Kamat calls Asin 'Asian', then says southern spellings 'different'

Nov 21, 2009 IANS

Panaji, Nov 21 (IANS) Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat Saturday pronounced popular actress Asin's name as "Asian", and when quizzed over it answered that "their (southern) spellings are very different".

Kamat mispronounced the name while reading out the names of dignitaries who would grace the inaugural ceremony at the 40th edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) at a curtain-raiser press conference here.

When confused journalists asked Kamat if it was Asin he was talking about, the chief minister said: "Tenchi spelling tareh tareh chi astat (Their spellings are very different)."

Asin Thottumkal, a Kerala-born actress, has worked in Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu films before making her Bollywood debut with "Ghajini" alongside Aamir Khan. Asin's second Bollywood film "London Dreams" starring Salman Khan and Ajay Devgn was released recently.

The 40th edition of the IFFI which will screen nearly 300 films from around 40 countries will be held here from Nov 23 to Dec 3.