FILM INTERVIEW: ASIN
Southie Star Takes Bollywood by Storm, Realizes Her Potential for Long Term Success
Bollywood may have almost immediately taken her seriously as the ultimate girl-next-door, but Asin Thottukomal did not make much of her acting career until after the Tamil version of Ghajini became such a huge hit. Making her Bollywood debut in 2008 alongside Aamir Khan in A.R. Murugadoss’s Hindi remake of Memento, Asin quickly became a household name as Bollywood’s rendition of Ghanjini became the highest-grossing Bollywood movie of all time in 2008. Of course, Aamir Khan’s 3 Idiots and Fox’s My Name Is Khan has since overtaken the all-time box-office throne, but it took a Filmfare Award, among others, for Asin to realize what she was onto. Now the South Indian native takes her acting career about as serious as she can, quickly realizing she would go absolutely nowhere if continued to be whimsical.
“It was after my fifth film (the Tamil version of Ghajini), a Filmfare award and a state award that I finally decided to take (acting) up as my career,” the 24-year-old actress who has since starred in London Dreams told the press last week. “I think I am doing this job for my love for it and for the passion that I have for it. I think the day I’ll stop enjoying it, I’ll pack my bags.”
As she continues filming for her next Bollywood film, Ready, Asin recalled that it was just a few years back when she packed her bags and hoped to transition from Tollywood and Kollywood to Bollywood.
Making her acting debut in a Malayalam film in 2001, Asin instantly made an impression in certain circles of Indian cinema, winning a Filmfare Award for Best Telugu actress in just her second film in 2003, followed immediately by a Santosham Best Actress Award in her third film. Two years later, she nabbed another Filmfare, this time for Best Tamil Actress for the 2005 South Indian release of Ghajini.
Yet it was not until 2008, seven years after she entered the realm of cinema, that Asin finally had a chance to be a leading lady in India’s largest film industry. When Ghajini was remade for Hindi audiences that year, Asin claimed three more awards — Filmfare, IIFA, and Star Screen for Best Debut (in Bollywood).
Through it all, Asin believes she has finally found her stride, adding that she is open to seeking out brand endorsements to enhance her acting career.
“It’s a sign of how much the people accept you. It’s not a choice that you make on your own anyway,” Asin said of becoming a brand ambassador. The multinationals do their polls, do their tests, and they pick you. So I think it’s a sign of how much you’ve managed to connect with people.”
Then again, what better way to connect with people than to continue seeking out roles in blockbuster films such as Ghajini? As Asin proclaims she finally takes her acting career seriously, the actress went on to state she now knows what she has to do in order to be that impactful thespian.
“I haven’t really set another target or a big dream — I just want to be known as a good performer, as a talented performer, and whatever opportunities I get to get to that aim of mine, I would gladly take them up,” she humbly stated.
With Asin steadily aiming to consistently step up into the ideal roles, perhaps Indian film fans will not see the last of this beautiful young lass.
Be sure to “Like” Buzzine Bollywood on our Facebook Fan Page.
