My remarks not intended at Tamil Nadu government: Kamal Haasan

CHENNAI: With his reported criticism of Tamil Nadu government's flood relief activities drawing a strong retort by ruling AIADMK, actor Kamal Haasan today clarified that his remarks were not intended at government, insisting that he had remained apolitical for long.

What was widely touted in the regional media as an "exclusive interview" to a north Indian media house was only a "tentative translation" of a letter written by him to a journalist friend upcountry, Haasan said in a statement here.

"My letter carried only my concern over the disaster and the sufferings of the people and there was neither any mention about the Tamil Nadu government nor had I asked how my tax money was being spent," he said.

The actor maintained that if he had any such doubts, he would not have paid his taxes promptly all these years, while adding that he was mindful of his duties at all points of time.

Under severe attack from the state government over his reported comments that the "system has collapsed" in the rain-ravaged Tamil Nadu, especially Chennai where he lives, Haasan said he was in constant touch with his welfare movement, asking them to do their bit for people in this hour.

He said although he believed that interacting with his volunteers and directing them on flood-relief was more important at this point, especially with him having little access to newspapers and other forms of media, it however turned out to be a "mistake".

That mistake has adopted a gigantic proportion now, he said using the 'Vishwaroopam' (one of his films) analogy.