When Kamal Haasan spoke about his divorce with first ex-wife Vani Ganapathy: I won't lie, I was very...

However, despite his professional success, his personal life has often been under intense scrutiny, attracting much attention for its controversies and complexities.

Kamal Haasan’s personal life has been far from conventional, marked by marriages, relationships, and live-in partnerships that often became media fodder.

His first marriage to Vani Ganapathy, a dancer, took place in 1978 after they met through mutual friends and began dating. Vani, who did not believe in live-in relationships, eventually agreed to marry Kamal. However, their relationship began to show signs of strain not long after their wedding.

Things took a darker turn when reports surfaced about Kamal’s involvement with actress Sarika, whom he is said to have started seeing before his separation from Vani was formalised.

Their affair became public, leading to Kamal and Vani's eventual divorce in 1988.

In an interview with Simi Garewal for her talk show Rendezvous with Simi Garewal, Kamal was candid about the breakdown of his marriage. Reflecting on the difficult period, he mentioned, "It wasn’t working, at least for me. I won’t lie. It went beyond caring; it became harsh and I wanted to be happy. I was fast losing faith in the institution of marriage itself at that time. I always spoke of it loudly, to the shock of people. I said it on the first day I got married that I didn’t want to."

At the same time as his divorce from Vani, Kamal's relationship with Sarika was becoming more serious. The couple reportedly began living together, and Sarika became pregnant with their daughter, Shruti Haasan.

In the same year, Kamal married Sarika, and Vani was left to deal with the fallout of their marriage.

Kamal and Sarika later had a second daughter, Akshara Haasan. Despite their shared children and initial happiness, Kamal’s marriage with Sarika also faced difficulties, ultimately leading to their divorce in 2004.

After Kamal and Sarika’s divorce, the actress chose to remain silent on the matter for many years.

However, in 2015, Kamal stirred controversy during an interview when he revealed that his divorce from Vani had pushed him to the brink of bankruptcy. Vani, who had kept a low profile since their split, responded to these claims in a conversation with Deccan Chronicle.

She explained why she felt compelled to speak out after years of silence, calling Kamal’s remarks an obsession. Vani said, "For 28 years, we have been divorced. I have always refrained from mudslinging because it’s a very private affair… but we have both moved on now. Why does he behave like a man obsessed?"

Vani was particularly incensed by Kamal’s claims about his financial struggles, considering the long period that had passed since their divorce. She clarified that while their marriage ended, it was not due to any financial crises that Kamal had alluded to. Vani also expressed her disbelief at his bankruptcy claims, questioning the logic behind them, saying, "He even refused to give me used appliances from our shared flat. What could I expect from a man like that? In what court in the world has alimony been allowed to drive someone to bankruptcy? I was completely shocked when I read it. His ego must have been hurt when I walked out of the marriage, but so much has happened since. He could have said financial crisis and let the subject pass."

After his divorce from Sarika, Kamal Haasan’s love life continued to make headlines.

From 2005 to 2016, he was in a live-in relationship with actress Gautami, with whom he shared a long and committed relationship.

However, their partnership too ended after over a decade, further adding to the complexity of Kamal’s personal life.

Kamal Haasan's relationships, divorces, and live-in arrangements have been subjects of much public fascination, often overshadowing his monumental achievements in cinema.

Despite the ups and downs in his personal life, he remains a towering figure in Indian film, respected for his artistic vision, commitment to his craft, and ability to tackle roles that challenge both him and his audience.