Nassar | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Nassar atOru Kadhai Sollatuma Audio Launch | |
| President of South IndianNadigar Sangam | |
| Assumed office 19 October 2015 | |
| Vice President | Karunas,Ponvannan |
| Preceded by | R. Sarath Kumar |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Muhammad Hanif (1958-03-05)5 March 1958 (age 67) |
| Spouse | Kameela |
| Children | 3, includingLuthfudeen |
| Residence(s) | Chennai,Tamil Nadu,India |
| Occupation | Actor,producer,director |
Nassar (bornMuhammad Hanif; 5 March 1958) is an Indian actor, director, producer, dubbing artist, singer and politician who mainly works in theTamil,Telugu andMalayalam film industries. He has also worked in a fewKannada,English,Hindi andBengali films. He is the incumbent president of theNadigar Sangam, atrade union forfilm,television, andstage actors inTamil Nadu.[1]
Nassar was born as Muhammad Hanif on March 5, 1958, into aTamil Muslim family inPalur,Tamil Nadu,India. His parents were Mehaboob Basha and Mumtaz. He studied inSt. Joseph's Higher Secondary School, Chengalpattu. He moved toMadras (now Chennai) after school, where he finished his pre-university atMadras Christian College.[2] At Madras Christian College, he was an active member of the Dramatic Society.[3][4] Later for a brief time, he worked in theIndian Air Force. He trained in two acting schools: theSouth Indian Film Chamber of Commerce's Film Institute and the Tamil Nadu Institute for Film and Television Technology.[5][6][7]
Nassar made his acting debut inK. Balachander'sKalyana Agathigal (1985) portraying a secondary supporting role, before moving on to play villainous roles inS. P. Muthuraman'sVelaikaran (1987) andVanna Kanavugal (1987). He played the protagonist inYuhi Sethu'sKavithai Paada Neramillai (1987), though his breakthrough role came through his performance as a police officer inMani Ratnam'sNayakan (1987). He subsequently became a regular in Mani Ratnam andKamal Haasan's ventures, appearing in pivotal character roles inRoja (1992),Thevar Magan (1992),Bombay (1995),Kuruthipunal (1995),Chachi 420 (1997) andIruvar (1997).
Nassar made his directorial debut withAvatharam (1995), a film based on the backdrop of a folk art troupe. StarringRevathi as his co-star, Nassar stated that the idea had come to him as a result of his childhood memories of watchingtheru koothu being performed on the streets alongside his father. The film won critical acclaim, but failed to become a commercially successful venture.[8] Soon afterwards, he madeDevathai (1997), stating he remembered a story he had first heard as a child, which became the "creative seed for this film" about reincarnation.[8] He stated that his immediate busy schedule had subsequently cost him a role inAamir Khan'sLagaan (2001).[9] He subsequently continued to work in films in the late 1990s, portraying a blind musician inRajiv Menon'sMinsara Kanavu (1997), a political leader inMani Ratnam'sIruvar (1997) and as the father of a pair of separated twins inS. Shankar'sJeans (1998).
In Malayalam cinema, he is noted for his roles alongsideMohanlal in films likeMukham (1990),Butterflies (1993) andOlympian Anthony Adam (1999). Some of the films that he has acted in Telugu includeChanti (1992),Bhageeratha (2005),Athadu (2005),Pokiri (2006),Golimaar (2010),Shakthi (2011),Dookudu (2011),Businessman (2012) and among others.
Besides South Indian language films, he has acted in Hindi language films likeChachi 420 (1997),Phir Milenge (2004),Nishabd (2007),Rowdy Rathore (2012),Saala Khadoos (2016) andSerious Men (2020) among others.[10]
He played Bijjaladeva, a pivotal role in the filmsBaahubali: The Beginning (2015) andBaahubali 2: The Conclusion (2017).[11][12]
He was seen as the mysterious antagonist inPonniyin Selvan: I (2022) andPonniyin Selvan: II (2023). He plays a two-faced character in the Hindi web seriesThe Jengaburu Curse (2023).[13]
Nassar is married to psychologist and producer turned politician Kameela and they have three sons. The eldest, Abdul Asan Faizal, was initially reported to be making his acting debut in a film to be produced byT. Siva, but eventually did not do so.[14] In 2014, he was involved in a serious road accident but recovered after being critically injured.[15] Their second son,Luthfudeen, made his acting debut inA. L. Vijay'sSaivam (2014) portraying the grandson of the character played by Nassar.[16] Their third son Abi Hassan is also an actor and featured in Nassar'sSun Sun Thatha (2012)[17] as well asRajesh Selva's 2019 action thrillerKadaram Kondan.[18]
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