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Nassar
Born	March 5, 1958 (1958-03-05) (age 51) Chingleput, Tamil Nadu, India

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Nassar (Tamil: நாசர்) (also spelled Nasser, Naasar or Nazar) is a Tamil actor, producer, writer, director, lyricist, and singer.

He has appeared in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Hindi and English films. He is often cited as part of India's specialist character actors, along with the likes of Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri and Nana Patekar.

[edit] Birth

Nassar was born on 5 March 1956 as Muhammad Hanif, in an interior village called Naththam, in Chengalpattu district, Tamilnadu. He studied in St. Joseph's Hr Sec School, Chengalpattu. He sprung from humble beginnings and was an indifferent student making him sexy bid goodbye to his P.U.C. studies, while he was half way through the course. The pull of fine art was something he could not resist. He escaped to Chennai, where he did his B.Sc in Botany at Madras Christian College.

In Christian College, he was the president of the Dramatic Society.

[edit] Early career

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Muhammad Hanif changed his name to Nasser after his idol- the Egyptian President Gamel Abdel Nasser. He became Muhammad Abdul Nasser and changed his name officially in 1976.

Despite rumours that Nasser has served in the Indian Air Force- Nasser did not qualify in the physical. Nasser then tried out for the post of a Sub Inspector- and was selected for the Interview, however he backed out to concentrate on his acting career.

[edit] Early Acting Career

Despite his experience in Acting in School where he was a popular actor in P.U.C, and his experience as President of the Dramatic Society in Christian College- he failed to get a proper acting role in any movie.

He worked during this time as a tailors apprentice, salesman and waiter to supplement his meagre income. He also acted in some dramas to earn a small and meagre living. During this time he visited every studio and every single director for a chance.

His first movie was Etho Oru Oorula where he played the role of the wicked cousin of the hero Chandrashekar. He began to slowly appear in a number of films mostly in negative roles- in the early and middle 80's. These included Rajnikanth remakes of Amitabh Bachchan Movies.

Though until the early 90's Nasser played only negative roles, he matured to supporting roles and comedy roles (villanous comedy) later and today is better known for his supporting roles.

[edit] Filmography

His villanious roles include those in films like - Apoorva Sagodharargal, Kuruthi Punal, Padayappa, Thennavan, Thevar Magan.

In addition to that- his most famous supporting roles have been in films like Dhill, Kadhalar Dhinam, Roja, Jeans etc.

His comedic roles include films like Avvai Shanmughi while his villanous comedic roles include films like Poi Solla Porom and Quick Gun Murugun (as Rice Plate Reddy).

[edit] Notable films

• Aegan (2008) Tamil
• Quick Gun Murugan ((Tamil/English)
• Onbadhu Roobai Nottu
• Firaaq (Hindi)
• Ek - The Power of One (Hindi)
• Guru Tamil dub for Mithun Chakraborty.
• Nayagan
• Devathai
• Velaikkaaran
• Unnai Solli Kutramillai
• Thevar Magan
• Gopura Vasalile
• Michael Madana Kamarajan
• Roja
• Varavu Ettana Selavu Pathana
• Magalir Mattum
• Avathaaram
• Kovil
• Thamizhan
• Pokkiri
• Padayappa
• Varnajaalam
• Bombay
• Kuruthipunal
• Avvai Shanmugi
• Iruvar
• Kadhalar Dhinam
• Jeans
• Puthiya Pathai
• Mugam
• Hey Ram
• Poovellaam Kettuppaar
• Dhill
• Virumbugiren
• Anbe Sivam
• Morning Raga (English)
• Jodi
• Chandramukhi
• Mumbai Express
• Udayon (Malayalam)... Unni Vaidyan
• Anniyan
• Dishyum
• Athadu (Telugu)
• Chanti (Telugu)
• Gowtham SSC (Telugu)
• Indralogathil Na. Azhagappan
• Poi Solla Porom 2008
• Irumbu Kottai Murattu Singam2009
• Singam 2009

[edit] As a director

• Popcorn (2003)
• Maayan (2001)
• Devathai (1997)
• Avathaaram (1995)

[edit] Awards

[edit] Tamilnadu Government Awards

• Best Actor award for his role in the film Aavaaram Poo
• Best Villain award for his role in the film Thamizh
• Best Supporting Actor award for his role in the film Em Magan

[edit] Andhra Pradesh Government - Nandi Awards

• Best Villain award for his role in the film Chanti

[edit] Titles

• The Tamilnadu Government has conferred on him the title Kalaimamani
• The South Indian Actors Association has conferred on him the title Kalaichelvan

[edit] Trivia

Lists of miscellaneous information should be avoided. Please relocate any relevant information into appropriate sections or articles. (August 2009)

• His father Mehaboob Pasha still continues his old profession of polishing age-old jewellery at a shop in Chengalpet bus terminus area.
• Nassar has one sister and three brothers.
• Nassar fell in love with Kameela, while he was in search of an acting chance. They are married and have three sons.
• His eldest son studied at Lim Kok Wing University at Cyberjaya,Malaysia and is doing a Diploma In Game Design.
• He is proficient in Urdu, English, Hindi, Arabic, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam.

[edit] External links

• Nassar at the Internet Movie Database