Simply Simran

You must have seen her smouldering in Vaali, literally crackling the screen with her presence. Meet the sexy Simran...

She might have captured the top slot by default, but nobody's complaining. For this Punjabi simply sizzles on screen. Check her out in 'Vaali' and you know what we mean. Be it writhing sensuously for the inspired tunes of Deva 'Vaanil' (in fact, a straight lift of Lionel Richie's 'Now you' re gone') or emoting, she does it with panache.

She may be effervescent on screen, but the first thing that strikes you when you meet Simran in person is her shyness. Without lifting her eyes, she tirelessly signs autographs. Ask her something and she draws in to her shell. Bitter experiences have taught her to be cautious and weigh what she utters, she tells you later.

Much later.Once you convince her that you are not there to malign her reputation. And what a transformation that is! She argues, cajoles and defends with her arms flaying and eyes sparkling, to convey her point.

A Commerce graduate from Mithibai College in Mumbai, this 23 year old Arian has adapted to her surroundings quite admirably, conversing fluently in Tamil. She claims that at college, she was a nobody. But today, sitting there before you, the lady oozes oomph. And confidence.

She tripped into the fantasy world by accident, shattering the girl-next-door image and surprising even herself. She discovered that not only does she love facing the camera, her sensuousness and exuberance on screen also has her audiences swooning. And to think, if not for her anchoring days in Door Darshan (for Super Hit Muqabla), she would not have been here today! The aura of her screen presence was strong enough to catch the attention of Jaya Bachan and 'Tera Mere Sapna' happened.

"I never had to face any difficulty. It all happened so soon. There I was, barely 19 years old and thrilled at the prospect of earning more pocket money. And before I realised, I landed with movie offers." Though 'Tere Mere Sapna' did not win her instant stardom, it was her passport to fame. She made people sit up with her performance and her graceful dance movements (the famous ' Ankh Mare' topped the charts besides winning her accolades).

After that there was no looking back for this woman with the winsome smile. She realised that if Hindi cinema is her passport, the South can bring her stardom. Courtesy: Khushboo and her super success. So she trudged to Chennai and camped at Residency. Her gamble paid off. Before long, she got a plum role in VIP, co- staring Prabhu Deva, Abbas and Ramba. And having gained a foothold, she diligently wormed her way to the top slot.

Now that she has made a name for herself, she would like to do more meaningful roles, she tells you. But her idea of meaningful roles does not necessarily mean characters that will kick up a cloud of controversy, like Sita or Neeta in 'Fire'. Infact, she firmly believes that certain taboo subjects should not be explored.

And what's fun according to her? " Hanging out with my friends at shopping malls. " Her friends, of course, are from her B.Com days and not definitely from the filmi world. " It is hard to trust anyone completely here. Without trusting them how can you be friends?"

Warming up to the idea of discussing her friends and family, she relates bits and pieces, giggling uncontrollably, on how she and her sister Mona play pranks on her unsuspecting fans. When she wants to evade autograph hunters, she ventures out without make-up. On one such occasion, her sister accompanying her, was mistaken for her. Left on her own, she says, she would have set things right immediately. But giving in to her sister's demand, Simran played a mute spectator, while people were fawning all over her sister. "Gosh, you should have seen their expression when we finally confessed!"

And yes, she is still her mama's baby and like the proverbial lamb, her mother follows her everywhere. Getting defensive, Simran says that her mother accompanies her only because she insists and is not the other way round. "You don't expect me to sit all alone the whole day? My mother accompanies me not because I am scared about the roving wolves in the industry or that I am being haughty, but to give me company."

Aware that the media can make or mar her career, Simran says that she shares a love - hate relationship with them. "Sometimes, it irritates me when I see statements that I never made, making headlines."

And like anyone else, she has to pay a price, although grudgingly, for her fame - her privacy. "People should realise that my life is nobody's business but mine," she retorts. Try telling her that nothing comes for free and she is still sceptical.

All I want to do is lead a peaceful life, doing justice to my work and get married when it becomes boring," she tells you reflectively, mulling over what you told her. Hey! Take heart guys! She said only when she was bored. And by the look of things, it is not going to happen for at least another three years. Till then, she is too busy to even breathe!

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