Direction to acting - Akshara Haasan charts new path

Actor Kamal Haasan and Sarika's younger daughter Akshara Haasan, who has studied music and filmmaking, is now bitten by the acting bug. But both her parents feel Akshara is more cut out for being behind the camera.

Since their elder daughter Shruti is already an actress, Akshara's filmmaking potential would have nicely rounded off the family's creative ambit. But that has not happened.

"Kamalji and Sarikaji thought Akshara was more interested in direction. Sarika put her on to her friend Rahul Dholakia with whom she has worked in 'Parzania' and 'Society'. Akshara assisted Rahul Dholakia and the whole family thought she was heading towards a career in filmmaking," said a family friend of Kamal Haasan's family.

It was director R. Balakrishnan, popularly called R. Balki, who spotted the actor in Akshara.

"He offered her a role in his new film and Akshara took the plunge," the source added.

In the new film, Akshara is paired with Dhanush, a friend of Akshara's sister Shruti and also the son-in-law of Kamal Haasan's arch-rival Rajinikanth.

While Dhanush and Akshara will star opposite one another, the film also has megastar Amitabh Bachchan. The project is likely to take off next month.

Akshara's father Kamal had said of her a while ago: "She has assisted Mr. Rahul Dholakia. I think she is more keen on filmmaking than acting. Every time Akshara stands behind the camera and says, 'This is where I want to be', I am reminded of myself.

"I started behind the camera and gradually moved to the front. Maybe she too will do so. But not right now."