“He’s Superstar Rajinikanth, I’m Just Kamal Haasan Is It?”: Radha Ravi Says Kamal Got Angry For Not Addressing Him With Sobriquet

On 11 November 2024, Kamal Haasan, the part-time politician and full-time actor, announced his decision to renounce all his titles and sobriquet like “Ulaganayagan” (Universal Hero) that had been bestowed upon him. He stated that he preferred to be addressed simply by his name or initials, “KH.” Kamal Haasan’s announcement reminds one of actor Ajith Kumar’s 2021 open letter, in which he urged the media and the public to stop referring to him as “Thala” (Leader).

This statement sparked a wave of debate on social media. Some critics/fans praised the move, interpreting it as a sign of maturity that comes with age, while others pointed to older videos of Kamal Haasan, in which he insisted on being referred to by his sobriquet. Critics argued that the recent decision wasn’t about maturity, but rather an attempt to draw attention to his presence.

Following this, a video started circulating on social media. In the video, senior actor Radha Ravi shared an anecdote from the past – Ravi recalled an encounter with Kamal Haasan, the part-time politician and full-time actor, who apparently took him aside and asked why he had referred to him simply by his name instead of using his title with the honorifics he was accustomed to.

Radha Ravi shared a story, saying, “During Rajinikanth’s ‘Uzhaippali’ movie, they put red and held a condemnation meeting for it. While Kamal Haasan was speaking, he kept referring to others like Chamber leaders, Mr. Rajinikanth, Mr. Vijayakanth, and at the end said Radha Ravi and mentioned his greetings to everyone. When it was my turn, I picked up the mic. I mentioned Puratchi Kalaignar Mr. Vijayakanth, Superstar Mr. Rajinikanth, and then named other Chamber members, guild etc. Finally, I said ‘Mr. Kamal Haasan’. I am also mischievous sometimes. Afterwards, Kamal Haasan climbed onto the stage and walked towards the back, as all the artists were sent via backdoor. He caught my hand and pulled me aside, saying, ‘Come here.’ We have a friendly relationship, and we even cuss each other sometimes. He grabbed my hand and asked, ‘He is superstar, and am I just Kamal Haasan?’ I replied, ‘Am I just Radha Ravi, or am I not also the President of the Artist Association?’ He said, ‘You are my friend.’ I responded, ‘Like that, you are my friend too.'”

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