Even at age 70 Kamal Haasan is learning AI. Does the actor fear AI takeover in movies as well?

Kamal Haasan has never been just another actor, he’s a filmmaker, visionary, and someone who constantly reinvents himself. With a career spanning over six decades and countless iconic roles, he’s now diving into a whole new world: Artificial Intelligence. At 70, while many would slow down, Haasan is looking ahead. And in a recent interview, he opened up about why he flew to the US to learn AI and how he sees it shaping the future of cinema.

In an exclusive conversation with India Today, the Thug Life star shared his candid thoughts on AI, its current limitations, and its inevitable presence in our lives. He shared that he went to the US with the intention of learning AI. However, he admitted, “It's beyond me and beyond all of us.” He feels that AI should not be used without proper understanding of it first.

AI in cinema?
The Vikram actor made it clear that while AI holds promise, it’s still in its early stages, especially when it comes to visuals in cinema. In the same interview, he shared that when it comes to cinema visuals, it's a “nascent stage”. But he agrees that AI will be there in everyone’s life, just like computers, and he urges everyone not to “feel threatened by AI.”

During the interaction, Haasan admitted to having “dabbled with AI”; he also referenced AR Rahman’s recent use of AI in music and said “Rahman knows it better.” For the unversed, the Oscar-winning composer recreated the voices of late singers Bamba Bakya and Shahul Hameed for a song in Rajinikanth’s Lal Salaam.


Kamal Haasan's work
In 2024, Kamal Haasan proved once again why he remains a force to reckon with in Indian cinema. He kicked off the year with a powerful role in the sci-fi epic Kalki 2898 AD, sharing screen space with a stellar ensemble including Amitabh Bachchan, Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, and Disha Patani. The film made waves across the country for its futuristic storytelling and star power.

Later that year, Haasan returned to his iconic vigilante avatar in Indian 2, directed by Shankar. Featuring a star-studded cast including Siddharth, Rakul Preet Singh, Priya Bhavani Shankar, Vivek, S. J. Suryah, and Samuthirakani, the film struck a chord with audiences and critics alike, eventually emerging as the highest-grossing Tamil film of 2024.


Now, the legendary actor is preparing for what might be his most anticipated project in years, Thug Life, a collaboration with celebrated filmmaker Mani Ratnam. The film marks the duo’s grand reunion decades after their cult classic Nayakan, and the buzz couldn’t be louder. Backed by a formidable cast that includes Silambarasan, Trisha Krishnan, Abhirami, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Ashok Selvan, Sanya Malhotra, Joju George, Nassar, Ali Fazal, Pankaj Tripathi, Rohit Saraf, and Baburaj, Thug Life is poised to be a cinematic spectacle.