On 3 August 2025, during an event organized by the Agaram Foundation in Chennai, actor and newly appointed Rajya Sabha MP DMK stooge Kamal Haasan remarked that “education is the only weapon that can break the chains of dictatorship and Sanatanam.” Echoing this sentiment, NCP-SP leader Jitendra Awhad claimed, “There was never any religion called Sanatan Dharma.”
This report compiles nine controversial statements made by actor, filmmaker, and Rajya Sabha MP Kamal Haasan between 2017 and 2025, highlighting his repeated criticism of Hinduism and remarks that have been widely perceived as anti-Hindu.
#1 Education as a Weapon Against Sanatana Dharma
On 3 August 2025, at an Agaram Foundation event in Chennai, DMK stooge Kamal Haasan, newly inducted as a Rajya Sabha MP, declared that “education is the only weapon that can break the chains of dictatorship and Sanatanam.” His remarks came in the context of a broader attack on Sanatan Dharma, echoing NCP-SP leader Jitendra Awhad’s claim that “Sanatan Dharma” never existed. Critics saw this as part of a growing narrative aimed at discrediting Hindu philosophical traditions by branding them regressive or oppressive.
#2 Backing DMK Scion Udhayanidhi Stalin’s Call to Eradicate Sanatan Dharma
On 8 September 2023, Kamal Haasan came out in support of Tamil Nadu minister Udhayanidhi Stalin’s highly controversial statement equating Sanatan Dharma with diseases like dengue and malaria. Udhayanidhi had advocated for its eradication, sparking nationwide protests. In a social media post, Kamal Haasan said “The hallmark of a true democracy is the ability of its citizens to disagree and engage in continued discussion. History has repeatedly taught us that asking the right questions has led to important answers and contributed to our development as a better society.”, adding that Udhayanidhi Stalin is entitled to his views on Sanatana and refrained from using the word Dharma along with it, going by the Dravidianist claims of there is no ‘Dharma’ in Sanatana.
#3 Cholas Are Not Hindus
In the wake of the release of Ponniyin Selvan in October 2022, Kamal Haasan backed director Vetrimaaran’s assertion that Raja Raja Chola should not be labeled a Hindu king. Vetrimaaran said, “They (BJP) are trying to steal our identity. They have already tried to saffronize Thiruvalluvar. We should never allow that.”
Kamal Haasan echoed this view, stating, “There was no name called ‘Hindu religion’ during Raja Raja Chola’s period. There was Vainavam, Shaivam, and Samanam, and it was the British who coined the term Hindu since they didn’t know how to refer to it collectively.” He compared it to the colonial renaming of places, saying, “It is similar to how they changed Thuthukudi into Tuticorin.”
#4 Hindu Gods Wear Less Clothes
While talking about women’s issues on a stage back in 2020, Kamal Haasan said, “Gods too wear less clothes. A few Gods don’t wear any. When the mind is not spoiled by seeing those Gods, how come it is spoiled while seeing my sisters”. This statement of the MNM chief has invited severe backlash.
While addressing the women audience Kamal Haasan said, “I have never felt shy to speak in front of women. Because my house was mostly dominated by women. Women play an important role in the transformation of the world. Even before Gandhiji, women took part in the freedom struggle. They say that women wearing less dress is the reason for the rape crimes. Gods too wear less dress. A few Gods don’t wear any dress. When you don’t get the urge on seeing ‘that’, how come you feel the urge while seeing my sisters. It is mutual consent when there is love but when they want to have that without love, then is the problem”.
This remark of his came just days after he refused the ‘poornakumbham’ honours offered by Hindu priests on behalf of a Murugan Temple in Kanchipuram on 21 December 2020.
#5 Calling Godse ‘India’s First Hindu Terrorist’
In May 2019, actor-politician Kamal Haasan stirred controversy by calling Nathuram Godse, Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin, “free India’s first terrorist.” While campaigning in Aravakurichi, a Muslim-majority constituency in Tamil Nadu, Haasan stated, “I am not saying this because this is a Muslim-dominated area, but I am saying this before a statue of Gandhi. Free India’s first terrorist was a Hindu, his name is Nathuram Godse. There it [terrorism] starts.” Emphasizing unity and equality, he added, “Good Indians desire for equality and want the three colours in the Tricolour to remain intact. I am a good Indian, will proudly proclaim that.”
His remarks drew sharp criticism from BJP leaders. Tamil Nadu BJP chief Tamilisai Soundararajan condemned the statement, calling it “strongly condemnable” and accused Haasan of inciting “communal violence” through “divisive vote bank politics.” She urged the police to take action and ban his campaign.
In response, Haasan later clarified, “Let me tell you terrorists abound all religions. Every religion has its own terrorists, and we cannot claim that we are sanctimonious.” He emphasized that his speech aimed at maintaining harmony and warned that arresting him would escalate tensions: “Let them arrest. But if they arrest me tensions will escalate.”
His film Hey Ram was another attempt at minority appeasement in which he would’ve shown Hindu nationalists as Nazis.
#6 Tweet Questioning the Term ‘Hindu’
In a Twitter post dated 18 May 2019, Kamal Haasan claimed that the term ‘Hindu’ was never used by ancient Indian saints and was imposed by foreign invaders. He advocated identifying simply as “Indian” to promote unity and national harmony. This was seen as yet another attempt to delegitimize Hindu identity by erasing its nomenclature.
Kamal Haasan says the word 'Hindu' didn't exist in writing by ancient saints & it was given to us by foreign invaders who ruled us. In a poem that he posted on Twitter, he says it is better to call ourselves as Indians which is good for harmony.
More details by @NairShilpa1308. pic.twitter.com/LvAati8pvQ
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) May 18, 2019
#7 Rejecting the Sacred Thread (Poonool)
In July 2018, actor-politician Kamal Haasan held a Q&A session on Twitter where he candidly answered questions from his fans. When asked which books (“nool” in Tamil) had influenced his life, Haasan replied with a pointed wordplay that sparked controversy. He said, “There is a thread I avoided. The thread affected me a lot – Poonool. That is why I avoided it.”
The remark, referring to the sacred thread traditionally worn by Brahmins, drew sharp criticism from members of the Brahmin community. Offended by what they saw as a dismissive statement about a significant religious symbol, the community issued a statement condemning his comment. “The poonool is the most secular thread and his statement has no logic,” they declared. The statement further accused Haasan of disrespecting his own roots, stating, “Kamal Haasan has no respect for his parent heritage and is putting forth a poor personality in front of the people and now people are more aware of it.”
#8 Alleging Hindu Extremism in Tamil Nadu
In a 2 November 2017 column for Ananda Vikatan, actor Kamal Haasan claimed that “Hindu extremism is alive and kicking in Tamil Nadu,” alleging that Hindu outfits were using state festivals to display muscle power. Responding to Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan’s query on rising Hindu right-wing influence, Haasan said such groups had shifted from dialogue to violence. He praised Kerala for resisting extremism and hoped Tamil Nadu would return to its legacy of social justice.
#9 Criticizing the Mahabharata
On 12 March 2017, in a televised interview, Kamal Haasan remarked that the Mahabharata glorified the objectification of women, saying, “India respects a book where a woman was used as collateral,” referring to Draupadi’s disrobing. The statement triggered widespread condemnation. Hindu organizations like the Hindu Munani Katchi filed legal complaints, alleging blasphemy and repeated anti-Hindu rhetoric.
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