Simran South Actress Biography
Simran Bagga (born Rishibala Naval) is an Indian actress who has predominantly appeared in Tamil, Telugu and few Malayalam films. She debuted in Bollywood and acted in several Hindi films, before starring in her first Tamil film V.I.P and her first Telugu film Abbai Gari Pelli in 1997. After some highly successful films, she went on establish herself as the most successful actress in Tamil and Telugu film industries. She started her career with glamour roles initially, by the mid 1998 she reinvented herself through playing powerful characters and off beat roles. Simran was considered as a sex symbol by the media throughout her career.Rediff has called her "one of Tamil cinema's top female draws."[1][2] In 1999, she was featured in Forbes Magazine as the most prolific actress with diverse portfolio from the Indian sub continent.[3]
Having a string of successes in her early career, in 1999, Simran received critical praise for playing a blind woman in Thulladha Manamum Thullum. However the turning point of her career came with the success of Vaali (1999) which made Simran the most sought-after actress in the industry. At the peak of her career she agreed to play the role of an antagonist in Parthen Rasithen (2000) and a suffering woman from a premarital agreement in Priyamaanavale (2000), both went to become huge commercial and critical successes, She received her first Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Actress for Kannathil Muthamittal, as the mother of an adopted 9 year old daughter. Other than romantic dramas Simran had also appeared in two blockbuster comedy films alongside Kamal Hassan; Pammal K. Sambandam and Panchathantiram, both released in 2002. In Telugu, Simran starred in a series of commercially successful films, Samarasimha Reddy (1999), Kalisundam Raa (2000) and Narasimha Naidu (2001) (each film broke the previous box office records set in Telugu cinema), for the latter she received her first Filmfare Award for Best Telugu Actress nomination. With the success of 2004 sci fi film New, Simran left the industry following her marriage with her childhood family friend Deepak Bagga.[4] In 2008 she made her comeback to Tamil cinema with Vaaranam Aayiram where she played the role of a mother and a wife to the characters played by Suriya and won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Well noted for her dancing and acting skills in the Indian film industry, she won three Filmfare Awards South including Best Female Debut for V.I.P, Once More and Nerrukku Ner, one Tamil Nadu State Film Awards for Best Actress for Thulladha Manamum Thullum, three Cinema Express Awards and was awarded twice with the Kalaimamani award in 1999 and 2003.[5][6]
Personal life and background[edit]
Simran was born as Rishibala Naval in Mumbai; her father is Ashok Naval and mother is Saradha. Simran has two sisters, Monal and Jyothi Naval and a brother named Sumith.[7] She did her schooling from St. Anthony's high school, Versova and finished her B.Com in Mumbai and was modelling simultaneously. She speaks Punjabi, Hindi, English, Tamil and Telugu.
Simran is a trained dancer and can perform Bharatanatyam and Salsa. She married Deepak Bagga, her childhood family friend, in December 2, 2003. They have two sons, Adheep and Aadit, born in June 2005 and March 2011.[8][9][10]
Career[edit]
1995-1997: Debut and breakthrough[edit]
Simran made her debut in the 1995 Hindi film Sanam Harjai directed by Saawan Kumar. First Indian film to be shot at New Zealand,[11] the film was disaster at box office.[12] Jaya Bachchan (ABCL Corp), who saw her in Superhit Muqabla on Doordarshan’s Metro channel (produced by Nimbus TV & Sports and directed by Sushil Datta), offered her a leading role in Tere Mere Sapne. She then starred in supporting roles in Muqaddar, Angaara and Daadagiri, Bal Bramhachari, Agni Morcha, Gunda Gardi opposite Ayub Khan and along with Dharmendra.[13] 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.
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 the Tamil movie industry by Vasanth with Nerukku Ner opposite Surya in 1997; the movie was a huge success and she was highly appreciated for her dancing in the song "Manam Virumbudhe." Then Simran starred in several successful movies such as V.I.P (1997), Natpukkaga (1998), Aval Varuvala (1998) and Kannedhirey Thondrinal (1998) with leading actors Prabhu Deva, Sarath Kumar, Ajith Kumar and Prasanth respectively . She got her first break through the movie Thulladha Manamum Thullum opposite Vijay in 1999.It was a super hit Movie. The movie was known for its hit songs with Simran gorgeously adorning many of the scenes.
1998-2000: Success and stardom in South Indian films[edit]
Following successful debut in Tamil and Telugu films, in 1998 she had her first release in K. S. Ravikumar's Kondattam opposite Arjun Sarja.[14] She also appeared in a supporting role with Akkineni Nagarjuna and Deepti Bhatnagar in Auto Driver. Both performed averagely at box office. She tasted her first success with Ajith Kumar in Aval Varuvala, a remake of 1997 Telugu film Pelli.[15] Her role was well received by the critics.[16]
In the same year she acted in blockbuster Vaali opposite Ajith Kumar and she won several awards for her acting which includes a Kalaimaamani award; she was nominated for Filmfare Award for Best Actress. Later in 1999 she acted in Jodi which was a super hit. Her success streak continued in 2000 with the films Priyamaanavale and Parthen Rasithen in which she acted in a negative role.
She saw a 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 opposite Vijaykanth, 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. However the movie was an average grosser, although it won several accolades from the audience.
Telugu cinema career[edit]
She enjoyed stupendous success in Telugu movie industry as she acted with the superstars 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. After starring in some unsuccessful movies in 1997 and 1998, she became overnight sensation with her first blockbuster Samarasimha Reddy opposite Balakrishna in 1999. In 2000 she starred in Kalisundam Raa opposite Venkatesh and Nuvvu Vastavani opposite Nagarjuna. Both of the movies were blockbusters.
2001 was a mixed year in her career since her movie Mrugaraju opposite Chiranjeevi becoming a flop and Bava Nachadu opposite Nagarjuna and Daddy opposite Chiranjeevi becoming above-average grossers. But her movie Narasimha Naidu opposite Balakrishna became a huge blockbuster.
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 and John Appa Rao 40 plus.
Television career[edit]
After her marriage, Simran took a break from acting in films and moved on to the small screen where she acted in Jaya TV's Serial "Simran Thirai" which hosted of a series of mini serials all featuring Simran in the lead role and included many popular stars like Ramji, Raaghav, Saakshi Siva and Abitha playing various supporting roles. In 2009, she started acting in the Telugu serial "Sundarakanda" telecasted on Gemini TV, where she did a guest role appearing as an advocate who rescues Sujitha,the Protagonist from all the tortures she suffers in America.The Serial won the "Highest TRP Rating" as "The Most Watched Serial" and was also dubbed in Tamil as "Sundarakandam" and telecasted on Polimer TV. Now she is hosting for Jackpot, a game show in Jaya TV which was early hosted by Kushboo and Nadhiya
Olympics[edit]
Simran participated in the Olympic Torch Rally as one of the escort runners selected by Coca-Cola India. She was one of those representing India in the Athens 2004 Olympic Torch Relay on June 10 in New Delhi.[17]
Brand ambassador[edit]
On March 2002, Simran was signed up to endorse Fanta, the tangy orange-flavoured drink from Coca-Cola. According to a company spokesperson, "Film stars cut across various segments to establish a direct connect with the brand." The ad has been conceived by the Lowe and directed by filmmaker Latha Menon.[18][19] On the same year, Jyoti Labs launched Jeeva soap with Simran to endorse the brand and the ad. The brand uses the tagline "The complete Ayurvedic Soap" which is further reinforced by the focus on 27 ingredients.[20]
On June 4, 2008, PepsiCo India Holdings (FritoLay Division) announced Simran as the new brand ambassador for Kurkure for their first brand ambassador in the South Indian market. She joined the brand's long-standing endorser Juhi Chawla as a part of the Kurkure family.[21]
Simran was chosen as the brand ambassador for a low calorie sugar substitute — 'Sugar Free Gold' by Cadila Healthcare Ltd. Anand Deo, senior vice-president, consumer division told reporters that the star was chosen since she was a "fitness icon."[22] Simran says it's her fitness secret and poses for that brand with her slim figure.[23] She is also tied with General Mills India for Pillsbury Atta to help spread the health message and has appeared in several TV commercials.[24]
Philanthropy[edit]
Simran's real estate firm in collaboration with the Andhra Pradesh Housing Board for low-income groups has developed a proposal to buy acreage 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.
Simran's has 70 acres of land on Mumbai Nasik Highway named Rishi Farms out of which 7 acres was donated for old age homes managed by her father.
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