Naval made her debut in 1978 with Shyam Benegal's film Junoon.
Starting with Chashme Buddoor in 1981, she was often cast with Farooq Shaikh and they became one of India's most iconic on-screen couples of the early 1980s, with films such as Saath Saath, Kissi Se Na Kehna, Katha and Rang Birangi.