reckoning. harshikaa udasi talks to the actor about her upcoming films
with Akshay Kumar and Shah Rukh Khan
A two-year gap is huge, especially when there are
youngsters clamouring to be part of Bollywood. But trust Asin to get
back in the reckoning in style. Busy with the promotions of Ready (remake of the Telugu film Ready) with Salman Khan, the effervescent actor is packing her bags for a month-and-a-half stay in London for her film Housefull 2
opposite Akshay Kumar and is also bracing herself to face Shah Rukh
Khan in the film adaptation of Chetan Bhagat's "2 States." Ask her if
she is all set to pull out one ace after another in Bollywood, and she
says, "I just feel happy and blessed that I am working with actors of
such repute. First Salman and next up is my film with Akshay. Not just
that, the banners I am working with are also huge. As for 2 States, I wouldn't like to comment."
A
picture of confidence, Asin knows now is the time to make up for her
last film's dismal box office report. Bollywood's been a mixed bag;
while Ghajini made a huge impact, the big-budgeted London Dreams didn't
fire anybody's imagination and, except for television commercials, the
actor has not been seen in a single movie since 2009. Does she regret
the decision to move to the Hindi film industry when she was at her peak
in Tamil films? "I think it was a good decision," reiterates Asin. "But
it isn't like people think; I hadn't planned my move to Bollywood,
though I will agree that the scope of reaching out to a larger audience
exists in the Hindi film industry. I was approached by the producers who
were thinking of remaking Ghajini and I saw no harm in being
part of this wonderful team," says the actor, denying any ambition of
shifting to Mumbai for work then.
"I'd like to
believe I am an actor of Indian cinema, and I have a soft spot for
cinema in the South as it gave me the opportunity to explore myself as
an actor," she says, when asked about her plans to continue in southern
films. "I have a lot of offers coming in for Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam
films, but I seriously think I should choose with care. I have done
several films in the South and don't want to repeat myself. The day I
get something new and exciting, I will sign it," she says, adding she
hasn't currently green lighted any regional project.
Despite the failure of London Dreams,
she has got another chance to work opposite Salman. An opportunity any
other actor would have given her right arm for? Asin chuckles, "Having
worked with Salman twice, I can say I am armless!" Speaking about her
co-star, she says, "As an actor, Salman is a challenge to work with
because he throws anything at you once the camera rolls. You have to
think on your feet and be ready for anything, he is that spontaneous. As
a person, Salman is absolutely unpretentious. It's difficult to believe
that a person like this exists in the world of showbiz." In Ready,
Asin plays Sanjana (essayed by Genelia D'Souza in the original) who
falls in love with Prem (Salman) and has to fend off the greedy
intentions of some of her relatives who are eyeing her wealth. The focus
is clearly on Salman in this one, with Asin admitting that the Telugu
script has been tweaked to not only suit North Indian sensibilities but
also Salman's superstar status. Doesn't it make her insecure that
consequently the hero is hogging the limelight when it comes to
promotions? "It's a reflection of our male-dominated society. A
commercial format naturally focusses on the hero. I have no problems
with that. I am happy with the space I am occupying. Also I think that
as a superstar, Salman deserves every bit of the adoration and space he
is getting."
The actor says she hasn't been
influenced in the least by Genelia's portrayal of Sanjana. "I had
watched the original film casually even before I was approached to do
it. I have followed Anees Bazmee's (director, Ready) vision of the story and the character."
Stories abound in tinsel town that Asin's refusal to wear revealing
clothes and be part of intimate scenes is proving to be a hindrance to
her career. Ask her about it, and her reply is straightforward. "I am
not aware of this but at the same time I am comfortable only in a
certain setup. There is a thin line dividing the aesthetic and the
vulgar. I will do only what I am comfortable with. As for intimate
scenes, nobody has yet approached me for any such so that's merely
speculation. My career will run with or without such support," she
asserts.
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