'Didn't receive single rupee, flew to Dubai at own expense'; Asha Sharath responds

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Actress and dancer Asha Sharath busted rumours, saying she did not receive any remuneration for teaching dance for the school art festival held last year. Asha Sharath responded that it was a matter of pride and joy to share the stage with the children during the festival and said she went to Dubai at her own expense.

Minister V Sivankutty had earlier revealed that an actress had demanded five lakhs remuneration for teaching dance to children for a ten-minute performance at the state school arts festival. He did not mention the name of the actress which triggered rumors on social media.

Asha said she had no clue which actress the minister referred to and reiterated that she was happy and proud to share the stage with children that day.

Minister V Sivankutty said that an actress demanded lakhs as remuneration to teach children a dance to perform at the inaugural function of the state school festival.

'For the inaugural song of the state school art festival to be held in January with the participation of 16,000 children, a famous film actress who earned fame through youth festival was asked if she could teach children a ten-minute dance. She immediately agreed but demanded a remuneration of Rs 5 lakh. This is an incident that has hurt me a lot as the education minister,' he said.

'Decided not to pay such a huge amount to teach the children a dance. Many dance teachers are not greedy for money. Will entrust one of them for the task,' the minister said. The minister said some actresses who became great artists through school festivals and thereby reached the top are showing arrogance towards Kerala.