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AIADMK Ministers Question Kamal Haasan's Personal Life, Call Him A 'Third-Rate Actor'

"His action is against Tamil and Indian culture."
Hindustan Times via Getty Images

Tamil film superstar Kamal Haasan's spat with ministers of Tamil Nadu's ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) party has still not ended. Making personal attacks on the actor, on Sunday, some party leaders called him a "third-rate actor".

The actor-filmmaker is facing the ruling party's ire after he accused the state government of corruption. Hitting back at him, SP Velumani, the Minister for Municipal Administration, reportedly said that the actor should talk only if his allegations are backed by proof.

"If you have evidence, then prove it. Let's audit the amount of tax you've paid for the movies you've produced," Velumani said.

Haasan was being targeted after allegations that the reality television show Bigg Boss Tamil, which the star is hosting, has hurt people's sentiments in Tamil Nadu.

C.V. Shanmugam, Tamil Nadu Law Minister, commented on Haasan's personal life, referring to his relationship with a co-star. He also said that the actor had no big projects in hand and would do anything for cheap publicity.

"We all know that Kamal Hassan had an affair with an actress, didn't marry her and chased her away after living with her (for years). His action is against Tamil and Indian culture. He has no right to speak about us or the people of this country," Shanmugam said.

However, MK Stalin, the Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly and working president of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), has come to the actor's defence and said that like every other citizen, the star had the right to criticise the government.

"Haasan is only reflecting the sentiments of the people. It is the right of every voter including Haasan to criticise the benami and horse-trading government in power," Stalin said in a tweet, according to the Times of India.

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.