Chennai: Veteran actor Kamal Haasan, who is excited about his younger daughter, Akshara, making her film debut, feels that she did not require his advice and that she was in safe hands. The chirpy debutante is acting in R. Balki’s Shamitabh. “I think she shouldn’t depend on old-timers for advice. My daughter knows what to do. She hasn’t come to me for help yet, which proves her confidence and conviction,” says the proud dad.
The film, which has Amitabh Bachchan essaying a pivotal role, also marks Dhanush’s second outing in B’town. At a time when southern actors have been struggling to make a mark in Bollywood, the son-in-law of Superstar Rajinikanth seems to be having a smooth run there. Quiz him on why any actor other than himself and Rajini couldn’t get noticed in B’town till recently, Kamal responds, “First of all, I don’t believe that a north-south demarcation exists. What matters is the craft of an actor. And it is all about utilising the opportunities.”
Kamal, a writer too, says that he is one of the few actors frequently attending screenplay workshops to keep himself abreast with the world of writing. “By doing it, I’m being selfish,” he says. “The reason I do it is because I want to foresee my future competitors. Yes, I am looking forward to compete with the younger lot but it doesn’t matter who wins or loses. It’s cinema that finally succeeds.”
He does take note of the fact though that writers don’t script roles for older actors and that it’s time they did. “Most write for youngsters which require us to look fit and trim. In Hollywood, there are young breeds who write for older actors. But there are actors who are adapting to the change. Amitji (Amitabh Bachchan) is a great example. I know that I have another 15 years,” he says.
Had the age factor bothered him? “Yes. I was always concerned about it. When I was five, I wanted to be a 20-year-old. When I was 20, I wanted to be a 40-year-old; and now I’m 60, but I want to be 20. So it has always bothered me.”
It has not dented his excitement at all about his two upcoming projects. While the spy thriller, Vishwaroopam 2, the sequel to its 2013 predecessor, is in its post-production stages, Uthama Villain is a hilarious film that will hit screens for Diwali.
