M. Nassar is a polyglot Indian film actor, director, producer, dubbing artist and playback singer who mainly works in the South Indian film industry. He is the incumbent leader of the Nadigar Sangam. Nassar made his acting debut in the K. Balachander movie Kalyana Agathigal in 1985, portraying a secondary supporting role, before moving on to play villainous roles. With the breakthrough role through his performance in Nayakan, he became one of the most important actors in Indian cinema. He subsequently became a regular in Mani Ratnam and Kamal Haasan ventures. He is mostly seen in supporting or villainous roles. He speaks fluent Hindi, Tamil, Urdu, English, Arabic, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam.
Nassar made his acting debut in K. Balachander's Kalyana Agathigal portraying a secondary supporting role, before moving on to play villainous roles in S. P. Muthuraman's Velaikaran and Vanna Kanavugal. He played the protagonist in Yuhi Sethu's Kavithai Paada Neramillai, though his breakthrough role came through his performance as a police officer in Mani Ratnam's Nayakan. He subsequently became a regular in Mani Ratnam and Kamal Haasan's ventures, appearing in pivotal character roles in Roja, Thevar Magan, Bombay, Kuruthipunal and Iruvar. Nassar made his directorial debut with Avatharam, a film based on the backdrop of a folk art troupe. Starring Revathi as his co-star, Nassar stated that the idea had come to him as a result of his childhood memories of watching theru koothu being performed on the streets alongside his father. The film won critical acclaim, but failed to become a commercially successful venture. Soon afterwards, he made Devathai, stating he remembered a story he had first heard as a child, which became the "creative seed for this film" about reincarnation. He stated that his immediate busy schedule had subsequently cost him a role in Aamir Khan's Lagaan. He subsequently continued to work in films in the late 1990s, portraying a blind musician in Rajiv Menon's Minsara Kanavu, a political leader in Mani Ratnam's Iruvar and as the father of a pair of separated twins in S. Shankar's Jeans. Some of the films that he has acted in Telugu include Chanti, Bhageeratha, Athadu, Pokiri, Golimaar, Shakthi, Dookudu and among others. Besides South India language films, he has acted in some Hindi language films like Chachi 420, Phir Milenge, Nishabd, Saala Khadoos and among others. He played a pivotal role in the films ' and '. In the Baahubali franchise, Nassar played Bijjaladeva.
Personal life
Nassar is married to Producer turned Politician, Kameela and they have three sons. The eldest, Abdul Asan Faizal was initially reported to be making his acting debut in a film to be produced by T. Siva, but eventually did not do so. In 2014, he was involved in a serious road accident but recovered after being critically injured. Their second son, Luthfudeen, made his acting debut in A. L. Vijay's Saivam portraying the grandson of the character played by Nassar. Their third son Abi Hassan is also an actor and featured in Nassar's Sun Sun Thatha.
