A painful education for Kamal

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal"><script language="javascript" src="Config?Configid=43376741"></script></div> <div align="left" style="position:relative; left: -2"><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" align="left" border="1" width="77.7%"> <colgroup> <col width="100.0%" /> </colgroup> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100.0%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="" valign:="" top="" background-color:="" f3f3f3=""> <div class="Normal"><a href="javascript:popUp(&quot1;photopop?msid=231624&type=0&quot1;)"> <img border="0" align="left" src="/cms.dll/thumb?height=210&width=210&photoID=231624" hspace="12"" /></a></div> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100.0%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="" valign:="" top="" background-color:="" f3f3f3=""> <div class="Normal"><span style="" font-size:="">Click to enlarge picture</span></div> </td> </tr> </table></div> <div class="Normal">Tinsel town is abuzz with the news.Sarika, who has separated from husband Kamal Hassan, along with their two daughters, is back in front of the camera. <br /><br />For starters she has done a song-and-dance sequence for producer Kalaipulli S Thanu, who had produced Kamal Hassan''s <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Allabandhan</span> (<span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Abhay</span> in Hindi) last year, and has been signed up by producer Bobby Bedi for <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">American Daylights</span> and Deepak Shivdasani for his movie <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Julie</span>.<br /><br />Sarika''s move seems to have surprised the film industry, which believes that her decision is dictated by the need to support her daughters and herself financially. <br /><br />At the same time, industry insiders reveal that, while Kamal Hassan has reportedly offered to provide her Rs 80,000 per month, Sarika has apparently refused, wanting a consolidated amount from him.<br /><br />According to Kamal Hassan, "I have heard that she has done a song in a film. I wish Sarikaji had decided to come back to films while she was still with me. I would have provided her with a role more worthy of her." <br /><br />Does he approve of her returning to films? "I am neither in a position to approve or disapprove, I am soon to be her ex-husband. Legal preparations are being made for the formal separation." <br /><br />While Sarika has acted in more than 30 films, including hits such as Subhash Ghai''s <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Vidhaata</span>, she gave up acting, when she married Kamal Hassan while at the peak of her career in the late 1980s.<br /><br />Kamal Hassan claims that his main concern now is the couple''s children. "My main concern is the kids. They should be given a proper upbringing," he says, "I am willing to support the three women in my life in every way possible, provided they want me to. My fear is for the children''s education."<br /><br />Apparently, Kamal Hassan''s visiting rights to meet his daughters have been curtailed by forces outside court. Does this hurt him? "Yes, but this is a very personal hurt. I do try to visit them but I am invariably told they are busy with exams or some other pressing activity. I was upset initially but have adjusted to the new condition. Hopefully, the kids will grow up to understand the situation better than they do right now."<br /><br />And would he want a film career for his daughters? "After they receive formal education —- they shouldn''t make the mistake of being uneducated like both their parents. Probably, Sarikaji had no choice in the matter. In my case, I was offered the best of opportunities to be educated but I turned my back on them. I am trying to make amends by educating myself constantly." </div> </div>