That Tanuj Virwani (Rati Agnihotri and Anil Virwani’s son) and Akshara Haasan (Kamal Haasan and Sarika’s daughter) were in a relationship several years ago is well-known. However, post their break-up in 2017, things took an ugly turn when Akshara’s private pictures were leaked on the internet in 2018. At that time, Tanuj was questioned by the police and he denied he had anything to do with the leak. The actor had also said that he hoped the real culprits were caught and punished. Fast forward to three years later — Tanuj shared what went wrong between the couple and the leaked photos of his former girlfriend.

Tanuj says, “I had met Akshara on an outdoor shoot in Kullu Manali, when she had accompanied her mother, actress Sarika ji. We became friends and there was a mutual connection. She is a lovely girl and I really liked her. We were together for four years, but after a point, we realised that it was not working out. We decided to mutually part ways without any drama. I think one of the things that went wrong for us was being open about our relationship in public. We had no qualms about discussing our relationship openly. We believed in being honest about it, which eventually backfired. Now, I have realised that it’s better not to talk about our private lives and let our work speak for us.”

He adds, “Before the pictures got leaked in 2018, we were cordial and used to greet each other warmly at public functions. But after the pictures got leaked, we have completely stopped being in touch. The pictures were leaked through a messenger app from a computer and not through a phone. At that time, when the pictures were taken in 2013, we did not understand the power of technology and weren’t aware of how pictures get stored on the server. Now, both the incident and my relationship with Akshara are a thing of the past. Having said that, I have fond memories of our relationship. After our breakup, I moved on and had a few girlfriends, but I have learnt not to speak about my private life anymore.”

So, what does he look for in a partner? “More than anything, your partner needs to be your best friend. You may not like everything about them (and vice versa), but one needs to make adjustments and compromises. I also believe in unconditional love – regardless of fights or issues, you need to love your partner and family always,” he adds.

Shruti Haasan on how father Kamal Haasan shared tips to perfect her act of a 50-year-old woman in Yaara
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; July 30, 2020)

Four years since it was conceived, Tigmanshu Dhulia's Yaara is set to premiere on ZEE5 today. Shruti Haasan is thrilled that the movie is finally seeing the light of day. "I am glad that the film looks fresh. The story is set in 1975, and hence, does not run the risk of looking dated," says the actor, who stars alongside Vidyut Jammwal, Amit Sadh and Vijay Varma in the drama.

An adaptation of the French film Les Lyonnais (2011), the story traces four friends as they navigate life from their early 20s to 50s. While portraying a 20-something came easy to Shruti, she found herself groping in the dark when it came to depicting the older portions and turned to father Kamal Haasan for advice.

The veteran pointed out that besides an understated performance, make-up plays a crucial role in convincingly ageing on screen. "My dad suggested I pull out a picture of my mother [Sarika] and him when they were in their 50s. He said, 'Study how our faces look and use that as reference'. So, we didn't go overboard with the make-up. That's probably the only time my dad helped me [professionally]," says the actor.

As told to Ankita Chaurasia (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 20, 2020)

My first shot for a film was for my dad’s (Kamal Haasan) Hey Ram. It was a well-researched period-drama that opened in 2000. While shooting a scene, the team realised that they needed to show Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s young daughter. I was on the sets that day, assisting my mother (Sarika), who was the costume designer on the film. Suddenly, they made me wear a salwar kameez and asked me to walk in front of the camera. It was that one shot without a single line of dialogue. That’s how, at the age of 14, I made my debut as a child artiste. It was what you would call a blink-and-miss appearance.

Incidentally, I had wanted to be an actress since I was six; I aspired to be like Madhuri Dixit. But over time, I told myself that I would never look as pretty as her or dance as well as her, so I gave up on that dream and started pursuing music, which I loved anyway. While I was studying music in California, we had to be part of a play. My dad helped me with it and later, he told me I should think about acting.

When I returned to India, my raakhi brother Imran Khan suggested my name to the makers of the 2009 action-thriller, Luck, which featured him in the lead, along with Sanjay Dutt and Mithun Chakraborty, among others. He convinced them that I’d fit the part of Ayesha/Natasha. And I bagged my first Hindi film, which had me playing a double role. I have to admit that I had not prepped for it and I was terrible. My first shot was with Sanjay Dutt, and I started to shiver as soon as the camera was switched on. I was so nervous. My co-star had no idea it was my first shot, but my director (Soham Shah) guided me through the process. Every scene of that film was really difficult and I had no idea what was going on. I had been on a lot of sets while growing up, but acting in a film is a different ballgame. The only thing I liked about myself in the film was my look, of a badass babe, which really caught on. Also, singing and performing to the song “Luck Aazma”. It was right up my alley. Thankfully, people remember me for the song and not my performance in the film.

I was disappointed at the missed opportunity and realised that I was not naturally-gifted as an actor and must work on my skills, more so because my surname was getting me places that many couldn’t reach. All dad said was, “Keep working”, after watching the film. I’d rather have him criticise me; this was not even a feedback! But I did heed his advice and started putting in more effort. I was much happier doing my second film, which was my first Telugu film, Anaganaga O Dheerudu, and worked really hard on A R Murugadoss’s 7aum Arivu. However, it was only after my turn in 3, that I won my father’s approval.

After turning down an offer to act, Sarika on producing Aamir Khan's daughter Ira Khan's directorial debut, the Greek tragedy play, Medea
Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; September 2, 2019)

Only days after celebrating kick-starting her career as director of a music video, Ira Khan has graduated to tackling bigger projects. On her plate is the Greek tragedy play, Medea, which the daughter of Aamir Khan is set to helm in an English adaptation. Interestingly, backing her endeavour is Sarika, who spent the past three years since her act in Baar Baar Dekho (2016) quietly setting up a production house.

Sarika tells mid-day that the offer to be part of Ira's venture came to her under different circumstances. "Ira called me and said she wanted me to act in her play. I didn't want to. So, instead, I offered to produce it. She is like my own baby, and if she wanted me to be part of this, I definitely would be. Also, I liked her approach and vision. I was confident about her directorial sensibilities," says Sarika.

The mythology was first performed in 431 BC, reportedly at the City Dionysia festival. "It is interesting to see how a woman belonging to this era perceives the complexities of a women from 431 BC," says Sarika of her decision to produce the project.

Theatre production, she reveals, is an art she began to dabble in over the past three years. Medea will come out of her newly launched production house, Nautankisa, created along with younger daughter Akshara, and friend Sachin Kamani. When Medea came her way, Sarika was already afloat with a Hindi play, she tells us. "Theatre and films may appear similar, but in the case of the former, artistes interact with the audience directly. Both mediums pose different challenges. Just like cinema, theatre too has the power to transport one to another world. That's the magic of actors and creators," she discusses of her new-found love.

Unafraid to swim against the tide, she doesn't mind exploring theatre at a time when artistes are cashing in on the digital boom. "The idea is to produce art in every form. Creators now have so many platforms to share content."

Medea, The Play
Written by tragedian Euripides, Medea revolves around a princess of the barbarian kingdom of Colchis, and the wife of Jason. Finding her position threatened after Jason leaves her for a Greek princess, she plots her revenge.

Riya Sharma (BOMBAY TIMES; December 8, 2018)

I am writing something that is from the depths of my experience and soul,” says actor Shruti Haasan — dramatically stressing on the last part of her sentence in her deep, husky voice — talking about her English music album that is keeping her occupied. Shruti currently has many things on her plate — from producing her next feature film with mom Sarika, to preparing for the release of her next Hindi film directed by Mahesh Manjrekar — but her main focus is her independent album. The actor spoke to us about all the things that are keeping her preoccupied, why it is important for her to be a good producer and why she can’t comment on joining politics anytime soon.

‘I AM LOOKING FOR SOMETHING THAT BREAKS PERCEPTIONS’
Shruti, who has worked in Bollywood as well as in the South tells us that she has never been offered a role that is close to her personality. “I am looking for something that I haven’t done, something that breaks perceptions, and also I have never been offered a role that is really modern and close to my actual personality, and I would love that.”

Shruti adds, “I would love to not just play myself, but a girl like me.” The actress, who is currently hosting Hello Sago, a talk show, admits that working on TV has been challenging for her. She says, “I did not know that it would require so much thinking on your feet and being spontaneous, but it has helped me know people much better. It has helped me understand the different sides of people, so it has been a really good experience. When we have conversations with guests on our show we have to make sure they are comfortable speaking to you, and I am not always the most social person so I had to really learn to be connected, and I had to really invest in the person sitting next to me.”

Music is something that Shruti wishes to focus on more. She says, “I am doing much more music than I have ever done in the past, I started out as a musician and people have been asking, ‘When are you doing music again?’ It has been about 10 years, so it was about time. I am currently working on my independent English album, and it is very exciting even though I am trained in Hindustani music, but I find it easier to express in English. I am writing something that is from the depths of my experience and soul.”

‘WHATEVER MY FATHER FEELS LIKE DOING, WILL MAKE ME HAPPY’
Earlier this year, her father Kamal Haasan announced that his upcoming films — Indian 2 and Thevar Magan 2 — will be among his last as an actor. Shruti says that she supports him in whatever he does. “Whatever he feels like doing will make me happy. Of course, you have to give people the space and time to do whatever they choose to in life, and that is really the true support of a fan, isn’t it?” asks Shruti. When asked if she is also thinking about entering the world of politics, Shruti says, “I don’t have the knowledge or the experience to contribute to the political sphere at the moment, so I would not comment on it.”

‘A LOT OF PRODUCERS DID NOT PAY ME, SO I MAKE SURE THAT I PAY MY PEOPLE’
As she is producing her first feature film, we ask Shruti the kind of movies that she wishes to produce under her banner. “Movies that I always wanted to do but never could, and movies I wanted to see but never did. I mean there are so many things, it is such an interesting time in the business. I really love picking up subjects where people say, ‘How is this going to work?’ and trying to find a way to make it work because every story needs to be told,” she tells us.

Shruti adds that though she has no prior experience in production, her acting career has taught her one thing — to pay her actors and those who work with her well. “I am working with my mother on our production house, and she has had more experience, there are also people who have been in the business for a long time and are now working with us as consultants. My experience has been limited to what I have seen and learnt as an actor, which is a lot. Because a lot of producers did not pay me I make sure that I pay those who work for me. I am going to be a good producer who pays my people first,” she signs off. 

Tamil film is directed by Jayprakash Radhakrishnan and has a real-life scenario at its core
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 21, 2018)

Actress-singer Shruti Haasan is gearing up to don a new hat. Mirror has learnt that she has turned producer with director Jayprakash Radhakrishnan’s next Tamil film The Mosquito Philosophy.

“After seeing JP’s last works, including his acclaimed film Lens, I knew I’d found the right person to associate with. He has an edgy vision and creatively showcases even the simplest stories. It’s fantastic to work with someone who has the courage to offer new content that challenges conventional thinking,” says an excited Shruti who’s hoping that this is the start of a long-term working relationship. The 32-year-old actress is presently shooting with Vidyut Jammwal for Mahesh Manjrekar’s comeback Hindi directorial which is as-yet untitled.

Prod Jayprakash on his latest project and he says, “It’s almost surreal when I think of how this happened. One minute I was talking to Sarika ji (Shruti’s actress-mother) about life in general and this film and next thing I know, Shruti’s production house comes on board to present and produce it. Together we look forward to taking The Mosquito Philosophy forward and share our journey with audiences the world over.” Interestingly, he is also acting in the film alongside a fresh cast, including Sindhu Jayprakash, Ravi Kathiresan, Pradeep Damodaran, Suresh Somasundaram Kumar and Siddhanth Nair.

The film has a real scenario at its core. Close to the Dogme 95 genre, it is shot with a basic storyline, no scripted dialogues and bare minimum equipment and crew to ensure the most real showcase of life replicated on screen.

“Filmmakers the world over have struggled to make films that are as close to reality as possible to ensure the art they create connects seamlessly with the audience. The Mosquito Philosophy, born out of a similar quest, is an interrogation of society caught between tradition and modernity seen through the story of four friends,” he informs.

Shruti, who’d earlier revealed that scripting a film is on the cards, says that she wants to produce edgy, diverse content across formats that furthers creative process.

Meena Iyer (DNA; December 19, 2017)

Since her mother Kamal Thakur’s death in November this year, 57-year-old Sarika has been running from pillar to post to get what is her rightful property. A plush flat in Bhanu Apartments, Juhu, Mumbai — in the same neighbourhood where actors Vivek Oberoi and Govinda live — is apparently the bone of contention between her and a Dr Vikram Thakkar, who her late mother apparently willed the flat to. It is said that the apartment was purchased with Sarika’s earnings and her mother reportedly had a ‘dated’ power of authority with her (right until her death) on the basis of which, she disinherited her daughter and apparently bequeathed all her property including the Juhu apartment to Dr Thakkar. The matter is now sub judice.

Sources from the film industry say that Sarika has been living in a rented apartment in Mumbai for quite some time. Her marriage to Tamil superstar Kamal Haasan fell apart a few years ago and she moved to Mumbai to restart her innings in Bollywood. Her elder daughter, Shruti Haasan, has her own home, while her younger daughter, Akshara, shuttles between Mumbai and Chennai.

Says our source, “As Sarika doesn’t have a home of her own, Akshara lives with her father in Chennai. But she does visit her mother on a regular basis.”

Meanwhile, we have heard that Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan has stepped in to help Sarika sort out her problems. Our source adds, “Sarika is a close friend of Aamir’s first cousin Nuzhat (Imran Khan’s mother). When she apparently approached him to help her, he is said to have stepped forward to study the matter and see how things can be resolved in the best way.” We texted Aamir for his version of the story but he hadn’t reverted till the time of going to press.

IN THE MEANWHILE...SARIKA AND KAMAL NOT OFFICIALLY DIVORCED
One hears that though Sarika and Kamal Haasan split way back in 2004, the couple is not yet officially divorced. It may be recalled that both these actors, who were live-in-partners from the mid-80s, married after the birth of their two daughters, Shruti (1986) and Akshara (1991). The star couple split up almost a decade ago and Kamal then went on to restart his relationship with South Indian actress Gautami. However, we hear that Kamal and Sarika are estranged but not officially divorced.

Meena Iyer (DNA; November 21, 2017)

Sarika and Kamal Haasan’s daughters, Shruti and Akshara, recently lost their maternal grandmother, Kamal Thakur. The octogenarian, who was living in suburban Mumbai for decades, took ill and was bedridden for a while. Neighbours said she had a lonely death and few visitors in her last days.

It’s sad but true that the visitors didn’t include her estranged daughter Sarika or her now-famous granddaughters, Shruti and Akshara. It so happens that Kamal and her daughter Sarika split when the latter walked out of her mother’s home back in the early ’80s because of irreconcilable differences.

In the three-and-a-half decades gone by, several family friends tried to get the mother and daughter to patch up. However, that never happened. Sarika moved to Chennai around 1985. There, she met Kamal Haasan, married him, and had two daughters. Since Sarika was not in touch with her mother, her young daughters, too, didn’t get a chance to know their maternal grandmom.

About a fortnight ago, Kamal, who had age-related issues, passed away. Her last rites have already been held. It is now being suggested that her suburban flat will be given to her only child, Sarika. Incidentally, Sarika’s parents split up when she was very young. The actress is in touch with her father. He was last spotted publicly with Akshara and Sarika at the special screening of the former’s debut film Shamitabh in Mumbai in 2015.

P Sangeetha (BOMBAY TIMES; October 23, 2017)

Actress Shruti Haasan told us she is not big on Deepavali, which was why, perhaps, she worked right around the festivities. Shruti was in Coimbatore recently and said she was not into noisy fire crackers. "One of my best friends just had a baby and it's tough for her to put the baby to sleep. There are animals that are petrified and old people who can't take the noise pollution. I definitely hope we reduce noise pollution as the years go by. But I personally love sparklers," the actress tells us.

Shruti is currently working on dad Kamal Haasan's upcoming multi-lingual comedy, Sabhash Kundu. So, how is the experience? "It has been really good. I have learnt a lot not just because he is my dad, but because there is so much to learn from a man like him. His diligence, his passion is cinema, and for him, creating that is the ultimate goal. He had to take over the direction of the film last minute, but the grace and the clarity with which he did it is very inspiring."

She adds, "As a director, one of the things I like about him is how much he lets his actors discover and know their own strengths. He lets you grow and gives you utmost freedom. Of course, he is gently moulding you into the character he has already envisaged in his mind, and yet, makes you feel so connected with the process of creating the character." Would she like to team up with mother, actress Sarika and sister Akshara for a film? "I would love to. It depends on the film," quips Shruti

In the meantime, Shruti is awaiting the release of the much-delayed Hindi flick Yaara. "It's still in the post-production stage. It's one of the films I have enjoyed the most being a part of. Working with Tigmanshu Dhulia (director) has been a highlight of my career. He is fantastic to work with. What I love about the character is that it spans a period of time. It's not just one character and the growth is very much like life. It's one of the most realistic films I have done in terms of my character." So, when is the film expected to hit screens? "You should ask the producer about it," she says. But at the moment, Shruti says, "I am doing a lot of collaborations. Independent music is something that I have shifted my attention back to."

When quizzed about her father's tryst with politics, Shruti says, "I will support him in his endeavours. I am not very politically aware or motivated. Most of the times, I don't even know what's happening. I am not the most politically informed person, to be honest. But my father is, and has always been a very conscientious citizen. He is someone who has an understanding of society on various levels. I wish him all the best in whatever he chooses to do. At this stage in his life, this is the path that he has chosen."

Upala KBR (DNA; July 4, 2017)

Shruti Haasan’s beau Michael Corsale was with her in Mumbai earlier this year when she was shooting for Behen Hogi Teri. They’ve been papped many times, coming in and flying out of the city. They even spent last Valentine’s Day together. She met the London-based actor last year through a common friend when she was in the UK. Here, Shruti talks about why she doesn’t want to share anything about him and why her parents would never ask her the marriage question....

You are said to be dating London-based theatre actor Michael Corsale for a few months now.
I don’t talk about my personal life because it’s very precious to me. All of us who have had a partner know that those people are the pillar of support in your life and I don’t want to share that with everybody. It’s just not something I feel comfortable talking about.

Are you in love?
I am always in love with a 100 different things!

Do your parents (Kamal Haasan, Sarika) tell you to get married and settle down?
If you know my parents, they are the last people to tell me to go and get married (laughs). They are very chilled and tell me, ‘It’s your life, do whatever you want’. As far as me wanting to get married is concerned, I never over plan. Every time I have planned something, the Universe is like ‘Ha! Ha! Just kidding. Now you have to go in another direction.’ So, I don’t over plan at all.

Lasyapriya Sundaram (BOMBAY TIMES; April 30, 2017)