‘My avarice for money stopped me…’: Kamal Haasan admits to chasing wealth at the cost of learning; how success can stunt personal growth

“Because of my work schedule, I stopped seeking more gurus. I think my avarice for money stopped me from learning. Otherwise, I would have learned more…” he mentioned. He also admitted that in his 20s, he chased wealth at the cost of self-development. “I pursued that path for quite some time at peril to my heart. Then I woke up and started my own company. Fortunately, I did that before I became 30. It was a risky thing to do.”

Why do high achievers often reach a point where the pursuit of wealth or success comes at the cost of learning and inner development?

Sonal Khangarot, a licensed rehabilitation counsellor and psychotherapist, tells indianexpress.com, “High achievers often start with a deep curiosity or passion, something that fuels their learning. But as recognition and rewards pour in, the focus can shift. The schedule fills up, obligations mount, and over time, the hunger to grow is replaced by the need to maintain or amplify success.”

She continues, “Kamal Haasan candidly calls his ‘avarice for money’ the barrier that stopped him from seeking more teachers. It’s not always greed; often it’s the fear of being left behind or the pressure to deliver that pulls people away from self-inquiry. Psychologically, this is rooted in performance-based validation, where one’s worth becomes tied to output rather than growth. Without pauses for reflection or continued learning, high achievers risk stagnation, burnout, or losing touch with what originally inspired them.”

How can constant praise and filtered information affect someone’s sense of self and ability to stay grounded?

Haasan mentioned that arrogance can stem from being disconnected from honest feedback. In many cases, arrogance is not born from an inflated ego but from a distorted mirror. Khangarot states, “When you’re constantly praised, protected from criticism, and surrounded by people who only see your highlight reel, your self-perception becomes skewed. You start believing the filtered reality that others present to you. Over time, this can dull one’s emotional insight, lower empathy, and create a subtle disconnection from the self. As Kamal says, when you stop hearing honest feedback, you lose a vital anchor to reality. Psychologically, this results in what we call ‘echo chambers of affirmation’—where you only hear what affirms you and nothing that challenges you. This leaves no room for self-correction, essential for growth and humility.”