Here is an exclusive interview with Asin.
The beauty queen from Kerala, Asin is the busiest heroine in Tamil film industry. She shares her experience about her future projects in this interview.
What are your present projects?
At present I’m doing four movies in Tamil. Ajith’s Godfather directed by K.S. Ravi Kumar, Vijay’s Sivakasi directed by Perarasu, Surya’s Gajini directed by A.R. Murugadas and Vikram’s Maja directed by Shafi are the four movies. A movie with Silambarasan titled AC had to be signed yet.
In Telugu, I’ve commited two movies after the hit of remake of Kakka Kakka. One movie is with Chiranjeevi and the other with Mahesh Babu which is the remake of Ghajini in Telugu. In the Hindi version of Ghajini, I’m pairing with Abhishek Bachan which is yet to be finalized.
At present I’m doing four movies in Tamil. Ajith’s Godfather directed by K.S. Ravi Kumar, Vijay’s Sivakasi directed by Perarasu, Surya’s Gajini directed by A.R. Murugadas and Vikram’s Maja directed by Shafi are the four movies. A movie with Silambarasan titled AC had to be signed yet.
In Telugu, I’ve commited two movies after the hit of remake of Kakka Kakka. One movie is with Chiranjeevi and the other with Mahesh Babu which is the remake of Ghajini in Telugu. In the Hindi version of Ghajini, I’m pairing with Abhishek Bachan which is yet to be finalized.
How is Mumbai life?
Very happy.
Are you a romantic?
I'm a mix of practical thinking and romantiscm. Maybe once I fall in love I’ll turn into a complete 200 per cent romantic. That would be fun!
If you have interest in learning and the commitment to work for it, then everything is easy.
What was the reason for your growing popularity in a short period of time?
My first preference is the story and then my character. Next importance goes to directors and finally to the hero of the movie. As I was able to take decisions clearly, I achieved such popularity within a short period.
What about pairing with senior actors like Rajini and Kamal?
Everyone likes to improve in their life. I also have the same desire as others to act in the movies of superstars like Rajini and Kamal.
What type of letters do you receive from your fans?
Some address me as Malabar. Most of the letters I receive are love letters. I received a notebook comprising of two hundred pages in which a fan had described my beauty. I also receive emails from overseas.
Your voice is sweet. Do you have any desire to sing?
I dub the voice for my movies, myself. As I have to allocate time for dubbing, I’m not able to concentrate on singing. Music director Harris Jeyaraj asked me to attend a voice testing session so that he can make me sing a song in one of his movies. But I was not able to attend it due to my busy schedule. I will certainly sing a song in the near future.
What are the other skills you learned related to movies?
I learned Bharathanatyam, Kathakali and Kuchipudi and I have mastered all these skills.
Can you tell about the heroes with whom you are acting?
Every hero who acts with me has special talents. They are all good in acting, stunts and dancing. As Vijay is good in dancing, I take special care while I dance with him.
Can you tell us something about the Tamil film that you are acting with Vijay?
They have titled the film Kaaval Kadhal. This is my third film with Vijay. This film will be different from the usual Vijay film. This is a romantic story.I have good friendship with Vijay, his mother and wife. In that way I am very happy acting in the film Kaaval Kadhal.
A lot is being said about how Salman Khan gifted you a house…
How silly is that! I’ve been living in the same house ever since I went to Mumbai to shoot for Ghajini. I hadn’t even met Salman then. The media has got him to gift me a new house, someone to do the interiors and even adorned my walls with his paintings and posters!
How silly is that! I’ve been living in the same house ever since I went to Mumbai to shoot for Ghajini. I hadn’t even met Salman then. The media has got him to gift me a new house, someone to do the interiors and even adorned my walls with his paintings and posters!
I cannot be compared with them. I’m an upcoming artist. I’m only concerned about people praising me as a talented heroine.
Your FAVORITE love quote?
“Love is a smoke raised with the fume of sighs,
being purged, a fire sparkling in the lovers’ eyes,
being vexed, a sea nourished with lovers’ tears.
What is it else? A madness most discreet,
a choking gall and a preserving sweet.” – Shakespeare
Any other favorite quote that you’ve come across?
God made you and God made me, then he whispered meant to be!
I don’t have a boyfriend. So maybe the gift of love itself
How are you celebrating Valentines Day?
I'll be participating in a film shooting.
Wishes to readers…
In the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairytale :) So a happy Valentine’s Day to all the couples out there. Have a lovely Valentine’s Day!
What is your favorite color?
RED, of course! The color of love!
What is the most important characteristic you would look for in a partner?
Dignity of character! It’s very rare to find and it is very important to me.
Normally there will love in one’s life. Was there any romance in your life?
When I was studying, I was concentrating on education. After coming to cinema, I am concentrating in acting. I always think of my role in the next film. Hence there is no chance of romance.
Have anyone expressed their love?
Lot of people have expressed their love. They do not belong to the cinema world. They are outsiders. I have escaped from them by cooling telling them I have no love for them. I will avoid such kind of people.
What have you decided about your marriage?
I have no such idea now.
What are the expectations of your future husband?
He should be simple, honest and very good. He need not be a rich man. He should be a good person. That is enough.
There will be lot of parties in Mumbai. Do you frequent there?
I don’t go for parties and dinners. I am not interested in it.
Some Mumbai actressess smoke. Some drink. Do you have any such habits?
I don’t even drink tea or coffee. I will not indulge in anything that will affect my health. I know smoking and drinking is harmful. When knowing this why should I take this
Do your fans move with romance in their mind or with brotherhood?
There may be romance in the minds of my fans. But they have not openly told me. Now I am in Sri Lanka. I am meeting lot of Tamilians during the shooting. Everybody is calling me sister. They are surprised when they see me speak Tamil fluently.
How difficult was it for daddy’s daughter to work independently after her father was hospitalized?
It wasn’t very difficult. My dad was never a baby-sitter on the sets. Between us, it’s a client-and-manager kind of a relationship. Since I don’t have a manager or a secretary, my father plays a three-in-one role. Recently, I went to Bangalore to launch the Bangalore Food Guide. I called him up at one in the morning to just wish him good night. Even then, his phone was engaged! My work-related issues had been keeping him busy so late in the night. Now, there is somebody to accompany me in his place. The only difference is, since this person is doing a professional job, the personal touch of having my father around, is missing.
It wasn’t very difficult. My dad was never a baby-sitter on the sets. Between us, it’s a client-and-manager kind of a relationship. Since I don’t have a manager or a secretary, my father plays a three-in-one role. Recently, I went to Bangalore to launch the Bangalore Food Guide. I called him up at one in the morning to just wish him good night. Even then, his phone was engaged! My work-related issues had been keeping him busy so late in the night. Now, there is somebody to accompany me in his place. The only difference is, since this person is doing a professional job, the personal touch of having my father around, is missing.
Do you have your parents accompany you while shooting?
My mother,, who is a doctor, has opted for VRS. My father isn’t there to stare into the monitor as I shoot. He sees to it that everything is organized, and then leaves. It’s disturbing when people confuse my father with the ‘baby-ko-juice-doh’ kind of parents who are always there on the sets. My dad is an independent thinker and never indulges in such behavior.
My mother,, who is a doctor, has opted for VRS. My father isn’t there to stare into the monitor as I shoot. He sees to it that everything is organized, and then leaves. It’s disturbing when people confuse my father with the ‘baby-ko-juice-doh’ kind of parents who are always there on the sets. My dad is an independent thinker and never indulges in such behavior.
How difficult is it to shoot romantic scenes in your father’s presence?
I’m quite comfortable when he is around. It’s my profession. If I can agree to a scene that will be viewed by my parents in the audience, why won’t I be able to shoot it in front of them?
Isn’t the audience mature enough to understand that these link-up stories are a part of the movie’s marketing strategy?
There are so many untrue stories and misquotes that I think many people would have become conscious of the media games. Of course, a percentage would want to believe it as a topic of discussion, even if they actually have doubts about it.
Can’t the publicists of a film be responsible for this too?
I’m not familiar with such a strategy. During Ghajini, I knew exactly how the movie would be promoted by first releasing Aamir’s look. But the London Dreams team has not discussed anything of that sort with me.
How differently do Salman and Aamir approach a role?
Salman is very relaxed and chilled out. He is spontaneous and even if he has done the homework for his role in his mind, on the sets, he does an impromptu job. In Ghajini, Aamir would come and discuss the role with me, suggest changes and seek suggestions. As for me, I prefer a mixture of both.
You’ve featured in the Lead India campaign to woo voters. Ever considered campaigning for individual stars?
No. I’ve been approached in the south, but I have always declined such offers. Be it difficult or easy, one has to say no when one doesn’t want to do something.