Open - Sad Talk

Nayanthara just can’t seem to keep herself out of the headlines. The latest headliner is IPL’s Chennai Super Kings (CSK) terminating her contract as their brand ambassador. The actress, who is shooting for Kuselan in Hyderabad, spoke to Sify.com and said she is yet to recover from the shock. Excerpts. Chennai Super Kings has released a press release saying they have terminated their contract with you as brand ambassador. I am yet to get any official letter about it. I got up in the morning to read about it in the newspapers. But what went wrong? I am shocked. I just can’t figure out what went wrong. I was always willing to sit across the table and discuss things with them, but their decision of dropping me has been hasty and highly unethical. They say you did not turn up for the first match in Chennai to cheer the team? How could I? I was unwell. My doctor had advised me to take complete bed rest after I fainted on the sets because of low BP and sunstroke. Does Mr Gurunath of CSK think media reports about my health were wrong? I was ill for three days and I can produce the diagnostic and hospital reports if needed. Anyone in the Kuselan production team will tell you that I was not shooting for three days, including the 23rd. If I were not interested in being a part of CSK, I would never have signed up as their brand ambassador. My passion for the sport made me agree to this association with IPL and CSK. They say that you did not honour your commitments to them. In my MOU with CSK, it clearly states that I have to make an appearance at the star launch function, team launch function, interviews and talk shows (both individual and combined), promotional video and any six matches played in Chennai. There is no compulsion about star presence at the matches. It also says that any bonafide reason for absence can be excused. For the star launch, Mr Gurunath called me up and said, ‘We have decided to go ahead with Vijay for the star launch. Do you have any problem?’ It was very obvious that they did not want me at the function. Later, I attended the team launch and was ready to give dates for the photo and video shoot. But the organisers could not shoot them because of various other reasons. How can that be my fault? And, trust me, they have not shot it till date! How do you feel right now? I am upset that Mr Gurunath took this step just because I could not attend the match on the 23rd. I firmly believe that this is not a valid reason for them to terminate the contract. Whether I am the star ambassador or not, I love cricket and I am a firm believer in the sportsman spirit. Chennai has given me everything in life and CSK is my team. I will cheer for them and wish Dhoni and his boys all the best.

- : - I will cheer for Chennai super Kings : Nayanthara Nayanthara has emerged as the numero uno actress in Kollywood today. She has the pick of roles with top heroes and best banners. Her films ready for release are Yaradi Nee Mohini with Dhanush and the bilingual Sathyam (Salute in Telugu) with Vishal. Right now she is working with superstar Rajnikanth for the third time in Kuselan, has signed Aegan with ultimate star Ajit and an untitled film with Ilayathalapathy Vijay. When Moviebuzz had requested for an interview prior to the release of Billa, Nayanthara who was in Tirunelveli shooting for Yaradi Nee Mohini said: Please wait, let Billa release and I will speak to you after hearing the verdict?. And today, exactly 100 days after the release and the film turning out to be a smash hit there is no looking back for Nayanthara. In this exclusive interview to Sify.com, she speaks on how she has changed her strategies and has turned to endorsements by becoming the brand ambassador of IPL's Chennai franchisee, "Chennai Super Kings" run by India Cements Limited All these days you were studiously avoiding doing endorsements and ad films. Why? (Smiles) Like I have said earlier, I was not for endorsements as I never wanted to be over-exposed and believed strongly that people should come to the cinema halls to see me. I had been avoiding all the offers that came my way.First and foremost, I wanted to establish myself as a top heroine before doing ads. But your contemporaries like Asin, Trisha and Shriya were doing lot of ads. Please comment? You are absolutely correct. Please note that all of them started their career in modeling before entering films and they were veterans at it. For me, films happened first and all my attention was to make it big as an actress. My strategy was to establish myself as a top actress, get appreciation and then maybe think about doing ads. All this has to happen in a flow. Just before the release of Billa a major liquor giant wanted me to do a surrogate ad for them for a whopping salary. But I was in no mood and it did not excite me at all. For me, to take up anything, I have to be totally convinced. Why made you change your mind to become the brand ambassadors for the Indian Premier League's Chennai Super Kings, run by India Cements Limited? I was always curious and interested about cricket and was following the IPL Twenty:20 format closely and when Shah Rukh Khan, Priety Zinta and Dr Vijay Mallya became franchisees I got hooked. Are you interested in cricket? Have you ever watched a test match or ODI's ? I have been a fan of cricket right from young age. I never used to miss watching any match on Television with my brother who is a crazy fan of the game. But I have never watched cricket live in a stadium. Who are your favourite players? Undoubtedly it has to be the master blaster Sachin Tendulkar. When I was in school, I got hooked on to cricket watching him on television. I like Dhoni's attitude and his captaincy. He is a cool cat and I'm in awe of him because he comes from a small town and made it big in Indian cricket dominated by players from the Metros. And of course Sreesanth who comes from Kerala, he has spontaneity and energy and bowls fast. I will be meeting him in Mohali where I will be going to cheer for my team Chennai Super Kings when they play there. How did this deal with Chennai Super Kings happen? About a month back, I had the chance of meeting Mr Gurunath Meiyappan at a friends place and casually he asked me if I was interested in becoming the brand ambassador of Chennai Super Kings. I thought that it was a fantastic idea to be associated with the game and to cheer and support the Chennai team. Like I told you, for me, to do anything I have to be convinced and I agreed to be a part of it. Let me also tell you that even if I weren't a part of Super Kings, I would have been supporting the Chennai team as this city has given me everything. I owe my name, fame and rise in tinsel town to Chennai, the most beautiful place in the world for me. Images: Chennai Super Kings - Brand ambassadors launch Are you excited to meet up with the Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni? Of course I'm really excited to meet Mahi. Yes. I will be showing up at all the matches featuring Chennai Super Kings (smiles). I am also looking forward to seeing a cricket match live in a stadium. In future are you open to do more endorsements? Why not? But like my films I will be choosy and will take up an assignment only if I am interested and convinced about the product.

- : - "I have not done a smooching scene" : Nayanthara When an actress manages to make waves with her bold and daring act in one of the most hyped movie of the year, you know she’s got something special. Say hello to Sasha of Billa. Nayanthara speaks to Sify.com just before leaving to Hong Kong for New Year with her close friends. Excerpts You have been receiving a lot of appreciation and brick bats for the role of Sasha in Billa please comment? Yes, I consider the role in Billa as a once-in-a-life-time role. It is a film that was on par with International standards and hence all the characters were different from what you see in normal Tamil films. I knew from the beginning that the role of Sasha was bold and daring and the look had to be truly smashing. I wanted to experiment and I trusted my director Vishnu Vardhan and his wife Anu who was in charge of my costumes. So you are happy with the end product? (Smiles)I think that I was in the right place at the right time. And it feels good when everyone tell me that I looked fab. I am extremely happy by the super response, especially after reading that Billa it is one of the super hits of the year. What more can I ask for? Now what is all this news about your smooching scene in your forthcoming film Sathyam? I just can’t figure out who is spreading such rumours. First and foremost, let me clarify that as far as I know, there is no such scene in the film nor have I done one as reported in the media. Everyone knows that Sathyam is a police story and my role is a very cute character. I am terribly upset by this news that has appeared in Tamil dailies. Are you trying to say that you will not be doing another Sasha role in near future? I am not against glamour. But only if I am totally convinced about the character and who the director is, will I do such a role. In my next film Yaradi Nee Mogini I have a very challenging role of an orthodox Brahmin girl rooted to culture and traditions. It gives me ample scope to perform and I play a city based working girl in the first half and in the second half, I wear only pavadai-dhavani’s. How easy or difficult has it been for you to live life on your terms? It has not been easy. But tell me when is life easy? Life is not burying your head in the sand and shying away…it's all about accepting challenges and living it exactly your way, however difficult that might be (smiles). I wish all my fans worldwide, A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR

- : -`Ghajini was a big mistake`! She came, she saw, she conquered. Today Nayantara is hot property down South. It took her just six films to conquer the hearts of millions of audience. Now Nayan’s kitty is full with some really big projects both in Tamil and Telugu. She radiates natural warmth as Moviebuzz catches up with the actress at the location of Vallavan in Chennai. You have become the glam queen of Kollywood. Please comment. (Smiles) I don’t know what the definition of glamour is. I’d rather be called sensuous than being projected as a sex symbol. But your transformation from the girl-next-door image that you had in Malayalam films to the glam queen of Kollywood was remarkable… (Chuckles). Yes.. I guess the credit goes to my make-over. I gave a lot of importance to my make-up, hair style and costumes, which did the wonder and now I feel great after losing weight. You are one actress who does not tag along with dad or mom on sets? Yes. Initially both of them used to accompany with me for the shoots. But now, I can take care of myself and they have immense confidence in me. I have never done anything to make them feel insecure about me and they trust me totally. Whenever I am free I rush back home to Tiruvalla in Kerala to be with them. Why are you not doing any ads at a time when all top actresses are jumping into the ad bandwagon? First let me tell you that it is a lot of hogwash that there is huge money in being brand ambassadors for multinationals products. They may pay a bomb to Shahrukh, Rani Mukherjee or Priety Zinta but not girls down south. Frankly, they tried to woo me too but at the moment, I don’t want to be over exposed on television and hoardings. I want my fans to come to the theatres and watch me and my films and there is exclusivity in doing so. Though I don’t deny that I may have a change of mind later, right now I am totally concentrating on my film projects. You are always projected by the media as an elusive star who rarely want to mix with people. (Laughs) It’s a myth. Actors cannot survive without the media and they are very important to our growth. But I am so busy that I hardly get any time to go for any party or socializing. I am not being modest when I say that I don’t party. I too love parties but as an artist I am very concerned about my image and responsibilities. As a policy its work, work and more work for me! You have a very high success ratio as films like Chandramukhi, Ghajini, Sivakasi, Kalvanin Kathali and Telugu film Lakshmi were all super hits. Comments. Yes I am lucky to be a part of these films. Though I have to confess on hindsight that the worst decision that I ever took was to do that role in Ghajini. My role did not shape out the way it was narrated to me and I was photographed badly. But I have no complaints as I consider all that as a learning experience. Now I make sure about the characters I do on screen. Chandramukhi with Rajni sir and the song number with Vijay in Sivakasi gave me immense reach among the masses. And when Vijay himself says before the song- “Nayantara vaaa?”, it registered in the mind of the audience, created an aura, which really did wonders to my popularity. Are you doing an item number in Murugadoss’ Stalin? NO. I will never do an item number again. In Vallavan they say that your role was extended? Not at all. Simbu is a very talented person and to see his energy levels and passion towards cinema is some thing to be admired. It’s not that he can extend my role and cut Reema Sen’s or Sandhya’s role. I have no qualms about sharing screen space with any actress as long as I’m able to prove my mettle. My role in Vallavan will be a good one and the film will be a blast. You are romantically linked with Simbu? It’s all nonsense. I am focused on my career right now. What are your forthcoming films? I have Vallavan, E and Thalaimagan in Tamil, and I signed three films in Telugu. Lot of offers are pouring in but I have become very choosy. I am also doing a special appearance as Nayantara in director Joshy's Malayalam film Janmam. What do you do during free time? Free time, I don’t know what it is? I am working round the clock. Today I am shooting upto 4 am in the morning and early morning I have to catch the flight to Hyderabad to do back to back films in Telugu with Nagarjuna and Prabhas.

- : - Nayanthara : Personal agenda! Nayantara had made a sensational debut with Ayyaa in Tamil. She has caught the attention of the viewers with her immense screen presence and beautiful smile. She was not groomed to be an actress but is determined to make it big with hard work and determination. Her next release will be opposite superstar Rajnikanth in Chandramukhi releasing on April 14 (Tamil New Year). She drives her own car,loves spending quality time with her family, takes special care about her make up and costumes and is a very head strong girl who has oodles of confidence. In this chat, Nayantara shares her personal secrets to Sify.com. Secret of your beauty? Every woman should take care about their health and beauty. As a heroine I think you have to a little more careful as you are public figure. Audiences like to see heroine’s as role models. They should look good and glamorous. I take special care of my skin as change in whether, water and cosmetics can do harm if care is not taken. I don’t do rigorous exercises but has a control on food. I don’t touch sweets, ice creams and oily stuff. Make-up has to be right and I like to dress in a simple manner. I love to experiment with new dresses that suit me. Favourite Food I like North Indian food. My dad was in the Air Force and so I did my schooling in the North India, maybe that’s why I love it. I don’t know any cooking but love to experiment in kitchen but most of the time, my mom drives me away. I love spicy food too. Hobbies That keeps on changing. Right now, it is listening to good melodious music. I love traveling and seeing new places. I love going for long drives too. Anger I am very sensitive person. When things don’t go my way I get upset and immediately it shows on my face. Is it anger? Gossips Gossip itself means ‘fake news’. Tell me one actress who does not have any gossip around her? I think we all love to hear and share gossips about others. Even when I was in college I loved to hear gossips about actresses (smiles) and so it is just a part of this profession. I never had any dream of coming into films. But God had something else in store for me. I want to live the way God guides me and do my work sincerely. Nothing really dithers my spirit. Biggest supporter God is my biggest supporter. I am not a fanatic but have a lot of faith and is a God fearing person. All what I am today is due to God. Love and Marriage I had told in an interview that I will never get married which raked a few controversies. I am still sticking to my words that I am serious about what I have told. I get regular “I love you” SMS but trust me, after coming to the film industry no one has proposed to me. Family My parents are very friendly with whom I can share anything. My elder brother and family are in Dubai and he is nine years elder to me. I am the pet of my parents but they never pamper me.