Simran has worked with Kollywood’s top stars Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth, Vijay, Ajith, Suriya, Prashant and many others. Her firebrand individuality made her stand apart and today even after 30 years, she is going strong. She won the Cinema Express Award for Best Actress – Tamil in Vaalee (1999) and her first Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Actress for Kannathil Muthamittal (2002). In 2008, she made a comeback to Tamil cinema with Vaaranam Aayiram which won her the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress. Her latest outing Andhagan with Prashant has been received very well.
Reflecting on your 30-year journey, how has your journey been like since the first film?
It has been very beautiful. We all grow experience wise and learn a lot of things, learning is a never-ending process for all of us. It’s about taking up responsibilities too. Before I used to be just alone and then I got married and then I had family along with me so you have a greater sense of responsibility especially being a public figure. This is how you grow and you know how with the conduct yourself. In my career, my journey has been fantastic.
Which do you consider the best movies in your career, the milestones?
I feel most of my movies did well. Vaali and Thullatha Manamum Thullum were milestones. These brought me out of the comfort zone of just doing a song or a few scenes like in VIP and Once More. After Vaali and Thullatha Manamum Thullum, I did solid roles in films like Kannathil Muthamittaal and Arasu.
Tell us about your role in the recent blockbuster Andhagan, it was a character that the audience never expected.
When I saw this movie in Hindi, it was already a proven hit and Tabu plays the character which I have played so it was very challenging to prove myself. I had not given a single doubt about playing a negative shade. If the role and story are good, then you have a super hit product. I played it very subtle and the credit goes to the director Thiyagaraajan because he handled it very well and had good clarity, whatever he said, I did that. Of course, I did my due diligence thanks to my experience of so many years.
How was it working with Prashant after a long time?
I was very happy. We are good friends and it was a nice experience to work with Prashant again and you know another hit in a row with me. So, I think this is my sixth movie with him and this is also a super hit after other movies that we had done in those days.
Did you really miss the limelight or how do after you cope up with that anonymity to a certain extent while raising kids?
I think I missed working more than you can say that I missed that limelight. I felt that you know, I really need to do something for myself and I always kept that pace on, doing at least one good film in a year. I signed Petta in 2018 and it released in 2019. Then it was Paava Kadaigal in 2020 and then it was Gulmohar and Rocketry: The Nambi Effect, so I kept the pace slow, one movie at a time.
And now that you been into the web series and on, how do you find the OTT space when compared to cinema
OTT space gives you a vast platform to showcase your talent. The competition is high, but that is a space for everyone and every genre of cinema. Some artistes who were never accepted in films have suddenly become huge because of OTT platforms. However, experience what you get in theatres that you will not get on OTT.
You see, movies are larger than life, any time, any day, you can’t beat movies, even if you are you are making a web series or a web original movie which will only release on OTT. You can’t beat that big screen charisma, it’s larger than life, it gives you that feel, it fulfils your fantasy, things which you can’t do in real life. You feel that, oh my God, I want to fight like Rajinikanth and sometimes in your thoughts, you are fighting like Rajinikanth. It is an inspiration.
Many have been inspired by you. Is there anything you want to share?
Yeah, I have come across many and I wish them all good luck. Everyone has their own place in this industry, so they can just do what they wish to with wisdom.
How do you look at the role of women now, and how the screen has evolved from the time you started?
Being a woman, though I want to do good roles, the market is male dominant because they are the ones who step out of the house and capture the world. They have more time but for a working woman, you need that support from the family.
If they make good content and put the same kind of effort like as they do for male oriented mass movies, definitely market for female-oriented films would go up. These come up only once in a while but it should be more often. We should have some nice woman-oriented action movies and you know which we can explore the world. People will support, they will see what you show.
What was the toughest phase in your life?
I feel that everyone should have a non-giving up spirit and should know how to cope up with the situation. Nothing should drag you down in life.
What would you say to women coming to the film industry?
I just want them to choose and pick some good rules. Nowadays, girls know what to do and what not to do, but still I just want them to take care of their health.
I think even 20 years back you were making fashion statements. Tell us about your sense of fashion and style.
My fashion sense I’ve always been like this – simple. I have always worn something I wanted to wear, I have always done something I wanted to do but first keeping people in mind so that I don’t hurt them and understand what they want out of me. I make my own space with harmony. This is what styles me in my personality. This reflects in my clothes.
You have worked with Suriya from his early days to his growth into a big star. How do you see this evolution?
He’s a very hard-working person. I seriously feel good for him because we both started together and so did Ajith, we all have found good places in our career. The whole batch of the 90’s is doing good, so I feel good for all of us.
Personally, how was it working with Suriya? Is he very serious or light-hearted?
He’s fun too, not a serious type at all. He was very helpful while speaking dialogues especially. It’s been a good experience to work with him and I feel very comfortable.
And what about Ajith? Vaali was a very intense film and how you find it working with him in these dual roles?
Vaali was an out-and- out SJ Surya film. Ajith is a fantastic actor, the way his career has also evolved is phenomenal, he’s got crazy fans and the way he talks dialogues itself is very mesmerising. So I feel he’s a director’s actor, he does very well whatever was given to him, that’s why he’s Thala Ajith, so to work with him in the initial stage was very comfortable, it was good.
Vaali was a landmark film in S.J. Surya’s career. How was it working with him?
It was nice, we all were youngsters, we all we worked in a team and we made a very good product ahead of time, we had some good music, songs, they’re still evergreen so it had been a good experience then.
What was it like working with Kamal Haasan?
Such a legendary actor I must say one talent, it’s an asset to Indian cinema.
You have been part of many beautiful onscreen love stories, tell us about your real life love story?
Deepak and me are childhood friends. He was my aunt’s neighbour and that’s how we met for the first time. We just thought that we were compatible to be life partners when we grew up. I was at the peak of my career and even he was extremely busy with his work, yet we decided to just get married and make a family together. It was very lovably practical. We are comfortable with each other.
So what did you like about Deepak?
He is very patient, very calm and composed and supportive. The way he respects women, that is what draws me to towards him. He is the only son and his family comprises his mother and two sisters and the way he has taken care of the whole family is what I love about him. That’s what keeps our relationship healthy, he’s so caring and protective.
What do you both like to do together?
We love to travel, and we have our own places where we go and we like to chill out and have our time together and you know be away from the world. So that’s where we just connect back again in it.
So which is your favourite vacation spot?
We go to UK a lot. That’s where Deepak worked for many years, and that’s the place you know we visit a lot, UK and Scotland. This is a place called Uban, which is at the border of Scotland and England that’s a beautiful place. Food is also very good. It’s very countryside and the location is excellent. It’s marvellous, there are mountains on both the sides and they become very dry and Brown in winter and during summer, you can see it very green and beautiful, so it is, it is very scenic.
What about your sons?
I am strict when it’s required and lenient and lovable when they need that. It’s not that easy to bring boys up and so we really need to draw lines with kids and make sure that they study well, that they eat on time. That struggle will be there.
So what are your children doing? And what is the nature like?
My elder one is 19 and in first year of college at UK and younger one is in grade 8. They have to take care of me more than I take care of them. They are also very nice, very sweet. The younger one is a brat.
What was Vijay like as a co-star?
He’s very quiet. What you see on screen is very different and larger than life. That is what makes Vijay, Vijay. He’s a quiet observer and he improves step-by-step, he is an amazing person. What a personality, what an aura, and we worked on our film Once More together. After that, his graph just kept on going up and today he’s the number one actor in Tamil. He has a huge fanbase and from infants to the old.
You have worked with Rajinikanth in Petta, what is he like as a co-star?
He is such a humble person, very motivating, inspiring and very positive about life, there is so much to learn from him. Such a senior person, a living legend, it’s been good to work with him and I’m looking forward to working with him more. In Petta, I played Mangalam, they called me only because, you know they felt that first of all, that chemistry would work, and they gave a due diligence to those 15 minutes of appearance on screen. You know when you watch that movie, those 15 minutes will come like a breeze to you.
How do you connect with your fans?
I connect with them whenever I meet and when they come up to me, I really like to know when they and say hello and click a picture. I connect with them through my movies and online through my posts.
How do you pick a role for a movie?
I pick a role so based on how relevant it is for me to play to reach my audience and the storyline. The whole story is the main agenda first and then to find where I’m in the story and what am I playing and how important is that. I feel that it gives me an immense pleasure when I play a full-fledged role or a main woman centric role like in Andhagan. So, I’m quite happy about it, and I think, from now on, it would be all central characters.
You have done a few films in Bollywood. So what do you find is a difference between that and Tamil cinema?
Recently when I worked in Bollywood again, I started with Rocketry: The Nambi Effect. This was made in 3 languages together, Tamil, Hindi and English. It got 6 National Awards, it went in the contendment list of Oscars and Madhavan, directed it well, it was a super hit. It went to 23 festivals including Cannes. A biopic on Mr Nambi Narayanan is not easy to make, there’s a lot of research which goes into it. It really gives you a good motivation to do good work and show your talent to the world. It received not only Filmfare and South Indian Awards but the National Award too. In 2024, my film Gulmohar with Manoj Bajpayee and Sharmila Tagore fetched the best Hindi National Film Award. When you get an award for a film, all the artistes working in the film get an award so it’s such an honour. I feel good about it.
Do you research your role and prepare or do you come to the sets and are spontaneous.
I ask for the script and scenes and I read them over and I sit with the director to understand how he wants the characterization of that particular role and how he wants to present me as in that role. We do a lot of homework, and then we go on sets.
You have a very good equation with Gautham Menon how was it different from the other directors.
He has his own unique way of filmmaking and working with him has always been a learning experience. The way he handles his screenplay it’s very unique. You know, you won’t feel bored anywhere, there will be a scene lifting another one, Paava Kathaigal and Vaaranam Aayiram and you know, of course, I am waiting for the release of Dhruva Nakshatram also. I have a good rapport with him, he makes good cinema and his songs also very good.
Dance has always been a strong point with you, are you a trained dancer, what’s your secret?
I enjoy dancing and I like to burn my energy there. I took some training of salsa, I mean, just little bit for a few months, and I did learnt Bharatanatyam, when I was 10 or 11 years old.
What has been the most significant change in your life since becoming a mother?
Nothing changes everything remains the same, but choices you make will become different from before because you become naturally more responsible as a human being when you evolve from a girl to a lady becoming wife and mother
You’ve been part of the industry for so long; how do you keep yourself motivated?
By watching my own songs and movies and also by watching world cinema and keeping myself updated with technology.
Can you share something about yourself that your fans might not know?
Nothing of that sort , I am very straightforward as a person. And I never have shared my real struggles so far to any one, I guess life becomes more complicated when you share your struggles or take advice so it’s better not to just keep following your instinct and let people by themselves know who you are.
What kind of stories do you think need to be told more in Indian cinema?
Our freedom fighters and about how difficult is a women’s life is. Man is a protector, woman is a creator.
Your fitness routine and are you very strict about your diet?
Yes, I love to stay fit and also watch my diet, but I eat pretty much everything in less quantity
Would you think of direction at some point?
I have always loved to be behind the screen . Yes I may prefer to direct at one point of time with God’s grace .
What do you think makes a woman truly beautiful?
Being woman makes her truly beautiful, be smart be woman!
Rapid Fire
Favourite movie of all time?
Titanic
Morning person or night owl?
Morning
Comedy or drama?
Comedy and drama both
Mountains or beach?
Beach
Heels or sneakers?
Sneakers
Signature scent?
Dior Poison
Favourite onscreen dance sequence from your film?
Aal Thotta Boopathy
If you could work with any director, who would it be?
Shankar
If you weren’t an actress, what would you be?
Housewife
Describe yourself in one word.
Straightforward