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Just as much as his acting, writing talents and movie choices, Kamal Haasan’s personal life has also garnered significant attention over the years, particularly due to his many romantic relationships. While the actor was married twice — first to dancer Vani Ganapathy (1978–1988) and later to actor Sarika Thakur (1988–2004), both of which ended in divorce — he was subsequently in a live-in relationship with renowned thespian Gautami for 13 years before they parted ways in 2016. Although Kamal’s name has been linked to other female actors as well, the only other relationship both persons involved publicly acknowledged was with the legendary South Indian actor Srividya.
Kamal and Srividya fell in love in the early 1970s when both were just starting their careers and gradually finding their footing in the industry. However, their love story did not have the happy ending they had hoped for and the couple eventually parted ways, leaving both heartbroken. Given that this was likely the first serious relationship for both Kamal and Srividya, the fact that neither of them found lasting love again sheds light on how deeply its failure could have affected them.
In fact, Srividya herself once spoke about how emotionally scarred she was after their breakup. “I was blank initially; I felt that my life was over,” she shared during a chat with Kairali TV. Asserting that they were deeply in love, she revealed that not only their families but the entire film industry knew about their relationship. “Our families wanted us to get married. I was like a pet to Kamal’s father. Slowly, Kamal started becoming a big hero.” She also mentioned that he was about six months younger than her.
Recalling that Kamal Haasan wanted her to wait for him, Srividya shared that she, however, was unwilling to delay marriage any further. “I did not want to do anything against the wishes of our families. He flared up asking if that was my final decision. He left and did not even call me for quite some time. Then one day, he came over to our house. Seeing us, my mother approached and asked if she could express her opinion on the matter. She said, ‘Why don’t you two wait for 4-5 years? You seem to be very sure of yourself. Kamal, you are supposed to become a great artiste. You are going to become one of the greatest heroes in this industry. She too is talented and has the potential to become big. Eventually, you guys might come across even better people. At that time, you shouldn’t regret your current decisions. You both are only 22 now; why rush things? I think it is too young an age to get married.’ She was very correct,” Srividya shared.
However, Kamal was enraged upon hearing this and left immediately. Their breakup became final and before long, Kamal married Vani Ganapathy. “I was deeply hurt. I felt like a failure as a woman. I kept thinking, ‘What does she have that I don’t?’ Although we never became close friends afterwards, we always maintained a cordial relationship,” Srividya reflected.
Kamal Haasan, too, once spoke about their past relationship, referring to her as his former “lover”. During an appearance on Vijay TV’s Koffee with DD, he was shown a still of him and Srividya from director K Balachander’s Apoorva Raagangal (1975) — a film that also marked Rajinikanth’s acting debut, in which Kamal and Srividya played a romantic pair. “While acting in this movie, I was 19. I don’t know whether the love we portrayed on screen spilt over into real life or not. But it remains in my heart even now. A relationship doesn’t have to culminate in marriage for it to be meaningful.”
Kamal and Srividya acted together in several films such as Annai Velankanni and Unarchigal. Their relationship also served as an inspiration for director Ranjith’s Thirakkatha (2008), though it was sold as a work of fiction.
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