Kamal Haasan has found success across industries. From Bengali and Hindi cinema to South Indian languages other than Tamil, the actor has proved his mettle in acting. Credit: AFP Photo

Talent personified: Kamal is a multi-talented artiste in the truest sense. He has wielded the microphone for films such as 'Chachi 420', 'Hey Ram' and 'Vishwaroopam', proving that he is a competent storyteller. He has also written lyrics and scripts, directed movies, produced movies and done playback singing. Credit: DH Pool Photo

Ready to experiment: Kamal has never hesitated to experiment with his reel image. He impressed everyone with his portrayal of the vertically-challenged Appu in 'Apoorva Sagodharargal'. In 2008, Kamal surprised everyone by playing 10 distinct roles in 'Dasavathaaram'. His performance as the aged freedom fighter Senapathi in Shankar's 'Indian' too is considered to be a highlight of his career. Credit: DH Pool Photo

Most bankable star: Kamal remains a sought-after star despite the emergence of younger actors. Kamal’s last outing ‘Vikram’ recently finished its theatrical run after over 100 days and became the highest-grossing film ever in Tamil Nadu. He is busy hosting the sixth season of Bigg Boss Tamil, a show that has established him as the king on the small screen. He will soon be seen in 'Indian 2', a sequel to 'Indian'. Credit: Special Arrangement