Want to become CM and don 'crown of thorns' for people of TN: Kamal Haasan

The veteran actor said he would give a clearer picture on his political ambitions in the next 100 days

With Tamil Nadu politics undergoing a churning, veteran-actor Kamal Haasan has finally cleared the air over his political ambitions, saying he wants to be the chief minister for the people in the state.

“Entering politics would be like donning a crown of thorns,” he told India Today. “First people have to change. And when the voters are ready next time, they first have to be honest if they want an honest man at the top.”

Haasan had earlier targeted the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) government in Tamil Nadu, and in the process, hinted towards joining active politics. 

Further, in the interview to the television channel, he said, “I became political the first time I voted in an election.” 

When asked about his next move, he said that he “must prepare before taking a plunge” and that he is meeting people and will give the roadmap soon.

Whether he would float his own political outfit or join the Aam Aadmi Party remains unanswered, but Haasan said he would give a clearer picture in the next 100 days.

"For me, it is a learning curve. I'm on an educational tourism, asking anybody fighting against communalism and corruption to give me advice," Haasan said. 

The comments come hours after he met Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday in Chennai for over an hour. He was invited to join politics to fight corruption and communalism.  

Kejriwal says Haasan has courage to stick his neck out

After the luncheon meeting at the actor's Eldams Road residence, Kejriwal said he discussed the situation in the country and Tamil Nadu and that it was important for all like-minded people to talk to each other while battling corruption and communalism in India.

"There are rare people who have the courage to stick their neck out and Kamal Hassan happens to be one of those who has stuck his neck out and decided that rather than a curse from outside he should enter into politics," he told PTI.

Reciprocating to Kerjiwal’s kind words about him, Haasan said: “Kejriwal has a great national profile of fighting against corruption and communalism. I also have a little reputation similar to that and it is no wonder we decided to have a dialogue on the existing situation.”

Earlier, Kejriwal, accompanied by senior AAP leaders Sanjay Singh, Somnath Bharti and Ashutosh, was received at the airport by Haasan's younger daughter Akshara. 

This was the second meeting between the two since 2015 when Haasan met the Delhi CM in the national capital of India. 

A host of ministers, including Palaniswami himself has hit out at the actor, with one of them even questioning if the star had paid his taxes properly.