February 13, 2017
Filmstar Kamal Haasan on Tuesday said there will be no
more films for him as his plunge into politics for the people of Tamil Nadu is
final and irreversible.
The actor-turned-politician, who is set to
announce his party and its guiding principles this month, believes Hindu
extremism is a threat and he cannot just keep complaining about it.
"Except for the two films which are coming out, there will be no more films for
me," declared Haasan in an interview to private news channel India Today at
Harvard University in Boston.
On being asked whether he would stick to
politics even if he loses the election, he said, "I will have to do something
for an honest living. But I don't think I am going to lose."
As for his
confidence, the superstar said, "I may not have been a political entity but we
have been in social service for 37 years. In these 37 years, we have collected
about 10 lakh loyal workers.
"They are with me for the past 37 years. At
my instruction, they have engaged more and more younger people in our welfare
movement over the years including about 250 lawyers. All would become
volunteers."
The 63-year-old actor, who is forming a new political party,
added, "I am earnest. I am not here to improve my bank account. I could have led
a happy, retired, popular life. My decision to come into politics is as I do not
want to die merely as an actor. I will die in the service of people and that I
have promised myself."
Haasan said the colour of his politics is "black"
and he is concerned about saffron colour. He said black in his politics reflects
a Dravidian tone and the dark skin.
"It's culturally not a bad colour for
us Tamils."
However, he surely does not plan to align with saffron colour
(BJP).
"Ideologically, I believe in certain kind of India. It's nothing
new. We have always been practising. It worked well for me. I am not a guy who
hates change but not this kind of drastic change -- monolithic and monoculture."
Claiming himself to be a fan of both Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru,
the actor said, "This country in all its diversity is what makes India for me."
Asked how alarming Hindu extremism was and the ways to tackle it, Haasan
said, "It is not yet looming large but it will if you allow it to go on in this
direction, which we should not. We have a reputation to keep. We need to keep
talking to them, dialogue is the only way."
Haasan went on to clarify
that he is not a Hindu hater. "I cannot be hating Hindus or be the virodhi
(opponent) of Hindus as I have many in the family. I am just saying this kind of
extremism is bad for our lot."
On whether there would be any alliance
with another superstar of Tamil cinema Rajinikanth, who has also announced his
entry into politics, Haasan said if Rajinikanth's colour of politics is saffron
then there would be no alliance.
"I am to announce my party and then the
guiding principles. He (Rajinikanth) has to do that and then we can juxtapose,"
Haasan said adding his party's guiding principles would be released on February
21.
Haasan was at Harvard University to collect ideas for his project to
adopt eight villages in different districts of Tamil Nadu and turn them into
model villages.
"We will embark on a tour to Rameswaram, Madurai and
Sivaganga and other places and will adopt a village. We want to give them the
basic requirements -- health, education, power, clean water and it's not
impossible. The villages we have selected are truly neglected villages," he
said.
Haasan revealed that his decision to get into politics was made
about 10-12 years ago but was not sure of going about it. Now that he has, he
said, "I can't keep complaining and get angry. You have to (get into politics).
Unless you do that you cannot bring the reforms I am envisioning for Tamil
Nadu."
Though the filmstar-turned-politician strongly believes the
voters, disenchanted from AIADMK, would favour him over the DMK, he said, "I do
not dream of being that (Chief Minister). I dream of things that I can do for
the people."