Kamal Hassan, legendary Tamil actor, screenwriter, director, and producer, was born on November 7, 1954, in Paramakudi, Madras State, India. Kamal is the father of actresses Shruti and Akshara Haasan. Kamal started acting at the age of four in the film ‘Kalathur Kannamma’, winning the President’s Gold Medal for Best Child Actor. He did several more films as a child. As an adult, his first leading role was in his mentor and director K. Balachander’s film ‘Apoorva Raagangal’ (1975). Rajinikanth made his debut in this film. Over the course of his career, he has starred in over 230 films, won three Best Actor National Film Awards, 19 Filmfare Awards, the Padma Shri in 1990, and in 2014 the Padma Bhushan, along with a multitude of other awards. Known for his originality, Kamal played a wide range of characters from a rapist/murderer to a blind violinist and everything in between. Some of his best-known films are: ‘Nayagan’ (1987), ’16 Vayathinile’ (1977), ‘Sigappu Rojakkal’ (1978), ‘Raja Paarvai’ (1981), ‘Saagar’ (1985), ‘Vikram’ (1986), ‘Apoorva Sagodharargal (1989), ‘Avvai Shanmughi’ (1996), ‘Pammal K Sambandam’ (2002), ‘Panchathantiram’ (2002), ‘Hey Ram’ (2000), ‘Dasavathaaram’ (2008), and ‘Vishwaroopam (2013). A philanthropist, Kamal converted his fan clubs into Kamal Welfare Associations which help organize blood and eye donations and educational materials. Through the UN, he serves as an ambassador to HIV-affected children.  In 2017, he became the host of Bigg Boss Tamil, a popular television show. In February of 2018, Kamal started his own political party called Makka Needhi Maiam (People’s Justice). Happy Birthday to Kamal Hassan, legendary Tamil actor, screenwriter, director, and producer, born on November 7, 1954, in Paramakudi, Madras State, India.