No wish to be addressed as 'Ulaganayagan' anymore: Kamal Hassan

New Delhi: Actor Kamal Hassan made a public request through a statement he posted on X that he no longer wishes to be addressed as “Ulaganayagan” or any other titles or prefixes. He wrote a long note in both Tamil and English in which he said that he deeply appreciates the love and respect he received through the titles, but he believes that the artist must never be elevated above the art.

He wrote, "I have always felt a deep sense of gratitude over being bestowed with endearing titles such as Ulaganayagan, among others. Such accolades, given by the people and recognised by esteemed colleagues and admirers, have always been humbling, and I've been genuinely moved by your love in conferring it upon me."

"The art of cinema transcends beyond any one individual, and I am but a student of the craft, forever hoping to evolve, learn, and grow. Cinema, like any other form of creative expression, belongs to all. It is the collaboration of countless artists, technicians, and audiences who make it what it is, a true reflection of humanity's diverse, rich, and ever-evolving stories," he said.

The statement concluded, "It is my humble belief that the artist must not be elevated above the art. I prefer to remain grounded, constantly aware of my imperfections and my duty to improve. Hence, after considerable reflection, I feel compelled to respectfully decline all such titles or prefixes. I humbly request that all my fans, the media, members of the film fraternity, party cadre, and fellow Indians, to here on after, refer to me simply as Kamal Haasan or Kamal or KH. Thank you again for your gestures of kindness over the years. Please know that this decision comes from a place of humility and a desire to remain true to my roots and purpose, to always be one among all of us-the lovers of this beautiful artform."

Kamal Hassan became the second actor to issue such a request after actor Ajith Kumar made a similar request not to address him as ‘Thala’.