Asin politely corrects Kamal Haasan's claim that Dasavataram cemented her star status. It's Ghajini that put her in the big league map, she says

DESPITE having almost 18 films to her credit, Asin Thottumkal has one film to thank for propelling her into the big league... twice. When the first Ghajini released in 2005, Asin became a sought-after star in the south belt.

"It really was the Tamil Ghajini that propelled me," reacts Asin to a recent claim that her Dasavataram co-star Kamal Haasan made about his film sealing Asin's success. "My first Tamil film was M Kumaran Son Of Mahalakshmi, but it was Ghajini a humongous hit that really got me there. Dasavataram, though, was a good team project."

And now, almost four months since the Hindi Ghajini released and became 2008's biggest movie, Asin is collecting a slew of awards for best debutante, launching events, judging beauty contests, becoming the face of brands (especially the one where she delightedly recognises a soft drink brand via an orange saree!) and shooting public service ads. And yes, since she's exhorting you to vote, good to know that she's just returned, after casting her vote in home state Kerala.

And yet, in many ways, Asin professes that life hasn't changed after a monster Hindi hit. "My point of view remains unaffected by people's perceptions of me. But when I was shooting in Chandigarh for Vipul Shah's London Dreams, people recognised me. Then, during this shoot in Srinagar, we kept hearing Guzarish played on radio. Even the shikara boatmen at Dal Lake were so warm."

Salman? How silly!
And yet, even as she's high on the popularity stakes since Ghajini, Asin has also had to deal with the other side of fame's coin infamy. Rumours abound over how much attention her London Dreams co-star Salman Khan showers on her, even going so far as to buy her the apartment she stays in Mumbai. "How irresponsible to say that. I was staying in this flat when I was doing Ghajini, for God's sakes! I didn't want to live out of a suitcase so I moved in here. I've learnt from Salman how to ignore these rumours," she shrugs, calming down.

So, of all things, Asin likens herself to a lotus leaf. Er, what? "You know how water just falls off a lotus leaf without touching it? It's the same way with me and rumours."