The Nayan power...........

Ask Nayanthara and she will tell you about how she discovered that staying on top is harder than getting there. She is a star who not only outlasts her flops but is forgiven for them.

After two consecutive duds like Kuselan and Sathyam (her biggest flop) Nayanthara still rules Kollywood. But post Sathyam release, the actress was consciously avoiding the media, refusing to speak about her future moves and has a wall around her.

Recently the media went to town about her salary (rumoured to be between Rs 1.25 to 1.50) which is the highest paypacket any Tamil heroine gets. Kindly discount Aishwarya Rai getting Rs 6 crore to do Enthiran, because it's an exception.

The fact that she is demanding and getting over a Crore as her salary has irked the conservative industry, where heroines normally are paid below Rs 50 lakhs. They say that her last two films bombed, but no other heroine in the past had to bear the brunt of her flops, which itself shows that she is on par with any top hero as far as her films and openings count.

The whole issue of her salary was stirred up after Lingusamy signed her up to do a film at a whopping rate with Karthi. There were rumours that he was not happy about paying her such a fat salary, after Sathyam fiasco and was on the lookout for another heroine.

But the moment his distributors and financiers heard that he was having second thoughts about casting Nayan, they said they will pull out of the project! That is Nayan power.

So what is that makes this girl from Kerala click with the audiences worldwide? It is her hard work, courage to take up challenges, her professional ways with her co-stars, producers and directors and the all-important lady luck being at her footsteps. And all this without any godfathers, industry connections or parents to give her that support and mentor her.

Says the leading distributor in Tamilnadu: " Nayanthara is the only heroine today who commands an opening, as she is able to attract the youth and family audiences. Her combination with superstars work wonders for the film. But if the story of the film is weak no superstar or super heroine can save the film. "In a way, Nayanthara makes the marketing of Aegan and Villu easier for its producers Ayngaran International. Of course the success of these two films will determine whether she gets another round with them.