SIMPLY SIMRAN There is something wispy and dreamlike about Simran. I watch her as she pouts and smiles before the camera. Watching her is a delight whether it is catching her playing the fool with a feathered ring or getting her make up done. I am instantly charmed by her warm smile and friendly camaraderie. We meet a day after for the interview in the lobby of Hyatt and I just cannot help thinking how she looks so beautiful without even a trace of makeup. Dressed in a casual jean and kurta with a dupatta falling loosely over she makes herself comfortable in the coffee shop of the hotel and answers every question with that trademark smile. How did your entry into films happen? My entry into films happened with a Hindi film. I made a film in Hindi with Saawan Kumar Tak. After that I was signed into an ABCL film which was an Amitabh Bachchan production. Then my entry into Kollywood happened. I just wanted to do some good work. I never thought that I will become an actor because people thought that I was not good looking and I still don’t believe that I look good. I do look good onscreen. Saawan Kumar wanted a very natural looking face and someone recommended me. He was a friend of my dad. So I went and met him and he wanted me to be in his film. So Saawan ji signed me for his film first… Then from there I did a lot of college shows, I was very active in college theatre and dance. I was selected for one of the culturals in my college. There we had the producers of Super hit Muqabla Nimbus as the chief guest . They wanted me to host the show for them. I started my career as an anchor, from there to Saawan ji’s movie. Later I was called by ABCL corporation and ‘Tere Mere Sapne’ happened and it became a big hit in the South because of that song ‘Aankh Marae‘. As you know South is crazy about music and dance and they loved my dancing. It was a after a very long time that a Hindi film was a hit in South in Tamil. So I got calls from here. I gave a screen test to director Vasanth, the first film that I actually signed was ‘Naerukku Naer’ but my first releases were ‘VIP’ and ‘Once more’ with Prabhu Deva and Vijay. I am a die-hard fan of Prabhu Deva’s because I love dancing, and from my college time I have watched his movies. Once i got a nice slap from my mom for missing college and watching ‘Kadhallan’ which was ‘Humse Hai Muqabla’ in Hindi three times. I was thrilled to work down south with Prabhu Deva , Vijay was introduced with me and I signed a Mani Ratnam production film ‘Naerukku Naer’ with Surya. So my career started like this in Kollywood but I am a product from you can say Bollywood. Tell me something about your family… I generally don’t talk much about my family and everybody knows that I am married. I got married at the peak of my career. The reason behind that was because I wanted to get settled in life. I was successful and I wanted to concentrate on my personal life. I never thought that marriage is going to affect my career, as they say that after marriage a heroine can never sustain. All these things I have never believed. Most of all I knew that I was getting married to my childhood buddy. In my family it’s me my husband who I know for more than 31 years and my two Sons Adheep Odo who is going to be nine in June and Aadit Veer who is going to be three in March. Other than this it’s my dad, mom, sister and brother. Tell us something about your sister… Yes we miss her… I miss her a lot. I just feel that the people who leave us and go away just go away and people who suffer is people who are left behind and are still breathing. So I’m still suffering and I miss her a lot. I know that the day I die I’m going to meet and ask her why she did that and why she left so much of gap between the both of us. Who are your friends in the industry? I know everyone and they all are my friends, my colleagues. I always feel that the person who is successful should always be thankful to the people who are behind that person’s success. I’m a non Tamilian and a non Teluguaite. I never spoke Tamil or Telugu before joining this industry. Me being successful here is just because of all the people I have worked with, my colleagues, my co stars, my directors, my producers and all my technicians. The credit of my being successful I share with them and I thank them. What do you like most about yourself? I guess I have a good smile and enjoy being a style icon. I like the fact that I do unique things. How was your experience of working with Mani Ratnam for ‘Kannathil Muthamittal’? Oh my God! that was one of the best experiences I have had. He is one of my favourite directors. I have other favourites too but he is one among them. According to me he is the principal of a school called cinema. He is so disciplined. He is so clear in his mind about what he wants and he set me free to do what I want. He will only interfere when something goes wrong. Otherwise he just gave me the liberty to act. One thing that he hates is make up and loud colours. If something goes against the script, he follows his heart and I love people who follow their heart. Are there any directors you have wanted to work with but have not? I wanted to work with Mr.Balu Mahendra. He very recently passed away. I’ve met him many times and I always shared my thought that I wanted to work with him. Recently when I met him about few months ago in AVM studio he was working on his last film, he said I’ll tell you something we have to work together. Now I’ve missed the opportunity of working with such a lovely director. Considering your persona on screen as a glamourous star how did the offbeat ‘Kovilpatti Veeralakshmi’ happen? As I told you I always like doing something unique. You can’t just call me being glamorous in the industry, and sustaining the name for so long. If you want to be in the industry and be successful you don’t have to just be glamorous you have to be performing also. I have given lots of hits like ‘Vaali’, ‘Kannathil Muthamittal’,Priyamanavelae’, ‘Thullatha Manamum Thullum’ and ‘Parthaen Rasithaen’. I worked with KB sir for ‘Parthaen Rasithaen’. Of course I have always blended glamour and performance. ‘Kovilpatti Veeralakshmi’ was totally ultra raw. I liked the storyline because it was based on a true story. When Mr.Rajeshwar told me the script I accepted the challenge. This is how I wanted to do the film. According to you which is the best award you have received? All my awards are close to my heart. I have received Filmfare, State Award from Tamil Nadu and Andhra and Kalaimamani award. I was nominated for National award for ‘Kannathil Muthamittal’. The biggest award is my fans .They still love me and would like to watch me on big screen and small screen. Even in guest appearances they watch me. They come and talk about ‘Aal Thotaboopathy’ and my performance in ‘Kannathil Muthamittal’. I think that is my biggest achievement. I am so famous. When my son’s friends ask is your mom an actress can you get me an autograph and they come home and ask for an autograph that is an award for me. I believe in being happy and spreading happiness and living life with a free mind. You have been successful as a TV game show host too so do you plan on hosting/producing more TV shows? I have just produced a show called ‘Dance Tamizha Dance’ and I think I’ve changed the trend of dance shows on television. I feel proud of that. I always wanted to do something that people would like and remember whether I do it once or I reproduce it. What I did was a piece of class and, mass. There was a lot of hard work involved in it because I was playing a double role judging the show as well as producing it with my husband. You need to connect to people when you are doing television. If you don’t it’s a waste. So I feel that even Jackpot did well. Do you plan to Direct/Produce a film? Yes. I will produce a film and eventually will also definitely direct a film. It will take some time though. You are also a successful business woman how do you manage this? I think whatever you do, do it with all your heart and with a lot of interest whether it’s opening a restaurant, doing a movie or opening a lounge. I don’t rush into things. I give a lot of time for detailing. I think that is the secret of my success. What are you plans for the future as movie star, TV show host and businesswoman? In future I would like to produce some good movies, host good shows and expand my business. The restaurant actually belongs to Deepak. He helps me with my films and I help him with his business. So we are both working together towards the success of our issues. Tell us about your relationship with your husband It’s a very healthy relationship. We are more of friends than husband and wife. We share all our ups and downs whether it is family or at work. We work in the house as well as in the business also. It’s not easy to bring kids up so they are our first priority. We give them lots of time. He gives them time separately and I give them time separately. We don’t depend on maids and drivers for our kids. We want to teach them how ground realities are and how we have earned things so that they learn to earn instead of living on what we have earned. What is the biggest disadvantage of being a celebrity? I don’t think there are any disadvantages of being a celebrity it’s just a block in people’s mind. In my case If I want to go to do Nallis or go to Pothys or to a jewellery shop or just loiter around Pondy Bazaar I just do that. I don’t think I’m a celebrity and so I’m going to get mobbed. I don’t need to travel in big posh cars to show that I’m a celebrity. I like it when people see me shopping and say Oh my God how down to earth she is. Tell us about your relationship with God… My relationship with God is inside me and wherever I go God is there. I believe in God a lot. I don’t think without God I will be where I am today. My mom and dad are my Gods. You can still find God but you can never find mom if you don’t have one. So I believe that I love my parents more than God. I believe that my parents are my Gods.So I believe that I love my parents more than God. I believe that my parents are my Gods. Which genre of films are you most comfortable with? An actor has to be versatile. I don’t restrict myself to do just glamorous roles or family dramas or comedy. I believe in versatility but if you ask me what I enjoy the most, I enjoy doing comedy. I just love comedy. I love acting in films like ‘Pammal K Sambandham’ and ‘Panchathanthiram’. Do you have any regrets? No. Strictly no Is there anything you wish you had attempted during your career? No. I still believe that what I have done is far far away and I’m always going to be getting chances to do things. I am very much satisfied with whatever I have done. I think I’ve done whatever I’ve wanted to do. If not films what profession would have you chosen? I think I would have chosen to be a housewife. Who have you shared the best onscreen chemistry with? Undoubtedly Vijay. Everybody knows you’re a great dancer, are you a dance lover or was it just good practise? It was good practise I was never a dance lover but I was always fascinated by people who danced as a child. I always wanted to try out those dance moves. So I started dancing when I was very young. I learnt bharatnatyam for two, years it all started with that. I also danced in a lot of school and college culturals. How do you maintain your figure? I keep changing my diet and I exercise. I love being fit; being fit is the best gift you can give to yourself. But I just want to share during the time when I gain weight my fans excepted me and loved watching me in Jackpot. And perfect figure is not the recipe for success. As a person are you simple or practical? As a person I’m very simple but when it comes to work I’m very practical. What is the difference in you before and after marriage? Actually I don’t see any difference in me. The limelight is still there. I just want to be there and not get carried away. Are you a music lover? What kind of music do you listen to? I’m a hard core music lover. I love listening to slow songs. Sometimes I like hip-hop also. It depends on my mood. How do you look at life? As an opportunity? Challenge? Choice or commitment? Life is a mix of everything. Obstacles are bound to come. Without obstacles life can be so boring. Opportunity is like a bus. If you miss one you will definitely get another one but that doesn’t mean you keep missing them. You have to catch an opportunity, you have to face the challenge and you have to be committed to it. You have to show your conviction and determination to whatever you choose because it’s your choice… It’s your life. Life just comes once so you have to live it to the fullest, enjoy, and have a lot of fun. What are your future plans? I have a lot of plans but I don’t think it’s wise to discuss them right now. You will come to know in the future. Do you carry your stardom to wherever you travel and meet people? No I don’t but it comes. Where it is needed and required I show it. Where it is not required I don’t show it. So it depends. Women’s day falls in March so what is the message you would like to share with everyone? Woman is a very strong word. Once we make a decision we don’t change our mind. There is nothing much to share because I’ve shared everything in my interview. I’d love to wish all the women around the world even the little babies who would grow up to be pretty girls and then women, I would like to wish them happy Women’s Day. I would also like to wish myself a ‘Happy Women’s Day’. And I would like to tell all the men in the world to wish every woman in their life a ‘Happy Women’s Day’. How do you define an ideal man? Deepak. He is my ideal man. Patient, humorous and down to earth Your fitness mantra Exercise and eat healthy. Your dream holiday destination Hawaii. Your favourite hangout in Chennai Gatsby in Neelankarai, Tryst Café. Do you have a pet Yes, three dogs Jack, Jill and Bobo. Your favourite drink Tomato juice. Some hidden talent I can sing well. Your best friend Deepak Favourite food South Indian Favourite cuisine South Indian, Chinese and European Favourite perfume brands Elizabeth Arden and Issey Miyake. Love is… Independence. Inspiring personalities Richard Branson and Ratan Tata. Favourite Hollywood Actor and Actress Mel Gibson and Julia Roberts. As I leave i know why she turned out to be such a sensation in the South. That child like vulnerability is simply irresistible. Posted in: Celebrities Interview, Featured
Posted on: Mon, 19 May 2014 12:10:28 +0000
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