According to Shruti, her father was deeply fond of acclaimed filmmaker and actress Aparna Sen during his younger days. Driven by admiration, Kamal took the effort to learn the Bengali language to impress her. Interestingly, his fondness didn’t just end there; years later, when he directed the critically acclaimed film Hey Ram, he named Rani Mukerji’s character Aparna as a subtle tribute to Aparna Sen.
Sathyaraj, who praised Shruti’s multilingual abilities in the interview, initially believed that Kamal had learned Bengali for a film role. Shruti clarified the myth, adding a personal and emotional touch to the story. She expressed how her father’s passion for languages inspired her own love for learning and performing across various industries.
Shruti also reflected on her personal journey of carving her identity while growing up under the towering shadow of Kamal Haasan’s fame. She candidly shared how, during her younger days, she would sometimes deny being his daughter to create her own space, even jokingly adopting the name “Pooja Ramachandran.” Over time, however, she came to embrace and respect her father’s unparalleled influence.
“Back then, it was overwhelming to have appa’s posters everywhere. But today, I cannot imagine a Shruti who exists without Kamal Haasan being a part of her identity,” she expressed.
Source / Image Credit : Times Of India, MUBI