“I Was a Parrot, Not a Cage”: Kamal Haasan Reflects on Childhood and Evolution Ahead of Thug Life

May 26, 2025: At a recent press event in Delhi for his upcoming film Thug Life, legendary actor Kamal Haasan offered rare insights into his childhood and evolution as an artist. Starting his cinematic journey at the tender age of six, Haasan described himself as a “happy child,” likening himself to a “parrot, not cage,” as he reflected on his early years.

“I was a happy child. I was a parrot, not cage, but they taught me, and I repeated,” Haasan shared. “It’s only after seven, when I joined theatre, I realized how many intelligent children were around me. I’ve been lucky to become a star.”

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Despite his early success, Haasan emphasized that he doesn’t remain anchored to his childhood self. Speaking about personal growth, he recalled his early collaboration with filmmaker Mani Ratnam during Nayakan, noting that both of them have evolved since then.

“We both changed for the better. Retaining sensibilities while evolving is key,” he said, underlining his continuous transformation as an actor and person.

During the interaction, Haasan also addressed the release strategy for Thug Life. He revealed that the film’s team has requested an eight-week window between the theatrical release and its debut on OTT platforms.

“It wasn’t a deal-breaker. We simply requested the platform to experiment with us. If successful, it might set a new model for others in the industry,” he explained.

Co-written by Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam, Thug Life boasts an ensemble cast featuring Trisha Krishnan, Sanya Malhotra, Abhirami, Ashok Selvan, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Joju George, Nassar, Ali Fazal, and Rohit Saraf. The film is scheduled for a theatrical release on June 5.