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Presenting brand Asin

Asin has arrived with a blast. Now she wants to pick and choose roles, writes K. Jeshi

Photo: S. Siva Saravanan

SITTING PRETTY Asin

As the chirpy Kalpana, Asin Thottumkal lit up the screen in Ghajini. After acting along with top heroes like Suriya, Vijay (Sivakasi) and Vikram (Majaa), the actress has now teamed up with Ajit in Godfather. In Tollywood, she won over the audience with the hit Amma Naana O Tamil Ammayi (M Kumaran S/o Mahalakshmi in Tamil) and will be seen in Annavaram with Pawan Kalyan. And, she has her hands full with brand endorsements.

Asin is riding the crest of a popularity wave, but wants to tread her path carefully. Ask her how it feels to become popular in a short span of time and she asks: "Am I popular? And adds: "Very satisfying. It's a great feeling when your work gets appreciated." She was in Coimbatore recently to participate in Hilaricas 06, an inter-collegiate competition organised by the Hindusthan College of Arts and Science.

Meaty roles

With offers lined up in her kitty, she is in no hurry to accept new projects. "I don't want to be typecast. Instead, I want to experiment with roles that give scope for performance. Both my forthcoming movies are commercial entertainers where I playa bubbly girl," she adds.

Asin has a set of criteria while selecting a movie. "I look at projects as a whole. I will listen to a script first, then look at my character, the director and the production house before taking a decision. I insist on a bound script and also participate in story discussions," she says.

She attributes her success to hard work, dedication and good luck. About inspiration for her roles, she says: "So far, I have played characters we get to meet in everyday life — teacher, NRI, doctor and student. I observe and take cues from life. But Kalpana in Ghajini is special. She gets to do so much in the movie — romance, be sentimental and provide the laughs. A. R. Murugadoss is a no-tension director who gives you the freedom to improvise on your performance."

She says working with leading stars helped improve her acting skills. "It was great. I not only enjoyed shooting but also learnt a lot. Suriya is very hardworking and focusses on improvising, Ajit speaks out his mind, Vijay is cool and a great dancer and Vikram is friendly with everyone."

About her knowledge of Tamil and Telugu, the Malayali replies: "I didn't know a word of Tamil or Telugu when I first came here, but I picked them up. I think I have a flair for languages. Now, I do my own dubbing. The working styles in both the Tamil and Telugu film industries are the same. Very professional and friendly and they encourage new talent in a big way."

Raring to go

On competition, she says that as long as it is healthy, everyone gets an opportunity to perform. "Right now, I'm enjoying my work and want to continue with the flow. It's my duty to keep up my performance."

She started learning Bharatanatyam at three and modelled at the age of 14. Asin has to her credit more than 60 commercials, both regional and national.

On striking a balance between acting and modelling, she says: "Both are equally challenging and demanding. Like my roles, I'm choosy about the products I endorse. A lot of thought goes into deciding the kind of product I represent."

What does Asin do in her free time? "I read a lot. I spend a lot of money on books. At airports, you will find me only in the bookstore."

And, her idea of a holiday? "Home."

So, what tops her list of priorities? "I want to give 100 per cent to my career and want to be identified as a talented performer. And, I have miles to go."

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