In a remarkable fusion of global cinema and cutting-edge technology, veteran Indian actor Kamal Haasan recently lauded AI coding platform Replit for its transformative role in education, calling its contribution “fantastic” during a FICCI event. The praise not only turned heads in tech circles but also struck a deeply personal chord with Replit CEO Amjad Masad, who grew up watching Indian films in Jordan. X post
What is Replit?
Replit is an innovative online platform headquartered in San Francisco that empowers users to code, test, and execute programs directly from their browser—without the need for any setup. Designed with accessibility in mind, Replit aims to make software development easier and more inclusive, helping learners and developers from all backgrounds start coding with minimal barriers.
With the introduction of AI-powered tools, Replit has become especially popular among students and educators for streamlining the coding learning process.
Who is Amjad Masad?
Amjad Masad, the CEO and co-founder of Replit, was born in Jordan and is a proud advocate of global tech inclusivity. Before starting Replit, he worked with Facebook and Codecademy. His journey from watching Bollywood films in Jordan to leading a globally recognized tech platform reflects the deep cultural connections shared across continents. Bollywood, especially icons like Kamal Haasan, is widely admired in the Middle East, including Jordan—where Indian cinema has long had a passionate following.
Amjad Masad, the CEO and co-founder of Replit, was born in Jordan and is a proud advocate of global tech inclusivity. Before starting Replit, he worked with Facebook and Codecademy. His journey from watching Bollywood films in Jordan to leading a globally recognized tech platform reflects the deep cultural connections shared across continents. Bollywood, especially icons like Kamal Haasan, is widely admired in the Middle East, including Jordan—where Indian cinema has long had a passionate following.
Who is Kamal Haasan?
A legendary figure in Indian cinema, Kamal Haasan is known for his groundbreaking roles in Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi films. With a career spanning over six decades, he’s also a producer, screenwriter, politician, and now—an active learner in the world of artificial intelligence. Haasan recently enrolled in a 90-day AI course at a prestigious U.S. institute to explore how cutting-edge technologies can be incorporated into filmmaking.
The Praise and Its Impact
During the FICCI Frames 2024 event, Haasan highlighted Replit’s revolutionary role in coding education. He noted that some American schools had even banned the platform—a move driven by concerns that students were outperforming expectations thanks to Replit’s advanced AI tools. This underscores how impactful the technology has become, reshaping traditional approaches to learning programming.
Reacting to the praise, Masad took to X (formerly Twitter) and wrote, “I’m so honored. I grew up in Jordan watching Indian movies. Kamal Haasan is a legend!” His heartfelt message highlights not only his appreciation but also the cultural loop that brought him admiration from a cinematic icon he grew up watching.
Haasan’s interest in AI isn’t just for show. Despite a packed shooting schedule for upcoming films like Thug Life and Kalki 2898 AD, he plans to attend 45 days of the AI program in the U.S. The convergence of cinema and technology, as seen in this interaction between Haasan and Replit, demonstrates how today’s creators are increasingly embracing tech to tell better stories and build smarter tools.