‘Isn’t she my mother?’ The childhood secret that left Kamal Haasan heartbroken

Actor-filmmaker Kamal Haasan was raised by his sister-in-law, Komalavalli, during his early childhood after his biological mother, Rajalakshmi, fell seriously ill with chronic diabetes.

Because Komalavalli cared for him from birth, Kamal believed she was his biological mother until he was around four or five years old. The family chose not to correct the misunderstanding at first, allowing him to continue believing it.

Recalling the incident in a 2024 interview with ‘Aval Vikatan’, Komalavalli revealed that Kamal learned the truth only after household staff told him. The revelation left the young actor heartbroken.

"Until he was four or five years old, he thought I was his mother. When the housemaids told him the truth, he cried the whole day. He kept asking, 'Aren't you my mother? Is that my mother?' He was very attached to me," she recalled.

Komalavalli explained that Rajalakshmi's health had deteriorated soon after Kamal's birth, making her the primary caregiver who raised him during his formative years.

She also shared that caring for Kamal brought comfort after she and Kamal's elder brother, Charuhasan, lost their infant son shortly after birth. Later, Kamal became deeply attached to their children, treating them like his younger siblings. The couple's children include actor-director Suhasini Maniratnam.

Despite learning the truth, Kamal's close bond with Komalavalli remained unchanged, and she continued to be one of the most influential figures in his upbringing.