The legendary actor and politician Kamal Haasan has opened up about his struggle with depression and suicidal thoughts in his early career. He shared his personal experience with a group of students at a college event in Chennai, where he also gave some motivational advice to the young generation.
Kamal Haasan, who is known for his versatile and prolific acting career, has revealed that he had suicidal thoughts when he was around 20 or 21 years old. He said that he felt that the film industry and the art world were not acknowledging his worth and talent. He said that he used to think that if he died, the industry would regret losing such a talented artist.
He also recalled a conversation he had with his mentor Ananthu, who asked him, “If you are a genius, who am I?” He said that Ananthu advised him to persist in his work and wait for his moment. He said that Ananthu’s words helped him overcome his negative thoughts and gave him hope.
Kamal Haasan’s advice to students
Kamal Haasan, who is also the founder of the Makkal Needhi Maiam party, also spoke about the issue of rising student suicides in the country. He said that he was deeply saddened by the recent death of Meera, the 16-year-old daughter of actor-musician Vijay Antony, who reportedly took her own life due to academic pressure.
He urged the students to dream of a brighter tomorrow and have a plan B in case their dreams don’t come true. He said that they should not rush towards success, but rather enjoy the journey and learn from their failures. He also said that they should not see death and life as two different things, but rather accept death as a part of life. He said that death will come on its own, so there is no need to hurry it.
He also encouraged the students to seek help from their friends, family, teachers, or counsellors if they feel depressed or suicidal. He said that they should not feel ashamed or alone, but rather share their feelings and problems with someone they trust. He said that there is always a solution for every problem and there is always light after darkness.
Kamal Haasan’s upcoming projects
Kamal Haasan, who is currently hosting the seventh season of Bigg Boss Tamil, has several exciting projects lined up. He is working on Indian 2, directed by Shankar, which is a sequel to his 1996 blockbuster Indian. He is also set to play the antagonist in Prabhas starrer Kalki 2889 AD, directed by Nag Ashwin. He has also announced films with Mani Ratnam and H Vinoth, which are in the pre-production stage.
Kamal Haasan is one of the most respected and admired actors in Indian cinema, who has won several awards and accolades for his work. He has also been honoured with the Padma Shri and the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India.
