Kamal Haasan, one of Indian cinema’s most versatile and multilingual superstars, isn’t just known for his acting and filmmaking genius. Behind the scenes, there’s a charming love story that many fans never knew. It turns out, his admiration for the legendary Bengali actress and filmmaker Aparna Sen was so profound that Kamal not only learnt Bengali to impress her but also immortalized her name in his film by naming Rani Mukerji’s character after her. Here’s the delightful story.
Kamal Haasan’s Love for Aparna Sen
Actor Shruti Haasan, Kamal’s daughter, recently revealed some fascinating insights about her father’s personal motivations behind learning Bengali. She shared in a candid conversation that contrary to popular belief, Kamal didn’t learn the language just for a film role. Instead, he was so taken by Aparna Sen that he took up Bengali purely to impress her. Shruti laughed and said, “Do you know why he learnt Bengali? Because at that time, he was in love with Aparna Sen and to impress her, he learnt Bengali. He did not learn it for films.”
Aparna Sen is an iconic figure in Bengali cinema, known for her work both in front of and behind the camera. She has won multiple National Film Awards and is respected as an actor, director, and writer. This admiration from Kamal Haasan towards Aparna shows a beautifully personal side to the celebrated actor, adding layers to his multifaceted personality beyond the screen.
Rani Mukerji’s Character Named After Sen in Hey Ram
Adding an interesting twist to the story of his affection, Shruti also revealed that Kamal Haasan named Rani Mukerji’s character in his 2000 film Hey Ram after Aparna Sen. In the film, Rani plays a Bengali woman who is the love interest of Kamal’s character. The character’s name given by Kamal was “Aparna” — a direct nod to the woman who inspired his Bengali lessons and captured his heart.
Hey Ram was a significant project for Kamal, being a historical drama touching on complex themes around India’s partition and Gandhi’s assassination. Amid such gravity, this personal tribute adds a sweet undercurrent of admiration and love within the film’s narrative.
This delightful interplay of art, admiration, and love gives a rare glimpse into Kamal Haasan’s life and how Aparna Sen influenced not only his personal interests but also his creative expressions. His dedication to learning Bengali for love and naming a key character after Aparna shows the respect and affection he held for her — a charming piece of cinema history many may not have known.
