December 21, 2010 (Sampurn Wire): Model turned actress Yasmin Ponnappa, whose debut Tamil film 'Aaranya Kaandam' has released last week, has become lucky with her first film itself. The movie got its world premiere in New York at the South Asian Film Festival and got honored with the Grand Jury Award for Best Film.

The actress, who started her modeling career in Bangalore, was also shortlisted by director Danny Boyle for his Oscar winning film Slumdog Millionaire. However, the fortune favored Frieda Pinto and she got the final call. However, Yasmin has nothing to worry about because her first film has also managed to get an international honor so she can look forward to a bright career ahead.

Speaking about her debut flick Aaranya Kaandam, Yasmin clears one thing that it is not at all an art house movie. She adds that there is tendency of calling it an art house film only because she is not wearing make-up. In fact, the lady has faced such questions where she has been asked if she is interested to continue her art-house cinema journey.

Yasmin Ponnappa looks stunning with her high cheekbones and radiant smile but she is not over ambitious just because her film got international recognition. She wants to see the reaction of the Indian audience and then think of her second film. She also does not believe to bind her to any particular genre. The budding actress says that she does not mind does not mind running around trees provided its relevant to the story of the film. Yasmin has also kept herself open to any language film but the only condition is the story has to be good.

Yasmin got selected for the movie without much effort. She says that the director saw her hoarding for a campaign in Chennai and he got in touch with her and then narrated the script. She tested for the role and got selected. The movie is also Tamil debut for veteran Bollywood actor Jackie Shroff.

-- Sampurn Wire