Beautiful and talented Actress Asin is taking voluntary retirement from South film industry and hopefully joins Bollywood full time, Likewise Sridevi in the mid 80’s who quit Tamil films at her peak and became a top actress in Bollywood.
As per media reports Asin has signed up a 1 year deal with a leading celebrity management company in mumbai for Rs. 8 Crore! Celebrity Management Company will manage her dates and negotiate with her producers. Asin’s featuring Hindi Ghajini with Aamir Khan will be over by February end and released soon.
It has been more than 20 years since a south Indian girl has made way into Bollywood. We wish Asin to fill the gap.
Better known as the Ghajini girl, Asin has arrived in Bollywood with big plans. And although she is working with Aamir for her debut Bollywood movie and Salman Khan for her second (not to mention the ad film she did with Saif and Zayed), she denies an obvious ‘Khan’ fascination. “Why just Khans? There are so many actors on my wish-list,” she says when asked about the next Khan she would want to work with.
Tamil cinema’s former diva and Bollywood’s new hottie Asin Thottumkal is not easy to hunt down for an interview. For she’s being called the next big thing in Bollywood now and is topping every scribe’s most wanted list.
Business dailies and magazines pip her as the most sought after brand endorser after Shah Rukh Khan. And yes, she’s also the girl who gets serenaded by Aamir Khan in her Bollywood debut —Ghajini! Having worked with the likes of Prabhu Deva and Kamal Haasan in Tamil films and now with Aamir Khan and Salman Khan in her next, (London Dreams) she’s rocking.
So, is this the right kind of debut for her? Asin confesses, “The film has the right ingredients required in a commercial film. Plus, working with Aamir and a filmmaker like A R Murugadoss was an added advantage. Seriously though, I have come without any baggage or preconceived notions about Bollywood.”
We quiz her about Mr Perfectionist, Aamir Khan. “I don’t understand why people call him that. I think Aamir is a very flexible and a simple actor. His perfectionism is made out to be a flaw when actually it is an asset. You need more actors like him in the industry. I learnt a lot from the way he patiently handled things.”
Talking of the spotlight, everyone knows how she shares a great working rapport with the two Khans (Aamir and Salman) in the industry (reportedly even Katrina is miffed with Asin’s proximity to Salman). To which she says, “I think I am blessed that I am working with Salman and Aamir. But I don’t make an extra effort to know my co-actors. I don’t party with my colleagues after work. Salman is a great guy who’s fun to be with. I don’t think there is anything beyond this. No one should feel insecure of my friendships.”
Long before winning awards in the south film industry, the Kochi beauty started endorsing a variety of products. “Yes, I have done some 50-60 ads. Money is not something that’s very important to me,” she adds. A graduate in English Literature, Asin doesn’t have a strategy in Bollywood. For her the “script matters more”. She’s also got an enviable figure. Has she been on one of those strict diets to get in such super shape? The svelte siren says otherwise, “Since Jiah and I didn’t have to look very glam in Ghajini, we were allowed to binge if someone followed a regulated diet, it was Aamir.”
The actor admits that she enjoys her private space reading books and drinking a hot cocoa. Right now, the 23 year-old have no plans of tying the nuptial knot either. “I have no set ideals for a partner or a husband. Things happen when they are meant to be.” You can sense the contentment in her voice when she says that.
She is evidently excited as she talks about the movie. “Aamir liked my performance in the Tamil version of the film and cast me in the Hindi remake,” she says. Though most veterans would find working with the perfectionist intimidating, she claims it was a cakewalk. “It was an absolute pleasure to work with him. Giving a ride to Aamir on my scooty while people on the street were running after us was a great experience,” she says, seemingly smitten by the actor.
The 23-year-old doesn’t see the 20-year age gap as a determining factor in her on-screen chemistry with Aamir. “When you get to know the person well, the age gap never comes to mind. I have seen him romancing on-screen since childhood. I enjoyed being paired opposite to him,” she says.
She also takes a stand on the trend of unsuccessful Bollywood actresses heading to South Indian cinema. “It’s not essential that someone unsuccessful in Bollywood would succeed in the South. If they don’t have the required talent and professionalism, they won’t survive in either of the industries,” she says.
The story was that Aamir Khan didn’t want his stunning co-star, to speak to the media about their big film and that he introduced her to Salman Khan who, being the big-hearted Khan of Bollywood, helped the out-of-state actress find a house in Mumbai. Asin clears the air “Aamir had the interest of the film in mind. Now that it’s releasing, I have something to talk about, otherwise what would I have said?”
Did Aamir Khan introduce you to Salman Khan who helped you find a house in Mumbai? “No, I have had a house ever since I started shooting for Ghajini. And I’ve not shifted. I don’t remember Aamir formally introducing me to Salman Khan. It was Vipul Shah who chose me for London Dreams opposite Salman. I met him on the sets while doing a photo-shoot.”
Actually, Aamir Khan’s blue-eyed girl, he’s promoting you and helped you get your next film with Walt Disney “I was offered that script in 2005 when I did the Tamil version of Ghajini, so there’s no question of Aamir helping me to get that project.”
You won a Filmfare for the Tamil Ghajini, expecting one for the Hindi version too? “I don’t have any expectations. I just believe in doing my best the rest the audience can decide. But, yes, I feel the film has all the ingredients to be successful. Besides its highlight is Aamir Khan.”
Was it difficult working with Mr Perfectionist? “The term Perfectionist is negative, he’s hard-working, dedicated and sincere. He’s not tough to work with; in fact, Aamir’s down-to-earth and easygoing.” And you? “I’m a little naughty.”
Who’s a better co-star, Aamir or Salman? With whom do you share a better chemistry? “ I can’t say with whom I share better chemistry. As to who is the better co-star, it’s difficult to compare the two. All I can say is it was an absolute pleasure working with both the Khans at the start of my career.”
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