During the media interaction, Haasan addressed several topics — from the film’s release strategy to his creative collaboration with Ratnam, and his ever-evolving approach to performance.

Haasan was asked which of his many iconic characters has stayed with him the longest. His response was sharp and revealing. “If a character stays with me, I need a psychiatrist,” he said. “They don’t stay with me. A lot of who I am is already in every character I play. That’s why I keep changing my face — I get bored of it. I change my face, my persona… I’m still experimenting with Kamal Haasan.”

When asked about his return to an intense action role, Haasan credited his director as the inspiration. “Mani Ratnam is the reason I’m back doing high-octane action,” he said.

Haasan revealed that the team has opted for an eight-week gap between the theatrical release and the streaming debut of Thug Life — a rare move in today’s cinema landscape. “It wasn’t a negotiation or a deal-breaker,” he clarified. “We simply requested the platform to do this for us. Hopefully, we’re experimenting with this model together — both the streaming platform and the production company. If it works, it might open up opportunities for others to successfully do both business models.

Haasan also offered insight into the unique working relationship he shares with Ratnam, with whom he co-wrote the script of Thug Life. “We don’t bounce ideas — we throw them at each other,” he said with a laugh. “There are no arguments. It’s not about ego; it’s about whether something works for the film or not.”

Thug Life is an upcoming Indian Tamil-language gangster action drama directed by Mani Ratnam, co-written by Ratnam and Haasan. The film also stars Silambarasan, Trisha Krishnan, Abhirami, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Ashok Selvan, Joju George, Nassar, Ali Fazal, Pankaj Tripathi, Rohit Saraf, and Baburaj. Produced by Raaj Kamal Films International, Madras Talkies, and Red Giant Movies, the film is slated for a worldwide release on June 5, 2025.