Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan briefly lost his temper during a Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) party meeting in Chennai on Saturday, after a fan insisted he pose for a photo while holding a sword. The incident occurred just days after Haasan was elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Tamil Nadu.
A video of the episode was shared by news agency PTI on X (formerly Twitter), showing the veteran actor visibly uncomfortable as a man attempted to draw a sword from its scabbard and urged Haasan to hold it for a photo. Initially, Haasan smiled and shook his head, declining the request. However, when the individual persisted, even attempting to untie the sword, the actor lost his composure and sternly reprimanded the person and his companions.
A police officer quickly intervened to diffuse the situation and prevent the fan from forcing the sword into Haasan’s hands. The clip ended with Haasan instructing the group to move along and eventually smiling at them.
“Pen, Not Sword”: Kamal’s Stance Wins Praise Online
Following the video’s circulation, social media users lauded Haasan for sticking to his principles. One user wrote, “He said, ‘We can keep a book and a pen in our hands, not a sword.’ He could have taken a photo like others, but he didn’t. That’s a good politician.” Another commented, “He always stands by his ideals—no to the sword, yes to the pen.”
Elected to Rajya Sabha
Kamal Haasan was among six candidates elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Tamil Nadu on Thursday. The MNM chief received his election certificate from Returning Officer Subramani at the Chennai Secretariat. The other five winners include DMK’s Poet Salma (A. Rokkaiah Malik), SR Sivalingam, and P. Wilson—who begins his second term—as well as AIADMK’s IS Inbadurai and Dhanapal.
Controversy Around ‘Thug Life’
Meanwhile, Haasan’s latest film Thug Life, directed by Mani Ratnam and co-starring Trisha Krishnan and Silambarasan TR, continues to face backlash in Karnataka. Local fringe groups, along with the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC), called for a ban on the film following Haasan’s controversial remarks on the Kannada language. The movie’s release has been halted in the state, pending a public apology from the actor.
On June 13, the Supreme Court asked the Karnataka government to respond to a petition seeking protection against threats to the screening of Thug Life. The film opened in other parts of India on June 6 to mixed reviews and modest box office performance.
