Malayalam actress fined over Rs 1 lakh for carrying jasmine flowers in Australia

Malayalam actress Navya Nair revealed that she has been fined over Rs 1 lakh by the airport staff in Australia for carrying jasmine flowers into the country, a violation of its biosecurity and customary laws.

The incident occurred when Navya arrived in Melbourne to participate in the Onam celebrations organised by the Malayali Association of Victoria.

According to her, airport authorities discovered around 15 centimetres of jasmine flowers in her bag. Under Australian biosecurity and customs laws, the import of fresh flowers and plant materials is strictly prohibited, as they pose a threat to the country's agriculture and environment.

The Australian Department of Agriculture imposed a fine of 1,980 Australian dollars, which is approximately Rs 1.14 lakh, on the actress.

Following the episode, Navya posted a light-hearted video on social media, turning the fine into a moment of self-mockery.

In the video, she is seen at the airport eating food, boarding the flight, shopping, and walking around in a traditional Kerala sari, adorned with jasmine flowers in her hair.

The background track for the video is the trending song 'Onam Mood', and she captioned it as, "Visuals just before I was fined."

Navya has been active in the entertainment industry for over two decades. She made her debut in 2001 with “Ishtam” and went on to gain recognition through films such as “Mazhathullikkilukkam” and “Kunjikkoonan”.