Simran
Rishibala Naval (Punjabi: ਰਿਸ਼ਿਬਾਲਾ ਨਾਵਲ; born 4 April 1976), better known by her stage name Simran (Hindi: सिमरण,Tamil: சிம்ரன்,Telugu:సిమ్రాన్, Malayalam: സിമ്രാന്), is an award-winning Indian actress who has acted in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam films. She is considered to be one of the most versatile actresses in India. She has appeared in several commercially successful movies such asNerrukku Ner (1997), V.I.P (1997), Natpukkaga (1998), Aval Varuvala (1998), Kannedhirey Thondrinal (1998), Samarasimha Reddy (1999),Anari No.1 (1999), Jodi (1999), Narasimha Naidu (2001), Bava Nachadu (2001), Daddy (2001), Thamizh (2002), Panchathantiram (2002),Ramana (2002) and New (2004).
Her noted performance oriented successful films include Thulladha Manamum Thullum (1999), Vaali (1999), Kalisundam Raa (2000), Nuvvu Vastavani (2000), Priyamaanavale (2000), Parthen Rasithen (2000), Pammal K. Sambandam (2002) and Kannathil Muthamittal (2002). She recently appeared in the 2008 blockbuster Tamil film Vaaranam Aayiram directed by Gautham Menon, costarring Surya Sivakumar
Personal Life and Background
Simran was born as the first daughter to Ashok Naval and Sharada Naval on 4 April 1976. She has two sisters, late Monal, an actress who committed suicide, and Jyoti Naval and a brother named Sumit. She did her schooling from St. Anthony’s high school, versova & finished her B. Com., in Mumbai and was doing modelling simultaneously. Then she came to film industry. She speaks Punjabi, Hindi, , English, Tamil and Telugu. Simran is a versatile dancer and can perform Bharatanatyam with the same ease as she performs Salsa. She married Deepak Bagga, her long time family friend, on 2 December 2003. They have a son ‘Adheep’ born on 11 June 2005.
Career
Early career (1995-1999)
Simran made her debut in the 1995 Hindi film Sanam Harjai directed by Saawan Kumar which went unnoticed. Jaya Bachchan (ABCL Corp), who saw her in “Superhit Muqabla” on Doordarshan’s Metro channel, offered her a leading role in Tere Mere Sapne. But the movie was only an above average grosser. She then starred in supporting roles in Muqaddar, Angaaraand Daadagiri with Mithun Chakraborty, Bal Bramhachari opposite Dipak Tijori, Agni Morcha along with Dharmendra and Gunda Gardi opposite Ayub Khan and along with Dharmendra[1]. Meanwhile she was acting in South Indian languages and was a huge star in Tamil and telugu.
In 1999 she starred in Anari No.1 opposite Govinda and the movie was a huge hit. In spite of the success, she concentrated in South Indian Movies where she was a huge star by then. Anari No.1 remains her only hit in Hindi.
She moved to south Indian movies by acting first in a high budget Malayalam film, Indraprastham with Megastar Mammootty in the lead role and she tasted success too. Then she was introduced in Tamil movie industry by Vasanth with Nerukku Ner opposite Surya in 1997 and the movie was a huge success and she was highly appreciated for her dancing in the songManam Virumbudhe. Then she starred in several successful movies such as V.I.P (1997), Natpukkaga (1998), Aval Varuvala (1998) and Kannedhirey Thondrinal (1998) with leading actorsPrabhu Deva, Sarath Kumar, Ajith Kumar and Prasanth respectively . She got her first break through the movie Thulladha Manamum Thullum opposite Vijay in 1999. Her performance as a blind woman was well praised. She won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress for the movie.
Rise and the Stardom (1999-2004)
In the same year she acted in blockbuster Vaali opposite Ajith Kumar and she won several awards for her acting in Vaali which includes a Tamil Nadu government award and aKalaimaamani award and she was nominated for National Film Award for Best Actress. In one theatre, Vaali was screened for more than 365 days. Later in 1999 she acted in Jodi which was a super hit and she became the Lady Super Star of Tamil film industry and ruled kollywood till 2004. Her success streak continued in 2000 with the films Priyamaanavale andParthen Rasithen in which she acted in a negative role and won a Tamil Nadu government award.
She saw a new low in her Tamil career in 2001, as she concentrated in telugu, and once again became the leading actress in 2002 with several successes such as Ramana oppositeVijaykanth, Pammal K. Sambandam and Panchathantiram opposite Kamal Haasan, Thamizh opposite Prasanth and Mani Ratnam’s Kannathil Muthamittal opposite Madhavan. She won several accolades for her performance in Kannathil Muthamittal including a Filmfare award, a ITFA Best Actress Award, a “Dinakaran Best Actress Award” and another nomination forNational Film Award for Best Actress. She left the Tamil Industry after her Marriage with her last movie New which was a blockbuster of 2004. She became the Highest paid south Indian actress by getting 75 lakhs for her last movie New in 2004.
Comeback
She recently appeared in the 2008 blockbuster Tamil film Vaaranam Aayiram directed by Gautham Menon, costarring Surya Sivakumar, for which she won the Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award.
She is considered as one of the best Tamil actresses ever as she has acted in all kind of characters right from glam roles as in Vaali to family roles in Kannathil Muthamittal and as a tribal girl in Kovilpatti Veeralakshmi(2003).
Telugu Cinema Career
She enjoyed stupendous success in Telugu movie industry too as she acted with all the super stars of Tollywood such as Chiranjeevi, Balakrishna, Nagarjuna and Venkatesh. Her debut telugu movie was Abbai Gari Pelli in 1997 opposite Suman which was a flop. Then, after starring in some unsuccessful movies in 1997 and 1998, she starred opposite Balakrishna inSamarasimha Reddy in 1999 and the film became the biggest ever blockbuster in telugu cinema history and she became an overnight sensation.
Then in 2000 she starred in Kalisundam Raa opposite Venkatesh and Nuvvu Vastavani opposite Nagarjuna. Both of the movies were blockbusters while the former becoming the biggest blockbuster in telugu cinema history breaking her own record made in 1999. She also starred in Yuvaraju opposite Mahesh Babu and Goppindi Alludu oppsite Balakrishna in which the former was a flop and the latter was an above average hit.
The year 2001 was a mixed year in her career since her movie Mrigaraju opposite Chiranjeevi becoming a flop and Bava Nachadu opposite Nagarjuna and Daddy opposite Chiranjeevibecoming above average grossers. But her movie Narasimha Naidu opposite Balakrishna became a huge blockbuster becoming the biggest blockbuster in telugu cinema history breaking her own record made in 2000.
In 2002 she starred with Balakrishna in Seema Simham and the film was just an average grosser in spite of great openings. This was her only release in 2002. With Seetayya opposite Harikrishna in 2003, she left the industry after her marriage.
She made a comeback with Okka Magadu opposite Balakrishna in 2008. The film was a failure. Her next movie John Appa Rao 40 plus was also a failure.
She is considered to be one of the most successful actresses of tollywood which she ruled for more than 4 years.
Salary and Business Interests
Simran was one of the leading ladies during late 90’s and early 2000 and at the peak of her career commanded a salary package of up to 75 lakhs to 2 Crores per movie.
She has done numerous modelling assignments with some of the top local and gobal marketing and modelling firms including Ford Motors, Lux, PepsiCo, SubWay, Loreal, Hindustan Lever, Colgate Palmolive, Paraag Sarees, Chandana Brothers and ICICI.
Even though the number of offers have declined recently, Simran still commands a salary of 80 to 150 lakhs per movie.
Simran and her husband own a Real estate firm in the suburbs of Palli Hill Mumbai, in collaboration with Delhi based DLS Group. The couple also own several restaurants in Delhi and Chennai. She bought a 10% stake in MGM Studios during late 90’s which in today’s market is valued at over 147 crore rupees.
The couple own a home in Delhi, a sprawling mansion in Mumbai, a ranch in Chennai and a villa in Dubai. They also share an apartment complex with the yesteryear actresses Zeenat Aman and Poonam Dillon.
Simran was planning to launch a production company in partnership with the Universal superstar Kamal Hassan but the deal was called off due to mutual disagreement. Her business acumen rivals her exceptional acting talents.
She is currently in talks with Dr. Ramanaidu and Mahesh Bhatt to launch her Production Studios in the mid of 2010.
She is also working closely with the leading marketing firms in India to launch her Boutique line.
In the year 1999 she was featured in Forbes Magazine as the most prolific actress with diverse portfolio from the Indian sub continent.
Philanthropy
Simran’s real estate firm in collaboration with Andhra Pradesh Housing Board for low income group have developed a proposal to buy acerage in the outskirts of major cities and develop them into self sustained communities for people under the poverty line.
She has donated Rupees 10 Lakhs towards Kargil cause.
Awards
List of Awards and nominations received by Simran Bagga
Simran is an Indian actress who has starred in several Indian films. She has won numerous awards and has received several nominations.
| Award | For | Year | Film |
| Tamil Nadu Government Award | Kalaimamani | 1999 | – |
| Tamil Nadu Government Award | Best Actress | 1999 | Thulladha Manamum Thullum |
| Filmfare Awards South | Best Actress | 2002 | Kannathil Muthamittal |
| Dinakaran Best Actress Award | Best Actress | 2002 | Kannathil Muthamittal |
| 22nd Cinema Express Awards | Best Actress | 2002 | Kannathil Muthamittal |
| International Tamil Film Awards | Best Actress | 2003 | Kannathil Muthamittal |
| Asianet Film Awards: | Special Honour Jury Award | 2005 | for Outstanding Contribution to Indian cinema |
| Filmfare Awards South | Best Supporting Actress | 2008 | Vaaranam Aayiram |
| Vijay Awards | Best Supporting Actress | 2008 | Vaaranam Aayiram |
Singavarapu 