‘I am a die-hard fan of Kamal Haasan; I watch his films first day, first show,’ says Shiva Rajkumar

Kannada superstar Shiva Rajkumar declared himself a devoted admirer of Kamal Haasan during the audio launch of Thug Life, the much-anticipated film that marks the reunion of Kamal Haasan and director Mani Ratnam after several years. The event, held at Sai Ram Engineering College in Chennai, saw Shiva Rajkumar as the chief guest, where he also sang a Tamil song as a heartfelt tribute to the Tamil cinema icon.

Shiva Rajkumar emotionally embraced Kamal Haasan on stage, describing how deeply he admired his smile, eyes, and overall personality. “I’ve always been a first-day, first-show fan of Kamal Haasan’s films,” he shared.

Recollecting a cherished memory, Shiva Rajkumar recalled Kamal Haasan visiting his home in Bengaluru and speaking with his father, the legendary Dr. Rajkumar. “I still remember that day. Kamal sir asked my father who I was. My father introduced me, and I asked for a hug. I didn’t bathe for three days just to retain his scent. That’s how much I adore him,” he said, drawing applause.

He also recounted a touching moment from 2024, when Kamal Haasan phoned him while he was recovering from cancer surgery in Miami. “He called me from Chicago. After speaking to him, I broke down in tears. It felt like my own father was speaking to me,” Shiva Rajkumar said.

Ending his tribute, he sang a few lines from the classic song Ore Naal Unnai Naan from the film Ilamai Oonjal Aadukirathu, evoking nostalgia and admiration from the audience.