Actor Kamal Haasan on Monday penned a letter requesting fans not to address him by titles such as Ulaga Nayagan (universal hero) and instead refer to him by his name or simply KH.

In this note, written in both English and Tamil, Haasan emphasised that the artist should never be placed above the art itself. “I have always felt a deep sense of gratitude over being bestowed with endearing titles such as Ulaganayagan, among others. Such accolades, given by the people and recognised by esteemed colleagues and admirers, have always been humbling, and I’ve been genuinely moved by your love in conferring it upon me,” he wrote.

“The art of cinema transcends beyond any one individual, and I am but a student of the craft, forever hoping to evolve, learn, and grow. Cinema, like any other form of creative expression, belongs to all. It is the collaboration of countless artists, technicians, and audiences who make it what it is—a true reflection of humanity's diverse, rich, and ever-evolving stories,” the note further read.

“It is my humble belief that the artist must not be elevated above the art. I prefer to remain grounded, constantly aware of my imperfections and my duty to improve. Hence, after considerable reflection, I feel compelled to respectfully decline all such titles or prefixes. I humbly request that all my fans, the media, members of the film fraternity, party cadre, and fellow Indians, to here on after, refer to me simply as Kamal Haasan or Kamal or KH,” he signed off.

Actor Ajith made a similar request in 2021, asking fans to address him as AK or Ajith Kumar instead of the title Thala.

On the professional front, Kamal Haasan is set to star in Mani Ratnam’s Thug Life, set to release in 2025. A teaser for the upcoming film was dropped by the makers on Kamal Haasan’s birthday last week.