Kamal Haasan has recently sparked a new language row after he made a controversial Tamil-Kannada remark while promoting his upcoming film, Thug Life. The actor attended the audio launch of the upcoming film when he claimed, “Kannada was born out of Tamil.”
He sparked a debate on social media and received a brutal backlash from critics. However, actor and producer Shiva Rajkumar, who also attended the launch event, has chimed in to support the actor following the controversy.
During an event in Bengaluru, Shiva said, “Kamal Sir has always spoken highly of Kannada and has expressed great admiration for Bengaluru. He speaks with pride about our city. We’ve grown up watching him, and I’ve been a die-hard fan of Kamal Sir for years.”
The actor added, “Some might say, ‘How can you call yourself a fan of Kamal Haasan and not your father?’ Father is family. But Kamal Sir is different. He’s not just a star — he’s been a true inspiration to me. Like each of you may have a favourite actor, for me, it’s always been Kamal Sir. He understands exactly what the audience needs, and I truly believe he always delivers."
The actor also questioned why people chose to remain silent during the launch event when Kamal Haasan made the remark.
Shiva Rajkumar further questioned, "Our commitment to Kannada must be lifelong. If needed, I’m ready to fight — even give my life — for Kannada. Speaking highly of Kannada in front of cameras isn't enough. Actions matter more than words. What have you done for Kannada cinema? Have you given opportunities to newcomers?”
Shiva also emphasized the importance of supporting Kannada to help it grow, stating it was their duty to do so in every possible way. He asked people not to misinterpret his words and instead to reflect on their own conscience to determine if what he was saying was right or wrong.
Also Read: Pro Kannada groups call for ban on Kamal Haasan's Thug Life in Karnataka after his comments
Shiva’s comment came after pro-Kannada groups demanded an immediate apology from Kamal Haasan and asked everyone to boycott his upcoming film, Thug Life.
However, the actor has recently reacted to the controversy and backlash, hinting that he will not apologise.
Meanwhile, Thug Life also stars Trisha Krishnan, Silambarasan TR, Jayam Ravi, and Rohit Saraf, among others, in the key roles. The upcoming Tamil-language action drama will hit the theatres on June 5.
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