By Jilawatan

Asin, the dazzling actress from God’s Own Country, who has recently returned from a hectic month-long schedule in Bangkok for her next flick Ready with Salman, spoke to DC in an exclusive interview.

The first question was why, despite being offered so many films, she had signed so few, unlike the other Bollywood heroine. Her response was prompt. “I am a secure person and I don’t believe in the theory of out of sight out of mind.”

She explained further, “All along I have never rushed to sign any movie. I work at my own pace. I am happy and content with what I do and am not really concerned about how others work or how many films they sign. I have never felt insecure about the so-called competition.”

Asin cleared that she was never too pricey for south producers and dismissed the rumour that this was the primary reason for her not having any regional films in her kitty.

“I have constantly been getting offers from the south, which I could not accept due to various reasons. I don’t expect the media to get to know about it all the time. The industry people know and so these irrelevant rumours don’t really affect me,” she set the record straight.

“For me, monetary considerations have never been the criteria to accept a project. I have never burdened my producers. My priorities are: first and foremost the script should excite me, followed by my character, banner and finally my co-star. I think I have reached a stage when I want to do performance-oriented and meaningful roles instead of being a mere arm candy to the heroes.”

Asin admitted that she’d love to work with prominent filmmakers. “Mani Ratnam, Priyadarshan, Raju Hirani and the list goes on. I’ve heard that Raju Hirani’s working atmosphere is pleasant and comfortable.”

Soon, Asin moved to the topic of endorsing the newly formed IPL team, the Kochi Tuskers Kerala. She smiled, “I love cricket and I am happy that a team has been formed from my native place. I am looking forward to the current edition of IPL. But I couldn’t be their brand ambassador due to various factors. But I am always there to cheer the sport of cricket!”

On the mere mention of Salman Khan, the Ghajini star got excited and shared, “We finished two long schedules for Ready in locations abroad. This is my second film with Salman. We share a great rapport and he is a chilled-out person. It’s a lot of fun working with him.”

Currently, Asin has signed Sajid Nadiadwala’s multi-starrer Housefull with Akshay Kumar, which will be shot in the U.S.A.

Reports have been making the rounds in some section of the media that Asin will be donning a bikini in Housefull and doing a steamy kissing scene with Salman in Ready.

She laughed, “I am amused by these rumours. I am glad that people who know me will not believe such trash. Ready is a family entertainer and there are no hot scenes or lip locks in the film. Sorry to disappoint but the bikini news is someone’s fertile imagination and not the truth!”

By Jilawatan

These days we see Akshay Kumar a lot in television as he is endorsing a lot of products. Be it the macho man in Thumbs up ore the in Micromax, LG he has become a household face. To add to his long list of endorsement Sure antiperspirant has also roped him for endorsing their brand as the brand ambassador. As the south beauty and actress Asin also endorse that brand it might so happen that both these actors might be seen together in advertisements.

It is said that Akshay Kumar has been taken by the Sure people for universal appeal as we have seen that Akshay brings a certain credibility of his own to the product. If he is the brand Ambassador of Sure than the brand name of the product would have a larger appeal. To add to the maters Asin and Akshay are working together in Hosefull 2.

It is said that Asin was previously the brand ambassador of Sure and now since Akshay has been approached by the product it is no wonder that the Khiladi would be the brand ambassador and Asin would star opposite him.

The film Housefull 2 which would star Akshay and Asin together for the first time would see the making of a couple as both of them would look well. Everyone is looking forward to the ilm as Sajid Khan had promised everyone that Housefull 2 would be 10 time funnier than Housefull and would do three times more business.

By Jilawatan

After being written off for being a mere one film wonder, Asin is steadily making a comeback in the hearts of her audiences. Many give her forthcoming film READY the credit of bringing her back from obscurity into the spotlight once again.

That is one of the reasons why Asin is again the hot favourite of many big brands. If you look at her career graph, ever since her last film LONDON DREAMS flopped her career had almost come to a grinding halt. But, thanks to the hype associated with her upcoming film READY opposite Salman Khan, Asin is again the cynosure of many big brands and is seen as a selling star yet again.

According to industry observers, “Asin has bagged some envious ad brands of late. Thanks to the hype that her forthcoming film READY is commanding, Asin is already benefitting from it. The fact that READY is Salman’s first release after the mega hit DABANGG has made it easier for Asin to attract attention. And given the Salman factor, the film has already generated huge attention when the fact is that it is still couple of months away from its release.”

With READY giving Asin a new lease of life, let’s hope this attention is here to stay.

By Jilawatan

What do you make of Asin Thottumkal? The actress has evolved and grown in a very unique way over the years. Her process, her way of thinking, her reasons for taking and not taking on a script, her selective picking of friends, pragmatic approach to work, politically correct statements has helped her handle Mumbai and Mumbaikars very efficiently. One has never seen her in a mad scramble for signing movies even down South; she is happy, content with everything life has given her and is excited at the way her new film ‘Ready’ with Salman Khan has shaped up.

In an exclusive chat Asin sounds serene while outlining the philosophy that drives her and her work as an actress. At various points of life, there have been various important moments that kept changing and it would be hard to point out one. But to remember a few or probably the foremost, her films in Telugu and the relationship she shared with the Telugu audiences would be important landmarks. She is full of gratitude to the industry that gave her the first Filmfare award and says it’s just not her, the industry has an amazing quality of welcoming, accepting people from all corners of the country and is amazingly hospitable.

She adds, “I can’t forget my big hits Amma Nanna O Tamil Ammayi and Sivamani. I have genuine love for the Telugu audiences, they’ve taken me into their fold without a thought. My visits have reduced but I miss the South very much, I have a strong bond with the Telugu people specially and I look forward to work in some film if it’s really exciting.”

Did it affect her confidence when people wrote her off as a one film wonder after London Dreams failed at the box-office? Asin isn’t a newcomer, she has seen the ups and downs and handled both the situations with dignity, her father’s words of never letting success getting into her head and failure into her heart kept her sane. Besides, people have been writing her off after every film and it doesn’t surprise her.

When Ghajini (Tamil) released, she took atleast nine months to sign a project, her priority wasn’t visibility, she wanted to be excited about the role she was going to play next. The criteria also had never been money or the number game. She was lauded as the next big thing to happen after Sridevi when Ghajini came out in Hindi, but she never got swept away by the saccharine reviews.

What keeps her going every day? Asin says calmly that everyone needs to be loved, “I’m trying to collect as much love as possible from people all over the world, I’m hungry for love.” Ask her about her recent statements of her willingness to expose she giggles and says it amused her aplenty and says categorically that she has never ever given such statement, they were false stories. People write many things and she has learnt not to give too much attention to it or spend her time and energy on negative thinking.

Is she a part of Vipul Shah’s, Akshya Kumar’s and Murugadoss’s project that would be announced soon? Asin thinks for a while and says the project isn’t much in discussion, she’s already doing a film with Akshay Kumar i.e., Housefull 2 but if something substantial were to come out with this combination, she’d love to be a part of it.

Meanwhile Ready is hitting the screens on June 3. The soft-spoken Asin explains that though the story is very much the same (of the Telugu original), it has been adapted to suit the northern audiences, their family system, their character portrayal but there is no steamy scenes like the media had portrayed and is a completely family rom-com.

Knowing she’ll be miffed, still one can’t stop asking her that question..when is she getting married? “Oh, no..don’t ask me that. My focus is on my career, in the process of working if I find the right guy I will not hesitate to reveal,” she says a tad irritatedly. Asin definitely wants to do something that sends a powerful message first and wants to be remembered for the right reasons other than marriage.

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By Jilawatan

Salman Khan is full of praises for his co-star Asin. With their upcoming film “Ready” all set for release, Salman has gone a step further and compared Asin to Madhuri Dixit.

When asked if “Ready” is a remake of blockbuster hit “Hum Aapke Hain Kaun”, Salman stated, “It’s not a remake at all, it may have the same feel to it.”

The Dabangg actor said, “It’s a family entertainer, and there’s everything good about the movie, including an ideal woman just like Madhuri in Hum Aapke Hain Kaun. In ‘Ready’ it’s Asin.”

On being compared to a diva, Asin stated “Madhuri remains unmatched. If I could be even five per cent of her, I would’ve achieved much.”

The actress said further, “However, I have tried to bring to the role what was required of me. I have been honest in my intentions, and I hope that works.”

In the mean time, it’s being said that the actress, who rose to fame from the movie Ghajini is very fond of Salman.

The two had earlier worked together in London Dreams and is presently working together in Ready.

With respect to rumours of her being linked with Salman Khan, she stated “I don’t care.”

“These are figments of some nasty minds. As an actor you are linked up with almost every other actor,” the actress added further.

By Jilawatan

Salman Khan has finally agreed to kiss on screen for the first time in his 22-year-old career. The superstar, who has resolutely avoided locking lips to maintain a family image so far, will be seen smooching co-star Asin in Anees Bazmee’s upcoming film, Ready.

“It is not yet decided if it will be a long, passionate kiss or a short peck, but director Bazmee has managed to convince Salman that the scene is important to the script. Salman had initially refused to give the shot and it took some talking on Bazmee’s part to convince him,” said a source in the unit of the film.

Salman has all along maintained that he is “not too comfortable kissing on screen”. Despite giving several blockbusters such as Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, Maine Pyar Kiya and Maine Pyar Kyun Kiya as a romantic hero, he has largely refrained from kissing on screen.

Naturally, when Bazmee threw up the idea, the superstar was reluctant. Salman apart, the kissing scene is also bound to arouse interest because of Asin. An established superstar in Tamil cinema, Asin has all along maintained a traditional image as an actress down South, as also in Ghajini and London Dreams, the two Bollywood films she has done so far.

Lately however, having struggled in Bollywood after London Dreams flopped, Asin is gunning for a glamorous image makeover. Reports have already suggested that she is willing to don a bikini in Sajid Khan’s Housefull 2. Meanwhile, the first look of Ready was launched recently in Mumbai. Initial snapshots of the film feature Salman sporting fashionable shades and a short cropped hairdo, and striking a few whacky poses, in sync with the film’s slapstick flavour.

Ever since shooting started for the film, Ready has been in the news for various reasons. Recently, there were rumours that Salman and Bazmee had a spat during an outdoor shooting in Bangkok after the director returned to Mumbai midway. Bazmee later denied any rift with Salman.

By Jilawatan

Actress Asin has earned the tag of being a Khan favourite, what with her making her debut with actor Aamir Khan with film Ghajini and later, actor Salman Khan with whom she’s working yet again in film Ready. Could whispers of a rumour between them be far behind? To which she responds, “ I don’t care,” defiantly adding, “These are figments of some nasty minds. As an actor you are linked up with almost every other actor.”

And what about her being Salman’s blue-eyed girl? “I am very fond of Salman,” gushes the actress. “He is a sweetheart. I was unwell while shooting for Ready in Sri Lanka and Thailand, and he would always remind me to take my medicines and also ensure that I have them in front of him. Salman is a very caring person. In fact at times, I wonder why he is called the bad boy of Bollywood.”

So is gossip about actor Neil Nitin Mukesh and her affair true? “Rubbish! Neil is a very good friend. We meet, have dinners and chat, that doesn’t mean we are going around. I guess these gossip mongers have forgotten about a term called ‘friend’. If I am seeing someone I will happily acknowledge it. Isn’t finding a great partner something to be happy about rather than hiding it?” she retorts.

Recently there were also reports of Asin being insecure about her position in Bollywood. “Insecure and me? Such stories make melaugh. I am the last person on this earth to be insecure as an actor or as an individual. I am very happy and content in my space,” she says.

By Jilawatan

We all know Asin, the actress but now we bring to you Asin, the cricket fan! Despite being busy with her shooting schedules, the actress rushed to watch the Final World Cup match as soon as she was done with the shoot. Asin confessed that she was hooked to the TV and she praised the Sri Lankan team for performing well. But she said that India totally deserved the cup for it played better and the captain Dhoni’s leadership was one of the high points.

She said that the spirit among the boys was the best part of it all and lauded Team India for their hardwork, determination, courage and talent. She also went on to thank them for giving everyone a reason to unite in happiness and celebration. Looks like after Cinema, Cricket is her passion!

By Jilawatan

Asin gets ‘Ready’ to play character inspired by Mads’ role in Hum Aapke Hain Koun?

Asin’s resemblance to the Madhuri Dixit of Hum Aapke Hai Koun? in Anees Bazmee’s Ready is not coincidental. Her character, costumes and even the choreography are inspired.

Sallu’s idea

The tribute of sorts was Asin’s co-star Salman Khan’s idea. Khan feels that the Mads of HAHK is the ideal
woman, the kind he’d like to take home to his mother.

Salman apparently persuaded his director and Bazmi was only too happy to oblige.

Says the director; “There is a lot of Madhuri in Asin’s character and presentation. We don’t have item songs in Ready but conversational
songs woven into the narrative.”

Asin doesn’t deny the likeness of her character to Madhuri. “The resemblance to Madhuri did not escape me. In fact, my first duet with Salman was very much like Hum Aapke Hain Koun?.”

The climactic wedding song is designed to echo the HAHK hit Didi Tera Devar Deewana.

Asin confirms, “That’s true. The entire family joins in song-and-dance while Salman and I get married. If I’ve managed to capture even a fraction of Madhuri’s effervescence, I’ll be happy.”

By Jilawatan

Saturday night will be one that the entire country will remember for a very long time to come after all, one doesn’t get to witness the home team being crowned the world champions every day.

Says Actress Asin excitedly, “What a fantastic win and a great match.” The lady, who was shooting for her film on the day of the finals, kept track of the score through her friends. She says, “I rushed to watch the match as soon as I packed up. Sri Lanka played well, but India played better and our captain led from the front. We certainly deserved to win the cup!”