Two legends of Tamil cinema, director Mani Ratnam and actor-director Kamal Haasan, have worked together only once: in the 1987 crime drama 'Nayakan'. After 38 years, they have teamed up for the action film 'Thug Life'. The film is releasing on June 5. Mani and Kamal are known across the country for bringing intellectual thinking and international-level artistry to so-called commercial films. Those who do not watch Tamil films but do watch Bollywood must have seen their Hindi work, like Kamal's 'Chachi 420' or Mani's 'Dil Se..'.

So just as Tamil audiences are eagerly waiting for 'Thug Life', Bollywood audiences are also waiting for the film. But did you know that even though Kamal and Mani haven't worked with each other for almost four decades, their relationship isn't just about cinema? They are actually relatives too.

Kamal, Suhasini, Mani Ratnam's relationship

Kamal's niece Suhasini is Mani's wife. Suhasini was once a Tamil film actress. She has also acted in Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada films. She won the National Film Award for Best Actress in 1986 for her work in Girish Kasaravalli's 'Tabarana Kathe' (1987). A year later, Mani-Kamal's 'Nayakan' was released. Mani and Suhasini got married the following year.

This actress told a very funny story about her uncle Kamal in a 2018 episode of Zee Tamil's show 'Weekend with Stars'. The thing is, Suhasini didn't want to let her college friends know that she was Kamal's niece. Kamal was very popular among Tamil audiences throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Kamal had a special place in the hearts of female fans. In this situation, if Suhasini's college friends had known that Kamal's niece was studying with them, it would have been a disaster.

Kamal Haasan wearing underwear to Ladies College?

Meanwhile, Kamal shows up at Suhasini's college one day without pants! Don't believe it? Read Suhasini's statement...

On the show 'Weekend with Stars', Suhasini said, 'Kamal used to drop me off at college sometimes. I don't know if you remember, at that time there was a special outfit for learning karate. This time Kamal used to practice karate at home wearing only underwear. He had bought a new car and told me that he would drop me off at college in that. I would fold my hands and tell Kamal, please come in pants! Or at least come in shorts! Kamal would say, don't worry, I won't get out of the car. I'm a big star, it would be difficult for anyone to see me outside the ladies' college.'

But eventually all the girls in the college saw Kamal in her underwear. Because Kamal had to get out of the car to open the car door for Suhasini. Remembering Suhasini's words, she said, 'Wow! The entire Queen Mary's College is looking at Kamal Haasan's legs! Come on! How ashamed I would have been! But Kamal was such a funny guy!'