Veteran actor Kamal Haasan has said that he predicted the OTT boom in India much earlier and suggested filmmakers to venture into the digital space, but the industry disagreed with him then.
"I saw OTT coming much before everyone else. I told everyone that we have to get into it, but the industry disagreed with me. But now, everyone understands what I was trying to say, now that the Indian audience has got a taste of international cinema," the 68-year-old said, throwing light on the changing landscape of cinema.
Speaking at a press conference in Abu Dhabi on the sidelines of the IIFA 2023, where he was honoured for Outstanding Achievement in Indian Cinema, Haasan said that he has always believed in “smaller” films.
“I am a great fan of smaller movies. Like babies that grow up to be something really big. I also became a star by (doing) these kinds of smaller films which made it big with audiences. Awards are a different thing. I am talking about the audience accepting it much before the award jury grants them the honour," he said.
On being conferred the Outstanding Achievement in Indian Cinema award at IIFA 2023, the Vikram actor said, "I am extremely honoured and grateful that I have been a part of many IIFAs and they are doing a great job promoting Indian cinema globally and this time I am being honoured at IIFA 2023 at Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Excited to be present at the event."
Oscar-winning music composer A.R. Rahman handed over the award to Haasan at the event.
"I am a film buff. I'd make the kind of movies that I'd like to see myself. Sometimes I get involved with them, and don't act in them, I produce them, and I am doing it even now. There are a couple of films that I am producing, where I have nothing to do with them, except spend money on them,” Haasan said in reply to a question about staying relevant in modern times.
Speaking about Mani Ratnam’s Ponniyin Selvan franchise, Haasan said, "I'm as proud as if I have produced it. It made me so much happy that it made Mani Ratnam happy. We are working and producing the next project together".
