Seventies

As an actor in adult roles, he received a lukewarm response for his initial few films like Avargal, Aval Oru Thodarkathai, Solla Thaan Ninaikkiren, Maanavan and Kumara Vijayam. His first highly popular movie was 16 Vayathinile with Sridevi. This established him as a popular teen idol at the age of 23. Kamal Haasan and Sri Devi were a popular acting pair and have acted together in 23 films. The year following his appearance in 16 Vayathinile, Kamal Haasan acted in director K. Balachander's Telugu hit Maro Charithra.In many of his late 1970's films, he was usually the hero with Rajinikanth as the villain.

During the 1970s, he has played a host of characters that include:
A ventriloquist in Avargal (He actually learnt ventriquilism for his role in the movie)
A village innocent in 16 Vayathinile
A disco jockey in Ilamai Oonjaladugiradhu
A psychopath serial killer of women in Sigappu Rojakkal
A buck-toothed villager in Kalyanaraman Aladdin in Alavudheenum Arpudha Vilakkum