good scripts are hard to find!: ASIN

'Good men and good scripts are hard to find!'

Parag Maniar

She came, we saw, and she conquered — all quietly. The only actress from the South to have made a successful transition into Hindi films in recent times, Asin has tasted tremendous success within just three years of being in the Hindi film industry! Three out of the four films she's done are in the list of the top 10 highest collecting films of all time. Ghajini, Ready and Housefull 2 have all crossed the Rs 100 crore (net collections) mark, which trade pundits will tell you is one hell of a feat.
She has a superb career success ratio in B-Town when compared to contemporaries in the Rs 100 crore list who've been in the industry for a decade or more. What's more, there are higher expectations now from the actress, as her next film is Rohit Shetty's comic caper Bol Bachchan, which is getting ready for release.
When asked how she feels about her 100-crore hattrick, she says, "I am thrilled to have three films in that coveted list. It is a function of luck, working with good people, growth in Bollywood and to some extent, my picking fun and emotional stories, which tend to do well. For me, it is not about the crores of rupees in collections but entertaining that many people. If the audience is happy, the rest follows. Collections are one factor, but more than anything, I'd like to work on films I'm passionate about. I love some of the new generation of filmmakers and I hope I get a chance to work with them."
But despite such success, she has kept a relatively low profile as compared to her peers. "I have to admit, my PR and networking skills suck!" she says candidly. "I may get all self-righteous about it, but the fact is PR matters. I come from the South, where self-marketing isn't naturally in the culture, so I've been deficient in that area. The good thing about downplaying myself is that when achievements come, people are positively surprised. I believe my work should do the talking."
So whom does she lean on to deal with her fame? "It may sound like a clich," she says, "but my family defines who I am, and is my strongest support base. My parents have given me the right amount of independence to pursue my dreams, but at the same time brought me up well and kept me grounded. There are absolutely no starry tantrums allowed at home! And that is why I don't have them on the sets."
What about Mr Right? "Ah! Good men and good scripts — the two things I am looking for," she smiles. "So far, I have been lucky with the scripts. It is perhaps time to focus on finding the man."
What kind of man? "I get turned on by intelligence, the ability to hold a conversation... a well-read man. I may have done popular cinema, but I am quite a nerd. Give me a man who lifts books over weights any day! For me, the most important organ in a man is his brain. OK, to a certain extent his heart too!" she laughs.

LOOKING FOR MR RIGHT: Asin