If you are considering carrying flowers on a flight to Australia, it is better to leave them behind. Recently, Malayalam actress Navya Nair found herself in trouble at Melbourne Airport for carrying jasmine flowers.
Entertainment: Popular Malayalam film industry actress Navya Nair recently made headlines for an unusual reason. She had to pay a hefty fine for carrying jasmine flowers with her to Australia. This incident serves as a warning to those who mindlessly carry food items or plants with them during travel. Let's find out who Navya Nair is, what happened at Melbourne Airport, and under which rule she was fined.
Carrying Flowers to Australia Proved Costly
Navya Nair had gone to attend the Onam festival organized in Melbourne, Australia, on Friday. The event was organized by the Victoria Malayali Association. However, upon inspection by officials at the airport, a jasmine gajra, about 15 centimeters long, was found in her bag. Australia has strict restrictions on the import of fresh flowers, seeds, and plants, as they can pose a threat to the country's agriculture and environment.
The Australian Department of Agriculture fined Navya A$1,980 (approximately Rs 1.14 lakh). This fine was imposed under Biosecurity laws because the violation of rules could create a serious threat. Officials instructed her to pay the fine within 28 days.
Why Did Navya Nair Carry Flowers?
Navya Nair stated during an event that this incident happened to her unintentionally. Her father had cut jasmine flowers into two parts for her. He advised Navya to wear one flower in her hair during the journey as it would be long, and the flowers might wilt. He asked her to keep the second flower in her carry bag for use on the further journey.
Navya said, "What I did was against the law. It was an unintentional mistake. But ignorance is no excuse. I made a mistake and faced the consequences. I was fined A$1,980 for carrying a 15-centimeter jasmine gajra." Despite this incident, Navya thoroughly enjoyed the Onam festival and even shared a reel of it on social media.
Who is Navya Nair?
Navya Nair is a well-known and respected actress in Malayalam cinema. She has received the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress twice. She began her career with the film 'Ishtam' (2001), directed by Siby Malayil. Since then, she has played many memorable roles in Malayalam, Tamil, and Kannada films. Her prominent films include:
- Nandanam
- Mazhathullikilukkam
- Kunjikkoonan
- Kalyanaraman
- Velli Thirai
- Ammakkilikoodu
- Gramophone
- Pattanamthil Sundaram
- Jalolsavam
With her innocence and powerful performances, Navya Nair won the hearts of the audience and carved a unique niche for herself in the industry.
