'Bollywood Had Too Many Underworld Connections': Why Kamal Haasan Stayed Away From Hindi Films

Kamal Haasan is one of the biggest names in Indian cinema, especially known for his iconic work in Tamil films. However, many people may not know that the actor also had a successful journey in Hindi cinema before stepping away from Bollywood.

After making a mark with several popular films, Kamal decided not to continue working in the Hindi film industry for many years. In 2017, he opened up about the reasons behind his decision and explained why he chose to focus more on regional cinema.

Kamal Haasan's Reasons For Staying Away From Bollywood

After 1985, Kamal Haasan took a long break from Hindi films and returned to Bollywood after more than a decade with Chachi 420 (1997). The film was the Hindi remake of his Tamil comedy Avvai Shanmugi.

Later, he appeared in several bilingual projects, including Hey Ram, Abhay, Mumbai Xpress, Vishwaroop, and Vishwaroop II.

In a 2017 interview, Kamal revealed that the working environment in Bollywood during that period was one of the reasons he did not build a long-term career there.

He said that he felt like an outsider compared to the stars of Hindi cinema at the time. Kamal explained that while Bollywood actors had access to bigger resources and were working on multiple films simultaneously, he had a very different experience.

"The times... those times were like that. I was a poorer cousin of Hindi cinema. I had to do my own laundry and stuff like that. They were spoilt and rich. They could do six films at a time. I thought that was very defeating. That was one of the reasons," he said.

The actor also spoke about his concerns regarding the alleged influence of the underworld and black money in the film industry during that era. He said he and his brother decided to stay away from such practices and chose to maintain their own principles.

"Bollywood had too many underworld connections. I didn't want to stay there, either to oppose it or to succumb to the threat. I was one of the actors to decide that I would not have anything to do with black money," Kamal said.

Kamal Haasan's Bollywood Debut And Rise

Kamal Haasan's first appearance in Hindi cinema came with a small role in Aaina (1974), directed by his mentor K. Balachander.

However, his big breakthrough came with Ek Duuje Ke Liye in 1981. The romantic drama, which was a Hindi remake of the Telugu film Maro Charitra, became a major success and made Kamal a popular name among Hindi-speaking audiences.

He went on to star in films like Sanam Teri Kasam, Yeh To Kamaal Ho Gaya, and Zara Si Zindagi. In 1983, he delivered one of his most memorable performances in Sadma, where he shared the screen with Sridevi.

Although Kamal Haasan did not continue as a regular Bollywood actor, his performances in Hindi films remain an important part of his long and celebrated career.