Kamal Haasan talks about the Padma Bhushan:TOI

I am opposed to autobiographies

Kamal Haasan talks about the Padma Bhushan, politics and why he will not pen an autobiography

ON THE PADMA BHUSHAN

I know of many people who are qualified to receive such an honour; some haven't been recognized at all. I'm glad to be included in the list of people who deserve this recognition. I think I will have to strive harder to make myself qualified enough to have got this title. I dedicate this to my family and all my teachers. I've learnt a lot from my father and brothers; I've had many teachers " I've paid some to learn and some like TK Shanmugam and K Balachander have paid me even as they were teaching me valuable things. The disgraces I suffer should be attributed to me but the praises that I get go to my family and teachers. It is they who decided what I would be become. I had no part in that. But my search will not end. To me, this search is like hunger. I might feel satisfied when I achieve something, but I'll get hungry again and continue my search.

WHAT IT MEANS FOR FANS

I am happy that I'm being a fulcrum in the development of my fans. I consider the recognitions that I get as recognitions for them as well.

STATE OF MIND

I'm in the same state of mind as I was last year (during the Vishwaroopam controversy). I was in this same spot when I was a youngster, wondering if I would become an actor. I was here when my mom died. When KB sir called me to act in his film, I was here. So, I think these stairs (at his office and ancestral home) have played a part in developing me.

ON ENTERING POLITICS

We are all in politics. I go to the polling booths every five years and get our fingers inked. I think I don't have to go beyond that.

NO AUTOBIOGRAPHY

I am opposed to autobiographies, mainly because most autobiographies lie. Nobody experiments with truth. I will hurt so many people trying to speak the truth. Moreover, I don't know if I can share everything about me with everyone.

Kamal Haasan