Kamal Haasan now feels proud of his country!

After last year's controversy over Vishwaroopam, when Kamal Hassan had even thought of quiting Tamil Nadu for a more secular place abroad, twelve months later, Kamal who has just been conferred with the prestigious Padma Bhushan, asserted, "I'm proud of this country and I know the country is proud of me too. This award is not for what I've accomplished so far but for the work ahead."

The 59-year-old actor, who has done around 190 films in a career spanning five decades, admitted that he had sat on the same staircase in his Eldams Road office in Chennai when he was a boy wondering if he'd ever make it in films.

It was here that he sat and wept when he lost his parents. And it was from here that he addressed the media last year when the Vishwaroopam controversy broke.

"My mindset hasn't changed but I've come a long way from the boy who'd stare blankly out at Chennai's Mount Road even as my family and friends teased me saying I'd end up rearing cattle.

"My mother would warn me that that's how I'd end up if I didn't study hard," the actor recalled, adding that his quest for perfection is like an insatiable hunger.

"Success makes one content but the journey towards excellence will always continue." So, will we write his autobiography some day? "No way," he retorts.

"Most autobiographies lie and end up offending everyone." He'd rather make movies. The next one is a sequel to Vishwaroopam which is fast nearing completion.

"We have just one song and a few scenes which need to be shot, after that the post-production begins. The movie will release in a few months." 

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I want to take Indian cinema to global arena: Kamal Haasan

Actor-filmmaker Kamal Haasan, who has been named for a Padma Bhushan, says it is a "good fortune" that he has been chosen for India's third highest civilian honour, but the artiste in him will only be satisfied when he takes Indian cinema to the international arena.

"I think it's by sheer chance and my good fortune that I have been chosen for the award. But as an artist, awards don't bring me satisfaction and happiness. I want to take our cinema to the international arena. We have achieved that feat in other fields, but commercial success is not everything," Kamal told IANS at his residence here.

"I see the award as an incentive to continue doing my good work. I think it's an honour for the work I will do in the future. There are thousands who are more deserving than I for this award," he added.

The 59-year-old, who has starred in over 200 films across multiple languages in over five decades, dedicated the award to all those who are responsible for his success.

"I can't solely take credit for the award. I haven't done anything by myself. My success, achievement, is because of the efforts of so many others. I feel they deserve the award more than I do. Therefore, I would like to dedicate it to them," he said.

Kamal, who was awarded the Padma Shri in 1990, said that the long gap between the two honours doesn't bother him.

"As an actor, his or her work will be recognised when the time comes. It's not some remuneration that you expect it come to you promptly. I'm happy that India has recognised my talents and has awarded me. I didn't mind waiting," added the actor, who was named for the Padma Bhushan Jan 25.

It was on the same day in 2013 that his film "Vishwaroopam" got embroiled in a controversy.

"I haven't changed since last year. I'm still in the same state of mind as I have been since a youngster. The past has shaped me, groomed me as an individual and as an artist," said Kamal.

With two coveted awards in his kitty, does Kamal have any plans to pen an autobiography?

"I'm against autobiographies. You need to speak the truth in an autobiography, but if I do that I will end up offending a lot of people. I feel autobiographies make you tell a story in a certain way, twisting facts and, therefore, I think it's a lie most of the times," he said.

He is currently awaiting the release of "Vishwaroopam 2", which is nearing completion.

"It will hit the screens in three or four months. We are left to shoot a song and for that we sought the permission of the Indian military and it has been granted. As soon as we finish the song, we'll start working on the computer graphics and post-production work," he said.

"Vishwaroopam 2" is written and directed by Kamal, who also plays a spy in the film. Rahul Bose, Pooja Kumar, Andrea Jeremiah, Anant Mahadevan and Waheeda Rehman will be seen in important roles in it.

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Shruti Haasan undergoes appendix operation

'D-Day' actress Shruti Haasan recently underwent an appendix operation in Mumbai. The actress is making a slow recovery.

She tweeted: Hello tweeps thankyou for all your love and get well soon wishes!appendix out and raring to go :) albeit a bit slowly :)

The 'Ramaiya Vastavaiya' actress was on Sunday (January 5) admitted to Jubilee Hills Apollo hospital after she complained of acute stomach pain.

She was promoting her forthcoming release 'Yevadu' at its app launch when she complained of the pain.

Despite her shooting pain, she attended the app launch of the film. Soon after the event, she was taken to the hospital.

Shruti Haasan was also shooting for her upcoming Telugu film 'Race Gurram'.

Shruti, daughter of actor-filmmaker Kamal Haasan, will be soon seen in Bolllywood films like Anees Bazmee's 'Welcome Back' and in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Gabbar'.

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