Kamal Haasan at Jawan event: Shah Rukh Khan and I are like Saket Ram and Amjad Ali Khan in Hey Ram

Tamil superstar Kamal Haasan was in the US on a work-related matter. And that was the main reason why he couldn't be present at the pre-release event of Jawan, starring Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan. If Kamal were in India, he would not have missed throwing his weight behind SRK; they have been friends for over two decades now. 

Kamal Haasan wants Jawan to be a bigger hit than Pathaan

However, Kamal made sure that his presence would be felt at the pre-release event on Wednesday, by sending a recorded video message. In the video, he expressed his support for the film and wished Jawan would surpass the collection records created by Shah Rukh Khan's Pathaan. 

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Pathaan brought much-needed cheers to the embattled Bollywood, which was neck-deep in controversies and online negativity. While many predicted the end of Bollywood's popularity with the masses, Pathaan proved the naysayers wrong. 

Pathaan collected more than Rs 1000 crore in its worldwide ticket sales and became the biggest Hindi film in 2023. 

"All the very best for Jawan, Shah Rukh Khan. I want you to beat the record of Pathaan. Only you can do it," Kamal said. 

Kamal Haasan on Atlee

Indian 2 actor also extended his wishes to director Atlee, who's making his big Bollywood debut with Jawan. "And I'm happy that Atlee has joined hands with you. I was there at the beginning of his career when he started Raja Rani - his first movie. He is a confident director, who has seen success and is going to see a huge success," he added. 

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Kamal Haasan on his friendship with Shah Rukh Khan

Kamal also briefly spoke about his long-standing friendship with Shah Rukh Khan, drawing comparisons between their roles in the iconic film Hey Ram.

"Our friendship is like that of Saket Ram and Amjad Ali Khan. It's unshakable, in spite of all the tumultuous times. You (SRK) are a beloved icon in India. Your smile lights up many thousands of faces, one of his mine too. I want this film to succeed. I want you to succeed. You have conducted 30 years of your career with great panache and dignity," said Kamal. 

Shah Rukh Khan played a vital role in Hey Ram (2000). Set against the backdrop of India's partition that led to horrific communal clashes within the country, it tells the story of an emotionally fragile man, who is manipulated and made an accomplice in the plot to kill Gandhi. 

On the occasion of India's 76th Independence Day, Kamal released the full movie Hey Ram on YouTube to make it more accessible to a wider audience. 

Written and directed by Atlee, Jawan also stars Nayanthara and Vijay Sethupathi in the lead roles. The movie is due in cinemas on September 7.