Simi Garewal (born Simrita Garewal; 17 October 1947) is an Indian director, producer, talk show hostess, and former actress.
She is known for her work in Hindi films like Do Badan (1966), Saathi (1968), Mera Naam Joker (1970), Siddhartha (1972), Karz (1980) and the Punjabi film Udeekaan. She also acted in the Bengali films Aranyer Din Ratri directed by Satyajit Ray and Padatik by Mrinal Sen. She is also known for her celebrity talk show, Rendezvous with Simi Garewal.
Early life Garewal was born in Ludhiana on 17 October 1947.Rendezvous-with-Simi-Garewal . The Times of India. Her father, Brigadier J. S. Garewal served in the Indian Army. Simi is a cousin of Pamela Chopra, wife of director Yash Chopra. Simi's mother Darshi and Pamela's father Mohinder Singh were siblings. Simi grew up in England and studied at Newland House School with her sister Amrita.Rendezvous with Simi Garewal – The Times of India . The Times of India. (1 February 2004). Retrieved 26 June 2011.
Film and television career After spending much of her childhood in England, Garewal returned to India while a teenager. Her fluency in the English language induced the makers of the English-language film Tarzan Goes to India to offer her a role. Garewal made her debut alongside Feroz Khan in this film released in 1962. Her performance was good enough for her to fetch many more film offers. During the 1960s and '70s, she starred in several notable Indian films, working with leading directors such as with Mehboob Khan in Son of India (1962), Raj Khosla in Do Badan (1966), Raj Kapoor in Mera Naam Joker (1970), Satyajit Ray in Aranyer Din Ratri (1970, Days and Nights in the Forest) and Mrinal Sen in Padatik (1973, The Guerilla Fighter). She starred opposite Shashi Kapoor in Columbia Pictures' Siddhartha (1972), an English-language movie based on the novel by Hermann Hesse. Garewal performed a nude scene in this film which caused some controversy in India and was only released for exhibition after complying with cuts ordered by the Indian Censor Board.'I Don't Know One Editor In India Who Is Well-Read' . www.outlookindia.com. Retrieved 26 June 2011.Movies: Siddhartha, a lost tale . rediff.com (21 September 2002). Retrieved 26 June 2011.Siddhartha (1972) . PopMatters. Retrieved 26 June 2011. Later, in the mid-1970s, she made an appearance in the popular film Kabhi Kabhie (1976), made by her brother in-law Yash Chopra, and had a starring role in Chalte Chalte (1976).Gloriously grey . Screenindia.com (17 October 2008). Retrieved 26 June 2011. Another notable role she played was as a vamp in Karz (1980). She starred in the BBC docu-drama Maharajas (1987), based on the book by Charles Allen.
In the early 1980s, her attention turned to writing and direction. She formed her own production company, Siga Arts International. She hosted, produced and directed a TV series for Doordarshan called It's a Woman's World (1983). She also made a documentary for Channel 4 in the UK called Living Legend Raj Kapoor (1984). This was followed by a three-part documentary on Rajiv Gandhi titled India's Rajiv. She wrote and directed a Hindi feature film Rukhsat and produced television commercials.
Garewal anchored the talk show Rendezvous with Simi Garewal.Simi Garewal's Rendezvous 100 Party. Sify.com (14 June 2004). Retrieved 26 June 2011.
She usually wears her signature white clothes on TV shows and at award ceremonies, and is popularly known as "The Lady in White". Garewal recently appeared on Say Shava Shava 2008 as a hostess and judge.Screen > The Business of Entertainment. Screenindia.com (4 January 2008). Retrieved 26 June 2011. After the Mumbai terrorist attacks of November 2008, Simi Garewal aroused controversy by publicly calling for the Indian government to "carpet-bomb" the training camps in Pakistan for which she later apologised.
She returned to television with her new talk show India's Most Desirable on Star Plus which would interview only eligible singles, Bollywood actors, business and media icons, and Indian cricketers about their "ideal and desirable beaus".
Simi Garewal has her own website which she uses to interact with her fans. The site has her voice reading the text. She also has her own channel on YouTube where all her shows and documentaries are uploaded. The channel has received over 40 million views.
Personal life Garewal had her first serious relationship at the age of 17, with the Maharaja of Jamnagar, Shatrusalyasinhji who was also her neighbour in England. Garewal was later in a relationship with Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, the Nawab of Pataudi, but he broke up with her after he met Sharmila Tagore. She was then in a relationship with the Pakistani politician Salman Taseer, which began in Dubai, and ended after a year.
In 1970, she married Ravi Mohan, a member of the aristocratic Chunnamal family from Delhi. They divorced in 1979.
Filmography As an actress Year Film Role Notes 1962 Raaz Ki Baat Kamal Son of India LalitaKaneezShelved film Tarzan Goes to India Princess Kamara1964Vidyapati 1965 Teen Devian Simi / Radha Rani Johar-Mehmood in Goa Simmi 1966 Do Badan Dr. Anjali 1968 Aadmi Aarti Saathi Rajini Ek Raat Rekha B. Sharma 1970 Mera Naam Joker MaryNight In Calcutta Aranyer Din Ratri DuliBengali film 1971 Andaz Mona Special appearance Do Boond Pani Gauri Seema 1972 Anokhi Pehchan Siddhartha Kamala 1973 Padatik Woman Who Shelters ActivistBengali film Namak Haraam Manisha 1974 Haath Ki Safai Roma S. Kumar Doosri SitaDoctorDak Bangla 1976 Naach Uthe Sansaar Somu Chalte Chalte Geeta Kabhi Kabhie Shobha Kapoor 1977 Abhi To Jee Lein Miss Mahajan1978UdeekanNaranjan 'Nanjo' 1979ShaayadDefence Counsel Ahsaas Asha Choudhry 1980 The Burning Train School Teacher Karz Kamini Verma Insaf Ka Tarazu Bharti Saxena's Lawyer 1981 Naseeb Herself Cameo appearance Professor Pyarelal Rita Biwi-O-Biwi Nisha 1982Daulat Ka NashaDard Ka RishtaLady Dr. MukharjeeTeri Meri KahaniMeena Sastry / SeemaTV Film Thikana Shelved film Haathkadi Pammi Mittal 1986 Love and God Ghazala1987–1988Kings To CommonersTV Series 1988 Rukhsat Radha Talwar Also director1989Izhaar
Television Year Show name Role Notes1983It's A Woman's WorldProducer/Director Show about fashion, relationships and astrology 1984– 1986 Living Legend Raj Kapoor Writer/Director Documentary on Raj Kapoor for Channel Four Television, UK 1991 India's Rajiv Writer/Director Three-part documentary series on Rajiv Gandhi 1997–2005 Rendezvous with Simi Garewal Hostess 5 seasons (140 episodes), on Star World India2011Simi Selects India's Most DesirableHostess 1 seasons (22 episodes), on Star World India
References
External links
Simi Garewal's Official YouTube Channel, of Siga Arts International Simi Garewal: the icon of style
Kesavan, Mukul. , The Telegraph, 4 December 2008.