Kamal Haasan reveals why he became a barber in his youth. Which saloon did he work at?

In an intimate and revealing conversation with The Hollywood Reporter India, legendary actor Kamal Haasan peeled back the layers of his past, offering unexpected glimpses into his younger days. Reflecting on a time before stardom, Kamal admitted he wasn’t equipped for conventional employment as a youth.

Struggling to find purpose and driven by a mix of defiance and mischief, he took up an unusual job—he became a barber. Not because he had a passion for the profession, but because he wanted to provoke his mother, who was growing impatient with his seemingly idle lifestyle of reading novels and frequenting cinemas.

He fondly recalled one of his earliest mentors, a humble barber who not only taught him the craft but also gave him life-changing guidance. This mentor recognized Kamal’s potential and advised him to seek out filmmaker K. Balachander, predicting that he would be the ideal guide for the aspiring artist. “The man who trimmed hair also shaped my destiny,” Kamal shared with a wry smile.

"I worked as a barber at a salon, but that was mostly to taunt my mother, because she thought that I was doing nothing. I was reading paperbacks and watching cinema, and she said that this isn’t what I should be doing. The kind of talent I had, I didn’t find work easily. I thought about what would insult my mother, and I became a barber.." he told THR.

Earlier, an Only Kollywood report revealed that the superstar worked at an establishment called Ambuli Saloon. “They wouldn’t let me cut hair, but shaving was okay. Even today, all my moustaches, including the one for Virumaandi, were shaved by me,” he told the magazine.

Balachander, who went on to become a towering figure in Kamal’s life and career, was deeply moved by the actor’s origin story and even used it as inspiration for his film Zara Si Zindagi. When Kamal, just 19 at the time, expressed a desire to become a director, Balachander gave him a sobering reality check. He warned that the path of directing could be grueling and uncertain, perhaps even ending with Kamal driving an auto-rickshaw to survive. Instead, he encouraged Kamal to explore acting—a path better suited to his unique abilities.

“He told me acting was the road I should travel,” Kamal said, his voice tinged with both gratitude and sorrow. “Forget riding an auto rickshaw; I would’ve probably died in one had I not taken his advice," he said. He also described the late filmmaker as his Google and described him as a man who would always welcome questions, as he had a lot of information to share.

Earlier,

Haasan spoke with a heavy heart about several immensely gifted friends who were not as fortunate. Their lives ended in poverty and obscurity, despite having more talent than he did. “They died nameless, on the streets,” he reflected, his tone somber. “That could have been me—carrying unfulfilled dreams and unresolved pain. If not for Balachander’s wisdom, I might have remained a tragic footnote.”

As for the present, the iconic actor is preparing for his next major release—Thug Life, a gritty gangster saga. The film reunites him with director Mani Ratnam, decades after their collaboration on the 1987 cult classic 'Nayakan'. The trailer drops on May 17, 2025, with a grand audio launch slated for May 24 at Sairam College in Chennai. The event will feature a live performance by Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman, who has created the soundtrack.

Thug Life boasts an impressive lineup of stars, including Silambarasan TR, Trisha, Abhirami, Nasser, Joju George, and Ashok Selvan—adding further excitement to one of the year’s most anticipated releases.