The seasoned actor sits down for a candid exploration of this new venture, his enduring partnership with Mani Ratnam, the spark of younger talent, the allure of AI, and the essence of a life lived in art.

Then & Now: The Kamal Evolution

I’m a slightly more experienced actor now than I was then (smiles). Mani Ratnam’s and my effort is to make a film which doesn’t bring up even a memory of Nayakan. We’ll see how that turns out.

Mani & Me: A Changed Canvas After 38 Years

Both of us have evolved. We are not the same Mani or Kamal we were during Nayakan. AR Rahman is not the same music director who did Roja. If we hadn’t changed, there would have been something wrong. We are proud that we have changed. We shouldn’t remain stagnant.

Genesis of Thug Life: Beyond Old Scripts

It’s not a re-imagination of Thalaivan Irukkiran. I had a script called Amar Hai. There was an idea to use that title for the Tamil version as well. I had a script that would suit both languages. While Mani Sir and I were discussing many stories, he asked, ‘What is that story?’ I said, “The script is here, take a look.” He said, “Let’s do this one.” But we didn’t do that exact script. Only we know the details. That is true collaboration.

The Generational Spark: Synergy with STR & Ashok Selvan

They’re brimming with energy. While they say they learned from me, I was inspired by their zeal and hunger to deliver. The synergy was determined by Mani (sir) on set. And the ones who executed it are these people. That synergy worked well for me. And Mani (sir) orchestrated it very well.

Trailer Tease: Two jodis — Trisha and Abhirami — for Kamal?

Is that so? (laughs) The trailer I saw was different. Each person has a different perspective. My pair is Simbu (laughs).

The Art of Agelessness: De-aging in Thug Life

We’ve seen de-aging in many films. See how Mani Ratnam Sir has done de-aging here.

Dark Laughs in Thug Life?

You know about Mani sir. It’s not that he can’t do humour; he’s just not very interested in it. He has a specific way he wants to tell a story.

The AI Frontier

I went to the US to learn AI. It’s much bigger than me, much bigger than all of us. One shouldn’t venture into it without first understanding it. I think many have already started handling it. I’ve also dabbled a bit. But it’s still nascent.

Ensemble Power: Every Role Matters

The decision on casting lies with the director. I can only say that in my guru K. Balachander sir’s films and Mani Ratnam sir’s films; even a background character in a scene, who you might think is irrelevant, will have so much significance in the narrative.

Genre Shifts

I don’t want to be stuck to one genre. I love comedy. Trying out many varieties becomes difficult, though. There are so many films coming up these days. Big films and small-budget films should find their place.

Death: Life’s Full Stop

I do not separate death from life. I think death is a part of life. It’s like putting a full stop to a sentence. If you don’t put it, it will just ramble on.

Legacy Through Art: Living Beyond Life

Your conscience is immortal because you are passing it on. So, it will live after you. Even Steve Jobs says that. If you present something that will be useful for tomorrow, then your life is complete. That is what life is. When you leave with an impact, it means you have been useful. It means you’ve lived a contented life.

The Artiste’s True Wealth: Audience Applause

I know the art of cinema. People call us artistes — Kalakaar. For me, that itself is a unique classification. We are all human beings and our parents name us, giving us an identity. Everyone is equal, irrespective of gender. If my work is talked about by the future generation, I have achieved what I have lived for. Their appreciation is my prized possession. What I have given them is in advance. I have trusted them and made an investment. It is up to them to earn it.