Happy birthday Kamal Haasan: Check out 12 rare photos of the Ulaganayagan

The versatile actor has acted in over 200 films in several languages including Malayalam, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada and Bengali. From playing a dwarf to playing a 67-year-old veteran freedom fighter, he has done over 100 different roles so far. He has also won numerous awards, including four national awards for the same. (Photo | Express Photo Service)

Actor Kamal Hassan with his makeup man during the shooting of the film 'Indian' which was written and directed by Shankar. 'Indian 2,' a sequel to the 1996 classic, is slated to hit screens soon. (Photo | Express Photo Service)

In 1978, at the age of 24, Kamal married Vani Ganapathy, a classical dancer. Ten years later, the couple parted. (Photo | Express Photo Service)

Actor Kamal Hassan during a star cricket match. (Photo | Express Photo Service)

Actor Kamal Hassan with his wife Sarika and his children. The duo were in a live-in relationship initially and later got married in 1988. (Photo | Express Photo Service)

Then Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa presenting an award to actor Kamal Haasan. (Photo | Express Photo Service)

The veteran actor displaying pirated CDs of his film 'Hey Ram.' The movie, released in 2000, was written, directed, and produced by Kamal Haasan. The fictional political thriller bagged three National Film Awards. (Photo | Express Photo Service)

Kamal Haasan was not only an actor but a well-versed dancer, film director, screenwriter, producer, playback singer, lyricist, and politician. On February 21, 2018, he formally launched his political party, 'Makkal Needhi Maiam'. (Photo | Express Photo Service)

Kamal Hassan with actors during the funeral of the legendary actor Sivaji Ganesan. (Photo | Express Photo Service)

Then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M Karunanidhi and Kamal Hasan on the release of his film 'Hey Ram'. (Photo | Express Photo Service)