# Asin (അസിൻ തോട്ടുങ്കൽ)
**Asin Thottumkal** (അസിൻ തോട്ടുങ്കൽ; born 1985), known professionally as Asin, is a former Indian actress who worked in Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil, and Hindi films from 2001 to 2015.[1](https://indianexpress.com/about/asin-thottumkal/) • [2](https://www.indiatoday.in/topic/asin-thottumkal) She rose to prominence as a leading actress in South Indian cinema before moving to Bollywood, where her debut film *Ghajini* (2008) became a major commercial success, and she retired from acting after marrying Micromax co-founder Rahul Sharma in 2016.[1](https://indianexpress.com/about/asin-thottumkal/) • [3](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/asin-thottumkal/3824)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1985, Kochi, Kerala, India[1](https://indianexpress.com/about/asin-thottumkal/) |
| Active years | 2001–2015, in Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil, and Hindi cinema[1](https://indianexpress.com/about/asin-thottumkal/) |
| Film debut | *Narendran Makan Jayakanthan Vaka* (Malayalam, 2001), directed by Sathyan Anthikkad[2](https://www.indiatoday.in/topic/asin-thottumkal) |
| Breakthrough | *Amma Nanna O Tamila Ammayi* (Telugu, 2003), which won her the Filmfare Best Telugu Actress Award[2](https://www.indiatoday.in/topic/asin-thottumkal) |
| Bollywood debut | *Ghajini* (2008) opposite Aamir Khan; Filmfare Best Female Debut Award[1](https://indianexpress.com/about/asin-thottumkal/) |
| Awards | Three Filmfare Awards, the Kalaimamani award from the Tamil Nadu government (2009), and the SIIMA Award for Pride of South Indian Cinema (2013)[2](https://www.indiatoday.in/topic/asin-thottumkal) • [1](https://indianexpress.com/about/asin-thottumkal/) |
| Spouse | Rahul Sharma, co-founder of Micromax, married 2016[3](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/asin-thottumkal/3824) |
| Final film | *All Is Well* (2015)[1](https://indianexpress.com/about/asin-thottumkal/) |
## Early life
Asin was born in 1985 in Kochi, Kerala, into a Syro-Malabar Catholic family.[2](https://www.indiatoday.in/topic/asin-thottumkal) Her father, Joseph Thottumkal, was a [Central Bureau of Investigation](https://www.edgepedia.org/central-bureau-of-investigation) officer who later went into business, and her mother, Seline Thottumkal, is a surgeon; she is their only child.[2](https://www.indiatoday.in/topic/asin-thottumkal) • [3](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/asin-thottumkal/3824) She was first named Mary after her paternal grandmother, but her father renamed her Asin, a name he liked for its meaning, "pure" and "without blemish".[4](https://www.zoomtventertainment.com/tamil-cinema/article/asin-thottumkal-birthday-recalling-the-tamil-film-journey-of-the-ghajini-star-who-quit-showbiz-post-marriage/672724)
She began modeling as a teenager, completing around 70 campaigns that brought her to the attention of filmmakers, and appeared in a BPL mobile phone advertisement before entering films.[5](https://www.newindianexpress.com/amp/story/entertainment/tamil/2009/Feb/19/all-about-asin-26739.html) • [6](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/celebs/asin-thottumkal/biography.html) She studied at Naval Public School in Kochi, completed her schooling at St. Teresa's School, and earned a [Bachelor of Arts](https://www.edgepedia.org/bachelor-of-arts) in [English literature](https://www.edgepedia.org/english-literature) from St. Teresa's College, Kochi.[3](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/asin-thottumkal/3824) She is a trained [Bharatanatyam](https://www.edgepedia.org/bharatanatyam) dancer.[2](https://www.indiatoday.in/topic/asin-thottumkal)
## South Indian career
Asin debuted at age 15 in Sathyan Anthikkad's Malayalam film *Narendran Makan Jayakanthan Vaka* (2001).[2](https://www.indiatoday.in/topic/asin-thottumkal) Her first commercial success came with her Telugu debut, *Amma Nanna O Tamila Ammayi* (2003), opposite [Ravi Teja](https://www.edgepedia.org/ravi-teja), in which she played a Tamil girl; the role won her the Filmfare Award for Best Telugu Actress.[2](https://www.indiatoday.in/topic/asin-thottumkal) • [3](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/asin-thottumkal/3824) She followed it with the Telugu films *Shivamani*, for which she won the Santosham Best Actress Award, and *Lakshmi Narasimha* and *Gharshana* (2004).[3](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/asin-thottumkal/3824)
Her Tamil debut came in 2004 with *M. Kumaran Son of Mahalakshmi*, opposite Jayam Ravi, a commercial hit that earned her a Tamil Filmfare Best Actress nomination.[3](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/asin-thottumkal/3824) The film *Ullam Ketkumae* had been intended as her Tamil debut but was delayed and became her second Tamil release.[7](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/unforgettableones-asin-thottumkal/articleshow/90952009.cms) Her portrayal of Kalpana in *Ghajini* (2005), opposite Suriya, won her the Filmfare Best Tamil Actress Award and became her biggest commercial success.[3](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/asin-thottumkal/3824) • [8](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/asin-thottumkal/biography.html) A run of successful Tamil films followed, including *[Sivakasi](https://www.edgepedia.org/sivakasi-film)* (2005), *Varalaru* (2006), *Pokkiri* (2007), and *Vel* (2007).[3](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/asin-thottumkal/3824) In *Dasavathaaram* (2008), the science fiction thriller opposite [Kamal Haasan](https://www.edgepedia.org/kamal-haasan), she played her first double role, appearing in two parts as the film moves across time periods.[3](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/asin-thottumkal/3824) • [7](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/unforgettableones-asin-thottumkal/articleshow/90952009.cms)
## Bollywood career
Asin's Hindi debut was the 2008 remake of *Ghajini*, opposite [Aamir Khan](https://www.edgepedia.org/aamir-khan). The film's box office success launched her Bollywood career and won her the Filmfare Best Female Debut Award, along with a nomination for Filmfare Best Actress.[1](https://indianexpress.com/about/asin-thottumkal/) • [3](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/asin-thottumkal/3824) Her next film, *London Dreams* (2009), paired her with [Salman Khan](https://www.edgepedia.org/salman-khan) and [Ajay Devgn](https://www.edgepedia.org/ajay-devgn) and received a mixed response.[3](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/asin-thottumkal/3824)
**The 100-crore run.** Her subsequent Hindi films, *Ready* (2011) opposite Salman Khan, *Housefull 2* (2012), *Bol Bachchan* (2012), and *Khiladi 786* (2012) opposite [Akshay Kumar](https://www.edgepedia.org/akshay-kumar), each earned over 1 billion (100 crore) at the box office, making her part of what is called the Bollywood 100 Crore Club.[3](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/asin-thottumkal/3824) After *Khiladi 786* she stayed away from films for three years, returning with *All Is Well* (2015), co-starring [Abhishek Bachchan](https://www.edgepedia.org/abhishek-bachchan) and [Rishi Kapoor](https://www.edgepedia.org/rishi-kapoor), which proved to be her final screen appearance.[9](https://tamil.indianexpress.com/entertainment/how-trip-to-sri-lanka-sparked-backlash-against-asin-thottumkal-impacted-her-tamil-film-career-9085206) • [1](https://indianexpress.com/about/asin-thottumkal/)
**Dubbing and languages.** She dubbed her own voice for her films across languages, and is described as the only Malayali actress apart from Padmini to have done so for all her films.[3](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/asin-thottumkal/3824) • [10](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Asin)
## The Sri Lanka controversy and departure from Tamil cinema
In 2013, a trip to Sri Lanka drew criticism from pro-Tamil groups, who accused her of taking a position against Tamils and of being friendly with Sinhalese politicians; she described her participation as being involved "merely in the capacity of an artiste".[1](https://indianexpress.com/about/asin-thottumkal/) Whether the controversy directly reduced her Tamil film opportunities is unclear, but *Kaavalan* (2011), opposite Vijay, remains her last Tamil film.[9](https://tamil.indianexpress.com/entertainment/how-trip-to-sri-lanka-sparked-backlash-against-asin-thottumkal-impacted-her-tamil-film-career-9085206) By then her attention had shifted to Bollywood.[9](https://tamil.indianexpress.com/entertainment/how-trip-to-sri-lanka-sparked-backlash-against-asin-thottumkal-impacted-her-tamil-film-career-9085206)
During her Tamil career she worked with leading actors including Suriya, Kamal Haasan, Vijay, Ajith, and Vikram, and about nine of her eleven Tamil films were commercial successes.[7](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/unforgettableones-asin-thottumkal/articleshow/90952009.cms) • [4](https://www.zoomtventertainment.com/tamil-cinema/article/asin-thottumkal-birthday-recalling-the-tamil-film-journey-of-the-ghajini-star-who-quit-showbiz-post-marriage/672724)
## Personal life
Asin married Rahul Sharma, co-founder of the phone maker Micromax, in 2016, after which she left acting; the actor Akshay Kumar introduced the two.[3](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/asin-thottumkal/3824) • [4](https://www.zoomtventertainment.com/tamil-cinema/article/asin-thottumkal-birthday-recalling-the-tamil-film-journey-of-the-ghajini-star-who-quit-showbiz-post-marriage/672724) Their daughter Arin was born in 2017.[11](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/features/actress-asin-thottumkal-open-up-about-her-daughter-and-her-husband-rahul-sharma-077854.html) She chose the name because it carries no religious or caste association, and she has remained active on social media since leaving films.[12](https://malayalam.samayam.com/malayalam-cinema/celebrity-news/actress-asin-thottumkal-reveals-the-secret-behind-her-daughters-name-which-is-arin-rayn/amp_articleshow/78964400.cms) • [11](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/features/actress-asin-thottumkal-open-up-about-her-daughter-and-her-husband-rahul-sharma-077854.html)
## Other recognition
Her awards include the [Kalaimamani](https://www.edgepedia.org/kalaimamani) from the [Tamil Nadu](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-nadu) government in 2009, the SIIMA Award for Pride of South Indian Cinema in 2013, the IIFA Award for Best Debut Actress for *Ghajini*, and the Stardust Superstar of Tomorrow award (Female) in 2009.[1](https://indianexpress.com/about/asin-thottumkal/) Off screen, she has been involved in social welfare initiatives, particularly the rehabilitation of Sri Lanka's displaced Tamils, along with healthcare and education work.[13](https://indiantelevisionacademy.com/gr8-womens-achievers/asin-thottumkal/)
## References
1. [Asin Thottumkal: News, Movies, Photos, Videos & Updates, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/about/asin-thottumkal/)
2. [Asin Thottumkal Latest News, Updates, Photos, Videos, India Today](https://www.indiatoday.in/topic/asin-thottumkal)
3. [Asin Thottumkal - Movies, Biography, News, Age & Photos, BookMyShow](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/asin-thottumkal/3824)
4. [Asin birthday: Recalling the Tamil film journey of the Ghajini star who quit showbiz post marriage, Zoom TV](https://www.zoomtventertainment.com/tamil-cinema/article/asin-thottumkal-birthday-recalling-the-tamil-film-journey-of-the-ghajini-star-who-quit-showbiz-post-marriage/672724)
5. [All about Asin, The New Indian Express](https://www.newindianexpress.com/amp/story/entertainment/tamil/2009/Feb/19/all-about-asin-26739.html)
6. [அசின் பயோடேட்டா | Asin Biography in Tamil, Filmibeat Tamil](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/celebs/asin-thottumkal/biography.html)
7. [#UnforgettableOnes: Asin Thottumkal, Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/unforgettableones-asin-thottumkal/articleshow/90952009.cms)
8. [Asin Thottumkal Biography, FilmiBeat](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/asin-thottumkal/biography.html)
9. [குறுகிய காலத்தில் முன்னணி நடிகை; இலங்கை பயணம் 'அசின்' திரை வாழ்க்கையை பாதித்தது எப்படி?, Indian Express Tamil](https://tamil.indianexpress.com/entertainment/how-trip-to-sri-lanka-sparked-backlash-against-asin-thottumkal-impacted-her-tamil-film-career-9085206)
10. [Asin: Movies, Photos, Videos, News, Biography & Birthday, Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Asin)
11. [Actress Asin Thottumkal opens up about her daughter and her husband Rahul Sharma, Filmibeat Malayalam](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/features/actress-asin-thottumkal-open-up-about-her-daughter-and-her-husband-rahul-sharma-077854.html)
12. [Actress Asin Thottumkal reveals the secret behind her daughter's name Arin, Samayam Malayalam](https://malayalam.samayam.com/malayalam-cinema/celebrity-news/actress-asin-thottumkal-reveals-the-secret-behind-her-daughters-name-which-is-arin-rayn/amp_articleshow/78964400.cms)
13. [Asin Thottumkal, The Indian Television Academy](https://indiantelevisionacademy.com/gr8-womens-achievers/asin-thottumkal/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Film people and crafts › Film actors and performers › Indian and South Asian film actors by industry and language › Tamil film actors › Surnames symbols to J*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 18, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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