Simran
Born: 1976-04-04 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Known For: Acting
Biography
Simran (born Rishibala Naval; 4 April 1976), also known as Simran Bagga, is an Indian actress, producer, and dancer who has worked in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, and Kannada cinema. She began her acting career with the Hindi film *Sanam Harjai* (1995) and appeared in the ABCL production *Tere Mere Sapne* (1996), including the song "Aankh Maarey". In 1997, Simran appeared in the Tamil films *Once More*, *V.I.P.*, and *Nerrukku Ner*, earning the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut – South. Her breakthrough in Tamil cinema came with roles in *Vaalee* (1999) and *Thullatha Manamum Thullum* (1999), the latter earning her the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress. Her Telugu films include *Samarasimha Reddy* (1999), *Kalisundam Raa* (2000), and *Narasimha Naidu* (2001). She also appeared with Kamal Haasan in the comedies *Pammal K. Sambandam* (2002) and *Panchathantiram* (2002), and played an adoptive mother in Mani Ratnam's *Kannathil Muthamittal* (2002), earning the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil. After a break from acting, Simran played a mother and wife in Gautham Vasudev Menon's *Vaaranam Aayiram* (2008), earning the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress. She later appeared in character roles in *Petta* (2019), the anthology *Paava Kadhaigal* (2020), *Mahaan* (2022), *Rocketry: The Nambi Effect* (2022), and the Hindi family drama *Gulmohar* (2023). In 2024, Simran appeared in the Tamil horror-comedy *Aranmanai 4*, the thriller *Andhagan*, and the Amazon Prime Video spy action series *Citadel: Honey Bunny*. Her subsequent credits include the Tamil horror-thriller *Sabdham* (2025), Adhik Ravichandran's action film *Good Bad Ugly* (2025), the drama *Tourist Family* (2025), and the Hindi film *Gabru* (2026).
Filmography
2025
- Tourist Family as Vasanthi Dharmadas
- Ziddi Girls
- Good Bad Ugly as Priya
- Sabdham as Dr. Daina
2024
- Citadel Honey Bunny as Zooni
- Andhagan as Simi
2022
- Rocketry: The Nambi Effect as Meena
- Mahaan as Nachi
- Captain as Dr. Keerthi
2020
- Paava Kadhaigal as Mathiazhagu
2019
- Petta as Mangalam
2018
- Odu Raja Odu as Kala Bhairavi (cameo appearance)
- Seemaraja as Kaaleeshwari
2017
- Thupparivaalan as Mrs. Dhivakar
- Koditta Idangalai Nirappuga as Guest Appearance
2016
- The Kapil Sharma Show as Self
- Karaiyoram
2015
- Trisha Illana Nayanthara as Simran
2014
- Aaha Kalyanam as Chandralekha (Special appearance)
2009
- Ainthaam Padai as Devasena Karunakaran
- TN 07 AL 4777 as Subbulakshmi
2008
- Vaaranam Aayiram as Malini Krishnan
- John Appa Rao 40 plus
- Seval as Gayatri
- Okka Magaadu
2007
- Heart Beats as Thankam George
2005
- Koi Tujh Sa Kahan
- Kicha Vayasu 16 as Nirmala
2003
- Arasu as Meera
- Ottran as Sudha
- Raghavendra
- Seetayya as Bangaram
- Pithamagan as Self
- Pop Carn as Jamuna
- Kovilpatti Veeralakshmi as Veeralakshmi
2002
- Kannathil Muthamittal as Indira
- Ezhumalai as Lakshmi
- Thamizh as Meenakshi
- Youth as Item number for the song "Aal Thotta Boopathy"
- I Love You Da as Priya
- Pammal K. Sambandam as Janaki
- Panchatanthiram as Mythili Ramachandramurthy
- Ramanaa as Chitra
- Seema Simham
- Aakheer
2001
- Paarthale Paravasam as Simi
- Daddy as Shanti
- Mrugaraju
- Premato Raa as Geetha
- Narasimha Naidu as Sravani
- 12 B as Priya
- Bava Nachadu as Actress
2000
- Nuvvu Vasthavani as Indu
- Yuvaraju as Srilatha
- Annayya as item song
- Goppinti Alludu
- Priyamaanavale as Priya Vijay
- Kalisundam Raa as Manga
- Parthen Rasithen as Banu
- Khauff as Ritu Pereira
- Unnai Kodu Ennai Tharuven as Indu
1999
- Vaali as Priya
- Jodi as Gayathri
- Anthapuram
- Kachche Dhaage
- Anari No. 1 as Sona
- Kannupada Poguthaiya as Gowri
- Time as Thulasi
- Ethirum Pudhirum as Special Appearance
- Samarasimha Reddy as Srikakulam Chittamma
- Thulladha Manamum Thullum as Rukmani
- Kanave Kalaiyadhe
1998
- Auto Driver as Actress
- Kondattam as Lalitha
- Aval Varuvala as Divya
- Kannedhirey Thondrinal as Priya
- Natpukkaga
1997
- Gundagardi
- Nerrukku Ner as Asha
- V.I.P as Priya
- Maa Nanna Ki Pelli as Lahari
- Once More as Kavitha
- Agnee Morcha
- Daadagiri
- Poochudava as Nandhini
- Priya O Priya
1996
- Indraprastham as Chitra Narayan
- Tere Mere Sapne as Priya
- Angaara
- Bal Bramhachari as Seema Choudhury
- Muqaddar
1995
- Sanam Harjai as Tinu