They might not have worked on a film together, but the bonding shared by veteran filmmaker Mahendran, who passed away earlier today, and actor-politician Kamal Haasan is the stuff of legend. Considered by many to be a modern-day classic, Mahendran's debut directorial, Mullum Malarum, starring Rajinikanth, Sarath Babu, Fatafat Jayalakshmi, and Shoba, came to fruition due to Kamal Haasan's help. 

Veteran filmmaker has taken to multiple stages to talk about his bonding with Kamal Haasan. Talking to the media, outside the residence of the late filmmaker, he said that Mahendran was one of those talents that always left him astounded. "Mahendran is from a village near mine, and this helped us bond even more. I was initially supposed to be part of Mullum Malarum. It was me who orchestrated the combination of Rajinikanth, Mahendran, and Balu Mahendran, and wished them well in their first project together," says the Makkal Needhi Maiam president, who added that he was almost working like a production manager in that film.

Sharing his "deepest condolences" to Mahendran's family, Kamal Haasan credited the Uthiri Pookal filmmaker for inspiring a lot of youngsters to venture into cinema.