Asin Thottumkal debuted in the Malayalam film Narendra Makan Jayakanthan Vaka in 2001, directed by Sathyan Anthikkad but it did not do well at the box-office. Her breakthrough as an actress came with her first Telugu language film when she played the role of a Tamil girl in the successful Amma Nanna O Tamila Ammayi opposite Ravi Teja.
Initially many in the Tamil industry considered her to be a jinx as the initial movies she signed in Tamil were either canceled, delayed or faced financial problems. Although she signed Ullam Ketkumae as her first Tamil film, her first release was M. Kumaran son of Mahalakshmi which was a remake of her Telugu film Amma Nanna O Tamila Ammayi. The movie went on to be one of the biggest hits in 2004 and introduced Asin to Kollywood.
Her movie Ghajini with Surya, which was released both in Tamil and Telugu, was a box office hit in both industries.
Many movies followed and Asin played opposite some popular actors in South Indian Cinema, among them Surya, Vijay, Vikram and Ajith, with whom she starred in Varalaru, Pokiri with Vijay, Aalwar with Ajith Kumar.
Her next movie is Dasavatharam opposite Kamal Haasan and then it is Vel with Surya. She was roped in to play heroine in Sillunu Oru Kaadhal with Surya, but opted out because her character was to play second fiddle to Jyothika. She was subsequently replaced with Bhoomika Chawla. Asin recently won the Filmfare Best Actress Award South for her role in Ghajini.
Asin is also brand ambassador for various products including Parachute, Fairever, Close-Up and Mirinda. She was also a part of Mani Ratnam's stage show, Netru, Indru, Naalai alongside many other co-stars.
