“Every Scene a Battle”: Kamal Haasan Opens Up About ‘Thug Life’ and His Dynamic Bond with Mani Ratnam

May 28, 2025: Cinema legend Kamal Haasan recently offered rare insights into his upcoming film ‘Thug Life’, calling it a challenge worth taking, especially under the direction of Mani Ratnam.

“Every film is a challenge,” Kamal said while speaking to the media. “But it becomes even more exciting when you add a director like Mani Ratnam and a story that keeps you hooked. I was lucky—he let me be part of the story’s preparation. I gave him an idea, and after that, I was like a sous-chef, helping make the recipe tastier. That’s real collaboration.”

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Speaking passionately about the film’s excellence, Kamal added, “We have amazing actors, top-class makeup artists, creative costume designers, a brilliant director, and the magic of A. R. Rahman’s music. That alone makes it special. I’m proud to be part of it.”

Reflecting on his journey, Kamal also shared a childhood memory:
“I was a happy child, like a parrot—not caged—but trained with love. I only realized how lucky I was to become a star when I joined theatre and saw so many intelligent kids around me.”

The actor also revisited his first collaboration with Mani Ratnam during ‘Nayakan’, saying both of them have evolved since then: “I’m not the same person he met back then. We’ve both changed—grown—as artists and as people.”

Kamal Haasan stars as Rangaraaya Sakthivel Naicker in Thug Life, joined by an ensemble cast featuring Silambarasan TR, Trisha Krishnan, Ashok Selvan, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Joju George, Ali Fazal, Sanya Malhotra, and Rohit Saraf.

Directed by Mani Ratnam, this highly anticipated film marks the duo’s reunion after 38 years and is slated for theatrical release on June 5.