More trouble for Asin

Asin may have got a reprieve from Nadigar Sangam, but Federation of Tamil Associations of North America , consisting of 30 Tamil organizations across the US, have decided to boycott her films.

Palani Sundaram, chief of the Tamil organization said: “We will boycott films of Asin because of her visit to Sri Lanka despite a ban by the Tamil film industry.”

Meanwhile, the actress , said she did not flout any diktat of the Nadigar Sangam and she stayed away from IIFA, and as far as seen with the wife of the Sri Lankan President, “ it was a question of protocol and could not do anything about it.”

The big question being asked in Kollywood trade is how will Asin’s next release in Tamil with Vijay Kaval Kathal release overseas, where Sri Lankan Tamils form the bulk of the viewers?

NRIs boycott Asin

South film industry is adamant of issuing a red card to the actress for having visited SriLanka for film shoots but now the Tamil organisations in North America have also said that the Asin’s films would be boycotted by their members too.

President Palani Sundaram in a statement sent to the South Indian Artistes Association (SIAA) said that The Federation of Tamil Sangams in North America (FeTNA) will boycott Asin’s films as she visited Sri Lanka despite a ban by the Tamil film industry FeTNA.

About which Asin said that she went to Jaffna in good faith and she stayed away from IFFA because of SIAA’s directive and did not flout any diktat she also reveals that she spoke to SIAA president Sarath Kumar and was willing to abide by the JCC’s directives.

Asin No More Reaction....

No decision has been taken in the meet convened to discuss taking disciplinary action against actress Asin for going to Sri Lanka for a Bollywood film, avoiding the warning of Tamil film organsiations.

A section of the organization was against the decision of banning the actress. The officer bearers of the organisation said a final decision will be taken after holding more talks later.

When Radha Ravi, secretary of the organisation, and his aides were keen on taking action against the actress, a team led by actor Sharat Kumar wanted a chance to be given to the actress. The meet later decided to get a written apology from the actress.

Asin will have to wait

As by now we all know The South Indian Artistes Association (SIAA) is very upset with Asin going in Sri Lanka, visiting the war zone, and have demanded to issue her a red card but the decision has yet not been taken and it seems it would take some more time.

At the recent 58th annual general meeting at the premises of SIAA President R Sarath Kumar said that the decision on Asin's action would be taken by the Joint Consultative Committee at a meeting that will be held soon. Sunday's meeting was expected to come up with a road map on the issue of actors visiting SriLanka.

Still no reprieve for Asin

Asin’s bold statements justifying her visit to war torn Tamil regions in Sri Lanka have not cut ice with pro Tamil groups in Tamil Nadu still.

In a recent meeting jointly held by 'Save Tamil Federation' and 'May 17 Movement', it was again restated that the protests against Asin must continue.

The two pro Tamil groups have issued pamphlets reasoning why Asin must be banned. In that they have accused Asin of becoming an ambassador of Sinhala government accused of genocide. It also blamed her creating a false picture of Sri Lanka is in peace by accompanying with the President's wife. The places she visited are banned for international media.

The activists also called for boycotting products which are endorsed by Asin in India.

Asin wins hearts in Sri Lanka

“Asin, don’t leave us, stay with us,” screamed the young girls at the Siriliya Sevana orphanage in Vavuniya, Sri Lanka, on Sunday. In a quiet gesture of solidarity with displaced people — something that no one from Tamil Nadu had attempted in the
island nation — Asin stayed back in Colombo even after the crew of Ready wound up and left the island nation. Asin, who is facing the threat of a red card from the Nadigar Sangam for daring to shoot in Sri Lanka for the Bollywood film Ready co-starring Salman Khan, had earlier evinced interest in visiting war torn areas to Namal Rajapaksa, MP and son of the Lankan president. She had also set in motion an eye camp in Vavuniya along with Salman Khan’s Being Human Foundation.

On Sunday, Asin’s wish came true and she became the first international star to visit former LTTE strongholds of northern and eastern Lanka, when she took a chopper in the company of Shiranthi Wickramasinghe Rajapaksa, wife of the Lankan president.

The first halt was at the eye camp in Vavuniya, to oversee the surgery conducted by a team of five surgeons from India, and to interact with the patients.
“I want to do whatever it takes to help these people regain their eyesight,” said Asin, “We will continue to periodically host these eye camps across the Northern and Eastern regions of Sri Lanka until all the 10,000 registered patients have been attended to,” she added. Asin hopes to bring in more doctors and medication in the second phase in November. Asin’s agenda is to reach out to people, simply and effectively. “To me, the best moment was when one recovering patient awoke after his operation and removed his eye patch only to be surprised to see his favourite actress standing beside his bed. The elderly patient kept asking the nurses if it was a dream! That one moment made my entire journey to Sri Lanka worthwhile.I knew I was able to not only provide sight to an elderly father in need but I was also able to reach out to the people in need and bring them genuine happiness in the little way I could,” said Asin.

Peals of laughter were heard during Asin’s entire stay at the Children’s home and when the time came for her to leave, a lot of chidlren were in tears, begging her not to leave. “Five more minutes akka.. five more minutes.. please...,” cried the
young ones. “Please bring Vijay, Suriya, Ajith and all the other actors next time you come,” added the girls in between their sobs. Asin departed with a heavy heart, promising to convey the message.

Asin visits Jaffna and Vavuniya

Asin has become the first Kollywood star to have visited war devastated Tamil territories in Sri Lanka in the past 30 years.

On Sunday, Asin visited Jaffna and Vavuniya accompanied by the wife of President Rajapakse, Shiranthi Wickramasinghe Rajapaksa. The actress took part in the events in Eye Treatment Centre in Jaffna Hospital. At the Vavuniya general hospital, she interacted with a few patients and even watched an ongoing cataract surgery, performed by a surgeon flown in from India, sources said.

The unannounced visit materialized after Asin had met Namal Rajapaksa, MP and eldest son Mahinda Rjapakse and expressed her desire to visit the war ravaged areas when she landed in the country for the shooting of her Hindi film ‘Ready’.

South Indian Film Industry unions had warned actors not to work in Sri Lanka which they described as a country stained with the blood of innocent Tamils. But Asin seems to be determined in going her way unmindful of the boycott threats by the south Indian film industry.

Asin new best friends are Sridevi’s daughter’s

Sridevi and her two daughters, Jhanvi and Khushi, are Asin’s new best friends. “Yes, at last I’ve made close friends in Mumbai. You’ve to see how close I am to Sridevi and her daughters. I spend almost all my nonworking hours with them,” says Asin. This is no ordinary friendship and Sridevi, her daughters and Asin are constantly together. “Jhanvi and Khushi are in my house all the time. The four of us get along like a house on fire. Sridevi is on the first floor and I’m on the sixth floor. We are always in each other’s homes. We go out to restaurants and movies. We just saw Harry Potter together,” says Asin. “She has completely taken me under her wing. Anything I need, I just have to ask her. Since she too started her career very young and is from the South, we share a very special bond. She was first a child artiste and I started playing the lead when I was only 14 years old. She has made it clear she’s there for anything I need. She’s a wonderful friend and neighbour,”

Asin adds. Apart from Sridevi and daughters, Asin loves all the kids in her building. She says, “They’re all in and out of my home constantly. They bring in their friends, class mates and cousins from Ludhiana, Bhatinda, Rae Bareli and I don’t mind it at all. I enjoy it. I get along fabulously with kids and old people. The minute I’m off at 6pm, they’re all in my house. I haven’t had a chance to do it up yet. But I do have a favourite corner in my new home, my balcony. I like to be by myself in that......

Beautiful Actress Asin Latest Photo Gallery

Asin dig up God Father out Bollywood

Asin has been pain from a short period of hiccups as remote as her recent stretch in Bollywood goes. Her occupation not scaled the heights it be supposed to include post Ghajini, as well as she hasn’t been bright to locate the right associations as far as Hindi movies goes.

A moment ago Asin came in for added than her contribute to of unconstructive promotion. And the performer was beyond doubt rattled when intelligence leaked with the intention of she had been drop from a duo of project with the purpose of had her starring differing John Abraham as well as Ranbir Kapoor.

Seeing how out of your intellect she was, her fathers Joseph Thottumkal supposedly feel his descendant needed expert guidance.

Asin in trouble for Ready

After Salman Khan, it is the turn of Asin to face the wrath of politicos in Chennai. Asin has been criticised for shooting for Ready in Sri Lanka. Apparently, certain politicians in Chennai are gambling on a recent decision by a filmmakers' association that they will boycott films that are shot in Sri Lanka. And they are making it very clear that Asin has upset them by shooting in Sri Lanka for Ready with Salman Khan.

But Asin is unsure as to why she is being blamed, since she did not decide on the location. As an actress, she has to shoot where the director wants her to. But this has caused fresh worry for the actress who will be travelling to Tamil Nadu to complete a Tamil film she is acting in. She hopes this trouble will not cause her problems during its shoot.

Boney, Sridevi: Asin’s god-parents

Asin has been suffering from a bout of hiccups as far as her recent stint in Bollywood goes.

Her career not scaled the heights it should have post Ghajini, and she hasn’t been able to find the right connections as far as Hindi cinema goes.

Recently Asin came in for more than her share of negative publicity. And the actress was truly rattled when news leaked that she had been dropped from a couple of projects that had her starring opposite John Abraham and Ranbir Kapoor.

Seeing how distraught she was, her father Joseph Thottumkal reportedly felt his daughter needed expert guidance. He is said to have entrusted her to the care of Bollywood producer Boney Kapoor and his wife Sridevi, who are not only well established in the Hindi film industry but also Asin’s neighbours.

“Someone advised the Thottumkals that things would move more smoothly for the actress if she had a Godfather,” says a source. Asin, who has been shooting with Salman Khan in Colombo for the last fortnight, has been in touch with Boney and Sridevi on a daily basis.

Asin’s endorsements are still being looked after by Culture Company; but it is said that even here, the actress has reportedly been asking for a second opinion from her newly appointed God-parents.

It has been reported earlier that Asin is very close to Sri’s daughters Jahnvi and Khushi. Asked if he and Sridevi had adopted Asin, Boney made light of the situation by saying, “Ha, ha, at this point I need to help myself.”

However, Asin said, “I have grown very close to Sridevi. While I don’t think of her as my Godmother, I’m very dependent on her. She is my emotional anchor.”

Asin says going to Lanka no sin

South Indian superstar Asin, who has been struggling to make a mark in Bollywood, has reacted strongly against the call to ban her films in Tamil Nadu.

The ban was called by the South Indian Film Artistes Association, as a major portion of Asin's new film opposite Salman Khan, titled Ready, is being shot in Sri Lanka. The association had demanded a boycott on any Indian cultural activity in Lanka, saying the Tamils had been persecuted for years in that country. Asin is already in Lanka for the shoot.

Salman has also faced the ire of the south Indian exhibitors and distributors after he attended the recent International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards in Colombo.

The south Indian film industry had boycotted the IIFA Awards, showing their support for the Lankan Tamils' cause. But since Salman defied the boycott - he even replaced Amitabh Bachchan as the IIFA Awards brand ambassador - the southern industry banned him, along with all the artists and technicians who attended the event in Colombo.

Asin told a website that she wasn't responsible for choosing Lanka as the location for Ready. "I am involved merely in the capacity of an artist," she said. Also, she added, "I have to abide by the filmmakers' decision on such issues." Ready is directed by Anees Bazmee and produced by Bhushan Kumar of T-Series.

Though the association hasn't officially banned Asin, a final decision will reportedly be taken in a few days' time.

Industry watchers say the ban, if implemented, could cause a setback for Asin. She is a huge hit in Tamil films while in Bollywood, apart from her debut blockbuster Ghajini in 2008, she has struggled so far.

"Her only Hindi release after Ghajini, London Dreams, was a flop. She has some projects in Bollywood, but none of them are guaranteed to be hits. She is already a superstar down South. If the ban is imposed, it will definitely hurt her market in Tamil films," a prominent producer said.

Others, however, refuse to take the ban seriously. "Such bans don't hold. First of all, there is no legal standing to them. Also, Asin is a bankable star down South. Why would her Tamil producers let go of a chance to sign her?" trade analyst Komal Nahta asked.

Apart from Ready, Asin's roster in Bollywood includes Anurag Basu's Ranbir Kapoor- starrer Silence, Vipul Shah's yet untitled next opposite John Abraham and Ghajini maker Murugadoss's upcoming Bollywood flick opposite Akshay Kumar, which is also untitled.

I am just an artist, not a politician

Asin is now shooting with Salman Khan in Colombo for Anees Bazmee's Ready remake from Telugu. It has set alarm bells ringing in Kollywood as any association with Sri Lanka is considered taboo in the industry.

The unit who were originally planning to shoot the film in Mauritius, changed locations at the last minute as the Sri Lankan Government rolled out the red carpet for Salman Khan who attended the IIFA.

Please note that a raging controversy was going on in Kollywood over Bollywood stars taking part in the recent IIFA Awards held in Colombo. The South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce (SIFCC) even passed a resolution banning the films of all the stars who went to Sri Lanka. Hrithik Roshan’s Kites was pulled off from Chennai screens as he attended IIFA.

Asin going to Colombo has raised a hue and cry by pro- Tamil groups, which will have its repercussions on Kavalkaran. Nadigar Sangam Secretary Radha Ravi in an interview has said: “Nadigar Sangam will be meeting to take a call on the Asin issue shortly.”

Following these developments, Asin in an exclusive interview spoke to Sridevi Sreedhar from Colombo.

Salman-Asin Ready to go

Here's a quick sneak peek at Salman's next film. For insider gossip from the sets in Colombo, read on...

Ready is almost 35 per cent ready. The Salman Khan-Asin starrer directed by Anees Bazmee and produced by Bhushan Kumar will complete its first schedule in Sri Lanka -- where they are filming --soon.

Bhushan says, "The original plan was to shoot in Mauritius but then we shifted to Colombo, Sri Lanka as Bhai (Salman) visited the country during the recent awards and liked the place. We were supposed to shoot at a resort in Mauritius and we got a lovely alternative (the Cinnamon Grand) in Colombo so it was easy to shift."

Kumar says the actor is very charged about Ready, "Salman has not just been coming to the sets on time but puts in almost 12 hours a day. This schedule includes 40 artistes, spans 27 days and we should complete 35 per cent of the film in that time."

Ready will boast of a first. The producer says, "Pritam is working for the first time with Salman with this film. Khan always likes to work with Sajid-Wajid. I had to convince him to have a change with Pritam. It took some convincing but he finally agreed. Pritam is charged about working with Bhai."

Bhushan is all praise for the Lankan authorities, "They (the government) have been very supportive as they want to promote the country. They have provided good security."

SIFAA plans to blacklist Asin

Actress Asin, who was in Colombo for the shooting of the Bollywood film Ready, has irked the bosses of South Indian Film Artistes Association (SIFAA).Now, several Tamil associations are gunning for the actress for travelling to Sri Lanka by bypassing the Tamil sentiments.

The secretary of Nadigar Sangam, Radha Ravi has said that he is in discussion with several organization and action will be taken in coming days. The SIFAA is planning to blacklist Asin.

Earlier, SIFAA took a firm stand and urged to boycott IFAA Awards, which was held recently in Colombo. It also had warned actors not to visit the island nation and those who attend the function will have to face the wrath of SIFAA. In fact, Amitabh Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan, Namitha, Genelia cancelled their trip. But the stars like Salman Khan, Vivek Oberoi, Saif Ali Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Lara Dutta visited Colombo and now they have been banned.

Meanwhile, Asin has stated that she didn't know about the shooting locations and she expressed her concerns with the producer when she came to know about Sri Lanka. But it is they who call the shots and her duty is to complete the project.