While we are always reading the accounts books of the leading men in Bollywood or Down South, most often the leading ladies are relegated and do not count.

Though in Bollywood too some of them demand a crore and a half to even Rs 3 crorer, as in the case of Kareena Kapoor who has always managed to strike gold even when she had a series orf flops under her belt.

Down South, the film may do a jig at the box-office in direct relation to the heroine's wiggles and jiggles, but despite all that, it's the Chiranjeevis and Ajiths and Rajanikanths who sit atop the heaps of currency notes.

Now, it seems a ravishing actress joins the big league in terms of fees, Nayantara.

The Malayalee actress has signed on the dotted line of a Tamil film at Rs 1 crore. Thereby she becomes the highest paid Southern actress, at least Malayalee actress, in Indian films.

The yet untitled film is directed by indiarubber man Prabhudeva who has already delivered a hit in his debuting directorial venture, Pokkiri.

The Tamil movie will star her opposite Vijay, who teams up with director Prabhudeva again after Pokkiri. The film, produced by Ayngaran International, will roll in June this year.

Despite this brand fee, popularity and busy schedule, it is pleasing to see Nayantara keep her feet firmly grounded. And keep her attachment to Malayalam cinema intact.

In fact, she recently appeared in a song for free for the new Malayalam film, Twenty20, produced by AMMA. Twenty20, is the brainchild of actor Dilip, and also features Prithviraj, Kunchacko Boban, Indrajith and Manikkuttan.