--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People keep saying Balachander discovered…" description: "\"People keep saying Balachander discovered me. I differ. He invented me. When a stalwart like him suggests that I act in films, who am I to refuse?\" — K..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/706/kamal-haasan-12600_bollywood_people-keep-saying-balachander-discovere_671144.jpg" --- # People keep saying Balachander discovered me. I differ. He… ![“People keep saying Balachander discovered me. I differ. He invented me. When a stalwart like him suggests that I act in films, who am I to refuse?” quote by Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/706/kamal-haasan-12600_bollywood_people-keep-saying-balachander-discovere_671144.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/706/kamal-haasan-12600_bollywood_people-keep-saying-balachander-discovere_671144.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/706/kamal-haasan-12600_bollywood_people-keep-saying-balachander-discovere_671144.jpg) > “People keep saying Balachander discovered me. I differ. He invented me. When a stalwart like him suggests that I act in films, who am I to refuse?” [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He credits a mentor for shaping his career rather than discovering him, emphasizing agency and respect for guidance. **In simple terms:** Mentor shaped, not discovered. Key Takeaway Acknowledge mentors, stay humble. Themes career humility mentorship Mood reflective grateful Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - acting career - film industry decisions - public interviews Key Concepts self-actualization agency Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance respect for mentors with personal agency? - What does humility mean in success? A Different Perspective Mentors can influence but not dictate choices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Balachander Discovered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/balachander-discovered-5327376/) [Bollywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bollywood/) [Differ Invented](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differ-invented-5327378/) [He](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/he/) [Invented](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invented/) [Invented Stalwart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invented-stalwart-5327377/) [Keep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keep/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Saying Balachander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saying-balachander-5327375/) [Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who/) [Who am i](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who-am-i/) ## Related quotes > [For the most part, if somebody approaches me and says, 'I'd like to interview you,' who am I to say no, when I spend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/for-the-most-part-if-somebody-approaches-me-and-says-i-d-like-to/) [Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/) > [“In life we do not attract what we want, we attract who we are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moffat-machingura/in-life-we-do-not-attract-what-we-want-we-attract-who-we-are/) [Moffat Machingura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moffat-machingura/) > [Who am I just to give up on track? This is something I've dreamed about since I was 9 years old, being an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquise-goodwin/who-am-i-just-to-give-up-on-track-this-is-something-i-ve-dreamed/) [Marquise Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquise-goodwin/) > [We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/we-ask-ourselves-who-am-i-to-be-brilliant-gorgeous-talented-fabulous/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [“I surrendered myself to the cages of others' expectations, cultural mandates and institutional allegiances. Until I buried who I was in order to become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glennon-doyle/i-surrendered-myself-to-the-cages-of-others-expectations-cultural/) [Glennon Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glennon-doyle/) > [I think, no matter who you are, at some point in your life you've probably said, 'OK, well, who am I, and where do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teyonah-parris/i-think-no-matter-who-you-are-at-some-point-in-your-life-you-ve/) [Teyonah Parris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teyonah-parris/) > [There are times when I get a role that someone else didn't. And there are instances when someone came from nowhere and is new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dino-morea/there-are-times-when-i-get-a-role-that-someone-else-didn-t-and-there/) [Dino Morea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dino-morea/) > [If someone comes up to me and asks for an autograph or picture, who am I to say no?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-riddle/if-someone-comes-up-to-me-and-asks-for-an-autograph-or-picture-who-am/) [Matt Riddle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-riddle/) > [Who am I to say CM Punk is a joke?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-cerrone/who-am-i-to-say-cm-punk-is-a-joke/) [Donald Cerrone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-cerrone/) > [“In life if you have not done enough to create yourself, you will never be able to find yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/in-life-if-you-have-not-done-enough-to-create-yourself-you-will-never/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [There are so many things to think about when you make an album. Like, who am I trying to impress? Am I going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-goulding/there-are-so-many-things-to-think-about-when-you-make-an-album-like/) [Ellie Goulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-goulding/) > [The advantage of age is that you swap youth for wisdom. You're so full of insecurities when you're young. 'Who am I? What do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cherie-lunghi/the-advantage-of-age-is-that-you-swap-youth-for-wisdom-you-re-so-full/) [Cherie Lunghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cherie-lunghi/) > [There's something safe about playing a character, but then it's like, 'Who am I underneath it all?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmy-rossum/there-s-something-safe-about-playing-a-character-but-then-it-s-like/) [Emmy Rossum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmy-rossum/) > [I'm someone's mom, but if I took the mom away, if I took Top Model away, like, who is Eva? Who am I? And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-marcille/i-m-someone-s-mom-but-if-i-took-the-mom-away-if-i-took-top-model-away/) [Eva Marcille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-marcille/) > [Who am I, really? I prefer to leave that up to the observer, because I will never finish answering that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-newmar/who-am-i-really-i-prefer-to-leave-that-up-to-the-observer-because-i/) [Julie Newmar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-newmar/) ## More by Kamal Haasan > [Acceptance is the only thing you should teach. Be it Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Dalit, you must inculcate acceptance, not tolerance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/acceptance-is-the-only-thing-you-should-teach-be-it-christian-muslim/) [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) > [The disgraces I suffer should be attributed to me, but the praises that I get go to my family and teachers. It is they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/the-disgraces-i-suffer-should-be-attributed-to-me-but-the-praises/) [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) > [If reality TV is bad, so is Colosseum, so are the gladiators, so are sports. I think cricket is bad. But that's a point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/if-reality-tv-is-bad-so-is-colosseum-so-are-the-gladiators-so-are/) [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) > [We are not exercising our democratic rights properly. We need to stop looking for solutions in others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/we-are-not-exercising-our-democratic-rights-properly-we-need-to-stop/) [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) > [I am very angry, and you don't need angry politicians. You need politicians with great balance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/i-am-very-angry-and-you-don-t-need-angry-politicians-you-need/) [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) > [Happiness is perhaps painlessness, a state one rarely appreciates. Happiness, then, is very much like a great talent. It rarely gets appreciated and is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/happiness-is-perhaps-painlessness-a-state-one-rarely-appreciates/) [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) > [If it doesn't reach the last poor man, your constitution is wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/if-it-doesn-t-reach-the-last-poor-man-your-constitution-is-wrong/) [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) > [I am a 21st century man. I don’t believe in magic. I believe in sweat, tears, life and death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/i-am-a-21st-century-man-i-don-t-believe-in-magic-i-believe-in-sweat/) [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) > [I don't have tiffs with people. I only mind my business, but whatever interferes my freedom of expression, I have always voiced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/i-don-t-have-tiffs-with-people-i-only-mind-my-business-but-whatever/) [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) > [The creation of God itself, I deduced, came from our primal fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/the-creation-of-god-itself-i-deduced-came-from-our-primal-fear/) [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) > [You have to appreciate the finer points of your work; criticise, too, if needed. I am also my own worst and most honest critic.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/you-have-to-appreciate-the-finer-points-of-your-work-criticise-too-if/) [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) > [There is a lot to be learnt, and I am always dissatisfied. I am happy but not content.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/there-is-a-lot-to-be-learnt-and-i-am-always-dissatisfied-i-am-happy/) [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) > [Even if the country is run by a Mussolini, free speech will find its way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/even-if-the-country-is-run-by-a-mussolini-free-speech-will-find-its/) [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) > [The box office is a black money laundry shop. No business is straight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/the-box-office-is-a-black-money-laundry-shop-no-business-is-straight/) [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) > [I write the occasional poem. I think my dabbling in poetry makes me better at screenplays. Poetry teaches the value of condensing, the importance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/i-write-the-occasional-poem-i-think-my-dabbling-in-poetry-makes-me/) [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) [Explore all 54 Kamal Haasan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) ## More Bollywood quotes > [I met Rajini sir after 'Jigarthanda,' and he said he liked my film. He told me I could approach him whenever I had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karthik-subbaraj/i-met-rajini-sir-after-jigarthanda-and-he-said-he-liked-my-film-he/) [Karthik Subbaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karthik-subbaraj/) > [Bollywood is a cancer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-banerjee/bollywood-is-a-cancer/) [Victor Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-banerjee/) > [Innumerable lovers of Hindi cinema have lit up the big screen. But on screen, they are just two beautiful bodies. They have no caste…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravish-kumar/innumerable-lovers-of-hindi-cinema-have-lit-up-the-big-screen-but-on/) [Ravish Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravish-kumar/) > [Hindi film music has always been completely driven by the plot. We singers never had any say in compositions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asha-bhosle/hindi-film-music-has-always-been-completely-driven-by-the-plot-we/) [Asha Bhosle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asha-bhosle/) > [I would love 'Aankhen 2' to happen. I would have Govinda and I play these two brothers and having kids who can take it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chunky-pandey/i-would-love-aankhen-2-to-happen-i-would-have-govinda-and-i-play/) [Chunky Pandey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chunky-pandey/) > [I have to mention that Taapsee and Ayushmann are my favorite actors - or stars, whatever you call them. I love them. Our thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anubhav-sinha/i-have-to-mention-that-taapsee-and-ayushmann-are-my-favorite-actors/) [Anubhav Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anubhav-sinha/) > [My characters in both 'Pyaar Ka Punchnama' films were so relatable that every other guy connects with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kartik-aaryan/my-characters-in-both-pyaar-ka-punchnama-films-were-so-relatable-that/) [Kartik Aaryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kartik-aaryan/) > [I learnt a lot from the directors with whom I have worked like Sudhir Mishra in 'Daas Dev,' Prawaal Raman in 'Main Aur Charles.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richa-chadha/i-learnt-a-lot-from-the-directors-with-whom-i-have-worked-like-sudhir/) [Richa Chadha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richa-chadha/) > [It was my dream to work with Badshah and Diljit from the Punjabi industry. I had asked for these two wishes from God and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shehnaaz-gill/it-was-my-dream-to-work-with-badshah-and-diljit-from-the-punjabi/) [Shehnaaz Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shehnaaz-gill/) > [With 'Aurangzeb,' I just knew that the film wasn't going to work, though I think it was one of my most underrated performances. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjun-kapoor/with-aurangzeb-i-just-knew-that-the-film-wasn-t-going-to-work-though/) [Arjun Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjun-kapoor/) > [I wish to contribute more to south Indian music, especially Tamil music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yo-yo-honey-singh/i-wish-to-contribute-more-to-south-indian-music-especially-tamil-music/) [Yo Yo Honey Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yo-yo-honey-singh/) > [Many of the heroines from outside Karnataka have worked in my films, but the attitude and adjusting nature of top South Indian actress Nayantara…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rockline-venkatesh/many-of-the-heroines-from-outside-karnataka-have-worked-in-my-films/) [Rockline Venkatesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rockline-venkatesh/) > [It is great to see Bollywood celebrities contributing to so many different trends in so many different ways. I think this is one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lara-dutta/it-is-great-to-see-bollywood-celebrities-contributing-to-so-many/) [Lara Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lara-dutta/) > [Bollywood is just amazing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-sean/bollywood-is-just-amazing/) [Jay Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-sean/) > [Learnt a lot like timing, voice modulation from Mohanlal sir. He is perfect in everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nayantara/learnt-a-lot-like-timing-voice-modulation-from-mohanlal-sir-he-is/) [Nayantara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nayantara/) [Browse all 4,174 Bollywood quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bollywood/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People keep saying Balachander discovered me. I differ. He invented me. When a stalwart like him suggests that I act in films, who am I to refuse?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kamal Haasan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/people-keep-saying-balachander-discovered-me-i-differ-he-invented-me/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bollywood" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/people-keep-saying-balachander-discovered-me-i-differ-he-invented-me/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/706/kamal-haasan-12600_bollywood_people-keep-saying-balachander-discovere_671144.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/706/kamal-haasan-12600_bollywood_people-keep-saying-balachander-discovere_671144.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/706/kamal-haasan-12600_bollywood_people-keep-saying-balachander-discovere_671144.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“People keep saying Balachander discovered me. I differ. He invented me. When a stalwart like him suggests…” — Kamal Haasan", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Kamal Haasan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "People keep saying Balachander discovered me....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/people-keep-saying-balachander-discovered-me-i-differ-he-invented-me/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/people-keep-saying-balachander-discovered-me-i-differ-he-invented-me/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```