Kamal Haasan’s Hidden Love Story: Learning Bengali and Naming a Character After Aparna Sen
New Delhi, August 26, 2025 — Legendary actor and filmmaker Kamal Haasan has always been admired for his artistic brilliance and his ability to embrace multiple languages and cultures through cinema. But recently, his daughter Shruti Haasan revealed a personal story that shows a very different side of him—his romantic vulnerability.
In a candid interaction, Shruti disclosed that her father once learned Bengali, not for professional reasons or a film script, but to impress someone very special to him: celebrated Bengali actress and filmmaker Aparna Sen.
“Do you know why he learned Bengali? Because he was in love with Aparna Sen. He wanted to impress her. It wasn’t for films,” Shruti said, leaving fans both surprised and charmed.
A Name That Spoke From the Heart
The revelation does not end with just the language. Shruti also explained that in Kamal Haasan’s acclaimed 2000 film Hey Ram, the character played by Rani Mukerji was deliberately named “Aparna”—a direct tribute to Aparna Sen.
The film, a historical drama set against the backdrop of Partition and Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination, dealt with heavy themes of violence, politics, and identity. Yet hidden within its complex narrative was a personal touch of affection, where Haasan immortalized his admiration for Aparna Sen through the name of his leading lady.
This detail, kept private for decades, has now added an intimate layer to the story of Hey Ram—one that blends cinema with a real-life romantic gesture.
Aparna Sen: The Muse
Aparna Sen is no ordinary name in Indian cinema. The legendary Bengali actress and filmmaker has won nine National Film Awards and was honored with the Padma Shri for her contributions to the arts. Her career spans acting in classics like 36 Chowringhee Lane to directing critically acclaimed films such as Mr. and Mrs. Iyer and The Japanese Wife.
It is little wonder that Kamal Haasan, himself a powerhouse of talent, found inspiration and admiration in her artistry. The fact that he not only learned a new language but also carried her name into one of his most ambitious projects shows the depth of his affection.
Media Coverage and Fan Reactions
The story has sparked widespread interest across social media and entertainment circles. Many fans expressed amusement and warmth at seeing the usually intense, perfectionist Kamal Haasan in such a romantic light.
Hindustan Times highlighted the revelation with the line: “Kamal Haasan was so in love with Aparna Sen that he named Rani Mukerji’s character after her in Hey Ram and learned Bengali to impress her.”
India Today emphasized Shruti’s words that his Bengali lessons were not for professional reasons, but purely to charm Aparna Sen.
Meanwhile, The Indian Express noted how this disclosure opened “a personal and human side of an otherwise larger-than-life actor.”
For fans of cinema, the story feels like a script of its own—where passion, art, and admiration intersect in unexpected ways.
A Tender Chapter in an Extraordinary Life
Kamal Haasan’s life has been filled with accolades, controversies, and path-breaking contributions to Indian cinema. He is known as much for his perfectionism and political voice as for his multifaceted roles as an actor, director, producer, and singer.
Yet this story reminds us that behind the intellectual genius and cinematic pioneer was also a man capable of simple, heartfelt gestures—like picking up a new language just to connect with someone he admired deeply.
Even more touching is the way he blended his private emotions into his art. By naming a key character after Aparna Sen in Hey Ram, he left behind a subtle but enduring homage to someone who clearly meant a lot to him during that chapter of his life.
Conclusion
The revelation by Shruti Haasan has peeled back another layer of her father’s enigmatic persona. It has shown the world a Kamal Haasan who was not just a master of cinema and culture, but also a man who loved passionately and expressed that love in unique, artistic ways.
Learning Bengali for Aparna Sen and immortalizing her name in Hey Ram stands today as a story both charming and poignant—a reminder that even the greatest legends have their own untold love stories.
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