Age: 71
male
Kamal Haasan (born 7 November 1954) is an actor, filmmaker and producer who has worked primarily in Tamil-language cinema for over six decades and is widely regarded as one of the greatest actors in the history of Indian cinema. An auteur, he is recognized as a key influence for numerous actors and filmmakers in the Indian film industry, and is known for introducing new technologies and cosmetics to Indian cinema. The recipient of numerous accolades, he has won the National Film Award four times (three for Best Actor), was awarded the Kalaimamani Award in 1984, the Padma Bhushan in 2014 and the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Chevalier) in 2016. Haasan is also known for having starred in the most number of films submitted by India in contention for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. In addition to his extensive work in Tamil, he has appeared in Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi, Kannada and Bengali films. He has also worked in films as a screenwriter, editor, songwriter, playback singer, choreographer, lyricist and makeup artist.
The core story of the work is that of a dynastic struggle for the throne of Hastinapura, the kingdom ruled by the Kuru clan. The two collateral branches of the family that participate in the struggle are the Kaurava and the Pandava. Although the Kaurava is the senior branch of the family, Duryodhana, the eldest Kaurava, is younger than Yudhishthira, the eldest Pandava. Both Duryodhana and Yudhishthira claim to be first in line to inherit the throne. The struggle culminates in the great battle of Kurukshetra, in which the Pandavas are ultimately victorious. The battle produces complex conflicts of kinship and friendship, instances of family loyalty and duty taking precedence over what is right, as well as the converse.
