Kamal Haasan shares 4-minute video backing PM Modi's energy-saving appeal
Actor-politician Kamal Haasan backed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to save energy amid rising global tensions. He shared a four-minute video online to emphasise that the impact of the conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran would be felt in India.
Actor-politician Kamal Haasan has backed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to save energy by sharing a four-minute video online. He said national responsibility must rise above party politics as global tensions push up oil prices and disrupt sea trade routes.
In a video posted on Friday, the actor and Rajya Sabha MP said the impact of the conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran would be felt in Indian homes, farms, industries and transport.
Haasan said this was a moment for restraint and shared responsibility. He also said leaders must share the burden, adding that every unit of energy saved today would strengthen India tomorrow and every drop of oil saved would protect the poorest Indian from inflation.
Kamal Haasan's call for restraint
In the video, Haasan said he was speaking as an Indian who was deeply concerned by the impact of the Iran war. "Oil prices are rising, sea trade routes are blocked, the energy that powers our kitchen and homes, fertilises and nourishes our fields and crops, fuel that drives our industries and vehicles, all have gotten more expensive," he highlighted.
Pointing out the wider international response, he said more than 60 countries had already brought in energy-saving rules. Referring to Singapore, he said, "We recently heard Singapore’s Prime Minister asking his people to prepare for tough times ahead." He added that India, being a much larger country, must respond with seriousness.
He said moments like these demanded that national responsibility rise above party politics.
Recalling former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's words, he said governments may come and go, but the nation remains. He then referred to sacrifices made by Indians in the 1960s. During the 1962 war with China, he said, families donated gold from their homes to support soldiers at the border. In 1965, when India faced a shortage of foodgrains, Lal Bahadur Shastri had asked citizens to skip one meal a week.
He said, "Today, India does not need such a sacrifice. Surely, we must do this for our country when our parents did much more."
The actor concluded the video by saying, "Remember, every unit of energy saved today strengthens India tomorrow. And every drop of oil saved protects the poorest Indian from inflation. Geopolitics will affect the pedestrians on the street as much as the high-flying rich. But if we face this crisis together, India will and can emerge stronger. Jai Hind."
His earlier message
Haasan's remarks come days after he urged the film industry to cut avoidable costs. In an open letter, he pointed to inflated entourage culture, unnecessary foreign travel, production delays and poor planning as reasons for rising expenses. He also said any financial correction should not come at the expense of workers on set.
That message was followed by his own travel choice. As shooting resumed for the sequel to Kalki 2898 AD, Haasan flew economy class instead of taking a chartered flight. The film's producers, Vyjayanthi Movies, shared a photograph from the flight and said the gesture came at a time when the industry was facing financial pressure.
Upcoming work projects
Work on the Kalki 2898 AD sequel is now underway. Apart from that film, Haasan is set to collaborate with Rajinikanth on a project directed by Nelson Dilipkumar. He is also backing multiple projects as a producer, including films featuring Sivakarthikeyan.
Actor-politician Kamal Haasan has backed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to save energy by sharing a four-minute video online. He said national responsibility must rise above party politics as global tensions push up oil prices and disrupt sea trade routes.
In a video posted on Friday, the actor and Rajya Sabha MP said the impact of the conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran would be felt in Indian homes, farms, industries and transport.
Haasan said this was a moment for restraint and shared responsibility. He also said leaders must share the burden, adding that every unit of energy saved today would strengthen India tomorrow and every drop of oil saved would protect the poorest Indian from inflation.
Kamal Haasan's call for restraint
In the video, Haasan said he was speaking as an Indian who was deeply concerned by the impact of the Iran war. "Oil prices are rising, sea trade routes are blocked, the energy that powers our kitchen and homes, fertilises and nourishes our fields and crops, fuel that drives our industries and vehicles, all have gotten more expensive," he highlighted.
Pointing out the wider international response, he said more than 60 countries had already brought in energy-saving rules. Referring to Singapore, he said, "We recently heard Singapore’s Prime Minister asking his people to prepare for tough times ahead." He added that India, being a much larger country, must respond with seriousness.
He said moments like these demanded that national responsibility rise above party politics.
Recalling former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's words, he said governments may come and go, but the nation remains. He then referred to sacrifices made by Indians in the 1960s. During the 1962 war with China, he said, families donated gold from their homes to support soldiers at the border. In 1965, when India faced a shortage of foodgrains, Lal Bahadur Shastri had asked citizens to skip one meal a week.
He said, "Today, India does not need such a sacrifice. Surely, we must do this for our country when our parents did much more."
The actor concluded the video by saying, "Remember, every unit of energy saved today strengthens India tomorrow. And every drop of oil saved protects the poorest Indian from inflation. Geopolitics will affect the pedestrians on the street as much as the high-flying rich. But if we face this crisis together, India will and can emerge stronger. Jai Hind."
His earlier message
Haasan's remarks come days after he urged the film industry to cut avoidable costs. In an open letter, he pointed to inflated entourage culture, unnecessary foreign travel, production delays and poor planning as reasons for rising expenses. He also said any financial correction should not come at the expense of workers on set.
That message was followed by his own travel choice. As shooting resumed for the sequel to Kalki 2898 AD, Haasan flew economy class instead of taking a chartered flight. The film's producers, Vyjayanthi Movies, shared a photograph from the flight and said the gesture came at a time when the industry was facing financial pressure.
Upcoming work projects
Work on the Kalki 2898 AD sequel is now underway. Apart from that film, Haasan is set to collaborate with Rajinikanth on a project directed by Nelson Dilipkumar. He is also backing multiple projects as a producer, including films featuring Sivakarthikeyan.
