On Monday evening, Simi Garewal shared on Instagram that she will walk the red carpet at the Festival de Cannes 2025 for the world premiere of the newly restored Aranyer Din Ratri, Satyajit Ray’s 1970 cinematic gem. The actress will present the screening alongside filmmaker Wes Anderson and actress Sharmila Tagore.

The film will screen on Monday, May 19 at the Salle Buñuel, Palais des Festivals. The restoration has been carried out by The Film Foundation’s World Cinema Project at L’Immagine Ritrovata, in collaboration with Film Heritage Foundation, Janus Films, and The Criterion Collection, with support from the Golden Globe Foundation. For Garewal, this return is deeply personal. “The month-long shoot was enveloped in magic,” she recalled in a 2012 Mumbai Mirror interview.

“No electricity, no running water — just moonlit walks, Rabindra Sangeet, and the incredible good fortune of working with one of the world’s finest directors.”

In Aranyer Din Ratri, Garewal played Duli — a feisty young Santhal woman who embodied the conflict between the urban and rural ways of life.

With her sharp gaze and fierce independence, Duli awakens desire but bows to no one. “For a week, Manik da wouldn’t let me shoot. He took me to the baati khaana (the liquor shop) where the Adivasis would gather at night to drink — and let me just observe. I saw women who were exactly like Duli, my character (sic).”

Discovered by Ray after a chance meeting at Raj Kapoor’s house, Garewal vividly remembers receiving his letter offering her a role: “It’s only a screen test for make-up. Not for your acting abilities – because I have no doubt whatsoever about that.” What followed was an intense process of transformation – both in character and craft.

Revisiting the experience of shooting the film, Purnima Dutta, producer, said, “Simi became like a family member during those days. Though she was staying in a hotel, most of the time, she used to be at our house. I still remember, when I got busy, she used to lay the dining table and make sure we all ate together – she’s an extremely homely person. I remember Samit (Bhanja, who played Hari) was a newcomer in the industry, and was apprehensive of the intimate scenes he had to play. Manik da told him to get rid of his inhibitions, and Simi, being a seasoned actor, helped Samit overcome his awkwardness with portraying the scenes convincingly.”

As makers of web series inspired by Jayalalithaa recreate politician’s 1999 tell-all interview with Simi Garewal, iconic host explains why she refused to reprise her part
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; December 13, 2019)

Ramya Krishnan-starrer Queen — which tells the story of Shakthi Sheshadri, a reluctant actor who goes on to dominate the world of politics — bears striking similarities with the journey of J Jayalalithaa, the former chief minister of Tamil Nadu.

Now, mid-day has learnt that directors Gautham Vasudev Menon and Prasath Murugesan have recreated her tell-all interview on Simi Garewal’s show, Rendezvous With Simi Garewal, for their digital outing. Turns out, the makers initially approached the iconic host to reprise her part for the web series, but she turned down the offer.

Acknowledging that Garewal was his first choice for the role, Menon tells mid-day, “We wanted the interviewer on the show to be able to connect with Shakthi and bring out the most candid aspects of her life. Who better than Simi Garewal to do so? Her ability to empathise with the guests made her the perfect fit. However, it didn’t work out. We eventually cast Lillete Dubey. She makes for a great talk show host.”

The charismatic politician’s 1999 interview remains her most significant dialogue, where she candidly spoke about pining for her mother’s attention as a child, being one of the “most criticised” public figures and her tempestuous equation with M G Ramachandran. It was evident that the fiercely private leader had let her guard down when she sang one of her favourite numbers, Aaja sanam (Chori Chori), with the host.

On her part, Garewal cherishes her heartfelt chat with Jayalalithaa and says it felt morally wrong to recreate it. “The makers called my office a few times, but it seemed wrong to enact my interview with a person who is no longer [with us]. It was out of the question because it would look forced, and it would be lowering my standard. I have my moral reasons to turn it down. But it is, in no way, reflective of the quality of the show. I wish the makers success in retelling the story of one of the most indomitable women of our times.”

Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; August 22, 2019)

It was 71 years ago in the month of August when Raj Kapoor shot Aag (1948) with Nargis, the first film to be produced under his banner R K Films. The movie, shot at the iconic R K Studios in Chembur, gave birth to Raj Kapoor’s company and studio that went on to live for generations, even long after he passed away. In August last year, the filmmaker’s son Rishi Kapoor announced that he and his siblings had decided to sell off the studio, which faced irreparable damage in a fire in 2016.

The studio, which had seen innumerable films and TV shows being shot in its premises, was also home to the Kapoor family’s annual Ganeshotsav in Chembur. Last year, Raj Kapoor’s eldest son, actor Randhir Kapoor, had told us that it was indeed the last of the celebrations in the studio, which had by then, changed hands. When we visited the site of the studio recently, we found that apart from the iconic gate, nothing of the studio really remains. Its canteen (frequented by stars of yore), the shooting floors and recording studios have all been demolished to make way for a plush complex. However, the gate of the studio will be maintained by the new developers as a memory of Mumbai and Hindi cinema’s iconic cinema landmark.

When we reached out to Randhir Kapoor, he said, “I am sad to see everything has been razed. However, the place will always hold a special place in our hearts because it’s been a part of our lives. It was my father’s legacy. When the studio got terribly damaged in that fire, we had to take a step back and think. Such decisions are not easy to arrive at. It was economically not viable for us to keep the studio, repair it and maintain it because we did not have many takers for the studio floors. The shoots have all moved to the Western suburbs. So, it only made sense to let R K Studios go. The gate, I’m told will stay as is and will continue to remind people of RK Studios. We will be thankful to the developers for that.”

Actress Padmini Kolhapure, a Raj Kapoor discovery, shot several films at the RK Studio, including her debut Satyam Shivam Sundaram (1978). When we told her about the studio floor being razed, she reminisced the times when she would spend her days working at the studio. “Today, so many memories attached to R K Studios are coming back to me. It’s sad that now whenever I pass Chembur, I won’t find the studio there, but in Raj uncle’s words, ‘The show must go on’. The memories will live on forever. I shot a lot of films there, so much so that I could call the studio my second home. Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Prem Rog (1982), Rahi Badal Gaye (1985), Yeh Ishq Nahi Aasan (1984) are some of my films I vividly remember shooting for at R K Studios. I feel a stronger connection to the place because I was an R K Films’ heroine. We shot 30 per cent of Prem Rog in the studio at Chembur. We had set up massive sets for the songs. I can never forget those days when we filmed Mohabbat hai kya cheez and Yeh galiyan yeh chaubara there. I was virtually living there. Raj uncle would treat us to such amazing food, and their canteen was phenomenal, too. He would often open the theatre for me to watch some of his classics like Awara (1951) and Shree 420 (1955). He loved cinema and he wanted people to acquaint themselves with it. Raj uncle’s cottage (where he would sit and talk to us), his Holi parties, the recording rooms, the canteen — there's no corner of R K Studio that I don’t remember and that I won’t miss. Whenever I travelled to Pune, I made it a point to go past the R K Studios because I would bow before the Lord Shiva idol they have at the entrance. The studio formed a great part of the city’s legacy and I will miss it each time I pass the bend where it once stood.”

Simi Garewal, who had worked in Raj Kapoor’s Mera Naam Joker (1970), had also made a documentary on the legendary filmmaker's life. She said, “I always thought men go, but their monuments and buildings remain. Now, both have gone. But the memories will remain as long as we live. I don’t mourn the end of R K Studios, the films we made there will remain forever.”

Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali, who shot a song for his last film, Jab Harry Met Sejal (2017) at the studio, told us, “R K Studios is a hallmark in progressive Indian filmmaking and it’s my privilege to have filmed there. Although it is sad to know that it does not exist physically anymore, it will live on in the ethos of Indian filmmaking forever. I would also like to point out that things change, and filmmaking techniques have changed a lot as well, so from time to time, such hard news is inevitable. I shot a song of Jab Harry Met Sejal there, and I visited the make-up rooms as often as possible in the memory of all the great film personalities like Raj Kapoor and others, who have spent time there.”

Ready to return with her iconic show, Simi Garewal to open the new season with recently-married DeepVeer
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; July 17, 2019)

Before celebrity chat shows became cookie-cutter in their approach, Sunday evenings, in the late '90s, were reserved for Simi Garewal. The Lady in White would play the perfect host to distinguished personalities from the world of politics, business, sports and entertainment as they gave a peek into their lives on Rendezvous With Simi Garewal.

Almost 15 years since its last season aired, Garewal is ready to return with her popular show and she has an ace up her sleeve already. Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone are likely to open the season, marking their first joint televised appearance post marriage.

"I have never revealed names till I've shot the episode. But I'll reveal this — Deepika and Ranveer have promised their first interview together for Rendezvous," smiles Garewal, who teases that the new edition will also feature several GenNext stars from Bollywood. The long-running show had seen several celebrities, including Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan, Shah Rukh and Gauri Khan, Aishwarya Rai, Hrithik Roshan, Rekha and Kareena Kapoor Khan bare their heart to her.

Ask her if the latest offering will see any change in the format, and Garewal insists that the heart-to-heart conversations are the show's forte. "Why would I change the format [to include] more gossip and games? People resort to games when they cannot make a conversation. It's an easy way out! No research needed! [But] Rendezvous is about getting to 'know' the person. I get many messages from viewers saying they are tired of the present format of talk shows." The show is likely to stream on her YouTube channel.

Meena Iyer (DNA; September 22, 2018)

It’s raining films for Manoj Bajpayee. The actor, who will complete 25 years in showbiz next year, is enjoying this phase where he is feted, felicitated and rewarded with mainstream fare like Satyameva Jayate to the hatke stuff like Love Sonia and Gali Guleiyan. Right now, Mumbai is more like a stopover port for the 49-year-old, who has been travelling the world with his work. And though home is where the heart resides, Manoj admits that he also has to adjust being a suitcase daddy sometimes.

Excerpts of our chat with the multi-talented artiste, who never fails to surprise.

It’s been a Manoj Bajpayee season; it began with Aligarh and continues to gather momentum, right?
The typical response would be that God has been kind. But then, that’s also the truth. You have been a part of this business for a long time, in fact, you were around, much before I arrived on the scene. You know the nature of this business. One never knows when one movie starts and how the ball keeps rolling. You need to find a reason for it, so you can repeat the same thing in the coming season. But it never happens. Over the 24 years that I have been here, I have come to only one conclusion; when it’s happening, be happy and celebrate. In this field, the lows are too many and the highs are too few. So if you don’t celebrate, you will miss the train (laughs). No matter how big a star you are, you will feel lonely, left out and miserable. But the best part is that when the high comes, it can either spoil you, ruin you or make you think that you’re the best.

You’ve been able to mix and match very nicely. After a Satyameva Jayate, you also had a Gali Guleiyan.
This year has been great for middle-of-the-road films. Missing is doing well on the digital platform, but sadly, it wasn’t distributed too well during its theatrical release. Gali Guleiyan, too, has managed to generate curiosity and become a talking point, by the grace of God. It’s an independent parallel film, there is no denying it. But once you sit through it, it will not leave you easily. I’m proud of it.

Considering the whirlwind it has been, how are you holding on to sanity? Obviously, you have your wife Shabana and daughter Ava Nayla at home...
The sanity of the experience lies in keeping yourself intact. I’ve been doing a lot of things.

You’re doing a digital series, too, with Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK.
Yes, we will be finishing it this month. It’s an amazing series about a middle-class guy, who tries to balance the demands of his job and family. He’s an intelligence officer and there’s this myth that they are like Superman. Through it, you understand what a government official working in the intel does, goes through and what happens to his family. There’s also a cultural difference as he’s from Benares while his wife is from South India and their children are studying in an English Medium school in Mumbai. So, you have three different cultures under one roof, failing and succeeding to strike a balance between both worlds. It’s a great subject and we’ve shot some amazing sequences.

Tell us about your experience with Love Sonia, though it’s a special appearance.
When it was first offered to me, I said no. It’s a pathetic character, I didn’t want to do it. I turned the complete black into some grey; that was my contribution. It’s a small role, but it stays with you. Director Tabrez Noorani, producer David Womark and I have put our minds to this character and have tried to make him look like a businessman who thinks he is a saviour of the girls. Pimp is too small a term for him, he is actually managing the racket or the mafia of human trafficking. He believes that he is a businessman and anyone who tries to ruin his job is in danger. We’ve given him a complete human look, and when he changes his colours, it baffles you as to how anyone can be such a chameleon. When you see his dark side, he is fearful and dangerous. On the other side, he is a father, mentor, guide and saviour of the girls. You see everything in him, but you can’t mess with his business as he calls it. I’m supporting the film because the issue is close to my heart. I fail to understand why in the world, none of the governments of any country could bring this into the forum of the United Nations and make it a global rule that people involved in human trafficking are given such a strict punishment that the message goes out to everybody.

Globally, films like Aligarh, Gali Guleiyan and now, Love Sonia have been earning you a lot of notices. How does that feel?
Demi Moore didn’t speak to me after Love Sonia. She was very chatty with me before it started. When Simi Garewal saw it in Melbourne, she said please don’t talk to me (laughs). So, I know for a few days, I’m going to lose some of my female fans because of the feelings my character evokes.

With your performances garnering international acclaim, are you looking at more opportunities in the West?
Yes, at the insistence of a few of my friends, I’m looking westwards. I’ve spoken to some and they have been selflessly working on finding a way to promote me. David is one of them. Tabrez is doing it in his way. Deepesh Jain, who is based in Los Angeles, is doing it for Gali Guleiyan. There are other friends in LA, and they have been at it, too. Also, because they love me as a performer, they feel I should find some work there.

How does being a suitcase daddy work for you? How does your daughter Ava Nayla react?
Since the last few months, I have been at home. My wife Shabana says this is what she likes. She knows that I will be coming home for a few months. It doesn’t matter if I’ll be leaving early morning and returning in the evening. So, it’s a good feeling. I’m loving it too. But now, they’re bored of me (smiles). That’s the life of an actor.

You’re looking leaner. Have you been hitting the gym and eating healthy?
Yes, I’ve been eating well, leading a very healthy life. I quit smoking 13 years ago and hard liquor as well. I used to have white wine earlier, but now I’ve quit that, too. For the last few months, I’ve been a teetotaller.

Has that been easy?
It’s very easy. In the 24 years that I have been an actor, you know how to switch off. I started believing that it was not all fluke, it was a lot of hard work. That’s the good feeling I have.

How good a driver are you considering you started late?
I’ve become a good and safe driver. I’ve been learning cooking also. I’m learning to become a good husband and a good father. When I’m at home, I try to be with my daughter. She shouts at me when I’m on my phone. She immediately says, ‘Papa, shut your phone.’ She demands my attention, which is good.

If others can want your attention, your daughter can also want it.
My daughter doesn’t want it, she grabs it (laughs).

Actress and celebrated talk show host Simi Garewal will pay a special tribute to the late Shashi Kapoor at an upcoming film festival in Melbourne
Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; July 25, 2018)

Shashi Kapoor’s Siddhartha (1972) will be screened at the Melbourne film festival this year, to commemorate the late actor’s immense contribution to Indian cinema. Directed by Conrad Rooks, the film, which is based on Hermann Hesse’s book by the same name, traces the journey of Siddhartha, who engages in the quest for a meaningful life. Simi Garewal, who was Shashi Kapoor’s co-star in the film, will host the screening as a special commemoration for the late actor, following which she will also engage in a special Q&A session with the audience, who would be flying down from across the world.

Speaking to Bombay Times, Simi said, “Shashi was my friend, my co star. I will talk about him at the festival before our film’s screening. His personality had so many facets. He was a perfect co-star, a gentleman and a dear friend. He knew how to conduct himself, be it here or abroad. He never gave a chance to anybody to question his words or behaviour, ever. Shashi’s passion for meaningful cinema also made him stand out. As an actor and a producer, he was ready to put his money on films like Vijeta (1982) and 36 Chowringhee Lane (1981), which may not have been considered to be commercially viable per se.”

Simi Garewal (BOMBAY TIMES; December 6, 2017)

It’s like I’ve always known Shashi! You see, I arrived in Mumbai to join Bollywood when I was 15. I’m not sure if the Raj Kapoor family adopted me or I adopted them, but soon I felt I was a part of their family. So, I met Shashi often, as I did all the other Kapoor family members. But Shashi always came across as different! In the sense, his bothers Raj ji and Shammi ji were flamboyant showbiz people. Shashi, on the other hand, was always quiet and quite ‘unfilmi’!

There were some offers even way back then for casting us, from Ismail Merchant and others, but they didn’t work out till Siddhartha. Shashi was incredibly professional. Punctual, polite to everyone on set — he was a perfect costar. Most supportive and encouraging to me when I needed it. One couldn’t ask for more.

I must add, Shashi is that rare person in captious Bollywood whom no one spoke a word against. He was never rude, never misbehaved nor interfered. You could not fault him on any count and that’s a badge of honour. I recall Shashi and I travelled to New York for the opening of Siddhartha. The long flights together gave us a chance to talk non-stop in between catching up on sleep. We were received by streetch limousines which became our mode of travel. Shashi would sink into the leather seats and laugh, “Sheer luxury. I could get so used to it,” he’d say. There were large hoardings of us on the streets and he would point, “Slow down. Look!” (Pity we had no mobiles then).

But the four days in Venice were something else! This was the time when we sat on the patio of the Excelsior Palace Hotel and really talked and connected. I also saw a side of Shashi few would have seen — and that’s the side I remember.

It was 1972. We had gone for the Venice Film Festival. It was a great meeting ground for renowned world filmmakers and international media and Shashi simply shone! Everyone would gather at the bar by midday. Everyone drank; I was the only teetotaller. “Come on Simi, you can’t just sip on Cokes — I’ll get you a cocktail,” Shashi insisted. “No please I hate alcohol.”

“Just try it na,” he persuaded me, “Take a sip. Chuck it if it’s awful.” And he introduced me to a Bellini (champagne and peaches). I loved it! Shashi seemed in his element there. I saw his sophistication, his savoir faire, which I could never see in India. He was the only actor who knew how to order food and wines in a restaurant, knew how to eat and had perfect table manners. No other actor has ever had his level of international style.

Women were always hitting on Shashi, falling all over him, openly, even in front of their husbands! Shashi was so cool in the way he handled them, that it made them get even more moony-eyed and bolder. I remember an Italian lady left her table and came to ours; ignoring us she literally clung to Shashi. Her husband arrived and yelled at his wife — she screamed back at him and a fight ensued. It was amazing to watch how expertly Shashi handled her — and deposited her back to her husband. She left the restaurant still blowing kisses to Shashi!

The Siddhartha night will remain with me as long as I live. Shashi and I walked from our hotel Excelsior Palace to the theatre. Shashi, in a dark Jodhpuri, looked exquisite beside me. I had on my Siddhartha head jewellery and wore a long train on my evening coat and some young Italian boys picked up the edges and trailed behind me all the way. The paparazzi went mad!

After the screening, we went up on stage and received a standing ovation. The applause continued for fifteen minutes — going on and on — wave after wave. We’d take our ‘last bow’ — and the applause rose each time… the audience didn’t want to let us go. It was magical. Surreal. Siddhartha won the Silver Lion Award in Venice.

Conrad was a generous host. We’d dine out each night at Harry’s Bar. Mostly we’d travel by motor boat, but this last night, we came out of Harry’s Bar and Shashi said ‘Hum to aaj gondola men jayenge’ (Funny thing — when we were abroad, Shashi often spoke to me in Hindi). So we got into a gondola and of course the gondolier sang for us. Then Shashi, our mild, ever-dignified, always-so-proper Shashi, stood up and started a peculiar half-Hindi duet with the gondolier! Each Italian line was followed with a made-up Hindi line! He was so funny — I couldn’t stop laughing. Then Shashi started belting out Shammi Kapoor songs with abandon, on top of his voice! Now, Shashi CAN’T sing! But passing gondolas cheered and clapped. It was like a comedy scene from a film.

A few years ago, Shashi and I were honoured with awards for Siddhartha in Delhi. We watched the film with the audience and as the scenes unfolded Shashi whispered to me, “You know, I can’t remember a thing about Siddhartha. Not a thing. It’s all a blur to me”.

It saddened me deeply; and that night his words kept haunting me. I thought, is it all really a blur? Is Venice a blur too? The standing ovation? The gondola? After Siddhartha, we got many offers to work together, but only Naach Uthe Sansaar and Kabhi Kabhie worked out. Ahsaas was a lovely film we shot for Ramesh Sippy, I don’t know why he shelved it.

As an actor, Shashi’s proclivities were always too refined for Bollywood. Maybe that was Jennifer’s influence. He hated all the naach-gaana stuff but acquiesced just to keep working and earning.

You see, as I’ve always believed in my Rendezvous shows, to really understand a man you have to know his wife… Here was a young Shashi who saw this beautiful woman on stage and fell in love with the ‘pari’. He pursued her with the tenacity of youth. Jennifer became not just his wife, but also his muse, his greatest influence and definitely the anchor of his life. They lived in their own little world away from the razzmatazz of Bollywood. Shashi always sought Jennifer’s approval. Her opinions mattered. For a Shakespearean actor of Jennifer’s calibre — the Bollywood of that time was pretty lowbrow, to put it mildly. Especially the ‘naach-gaana’ stuff — and Shashi began to feel that too. Even though Prithviraj Kapoor started as a stage actor, Shashi’s foray into art cinema and theatre was a distinct manifestation of Jennifer’s influence.

Who was the real Shashi Kapoor? It was hard to tell. Jennifer occupied, or Shashi himself seceded a large part of his personality to her and they merged. And then, when the anchor died, Shashi was rudderless. With Jennifer gone, Shashi struggled, but couldn’t find himself. That vast area of his personality that was Jennifer, now lay empty. A void. I met him in London over dinner with Ismail Merchant and could see he was floundering; he was different, not himself. Shashi eventually gave up the inner struggle and almost became a recluse.

Sometimes, years would go by without our meeting; but Shashi was my friend so he remained in my radar. We met last at an award function. At the far end of the corridor there was this figure in a wheelchair. Sanjna said to me, “He’s had a stroke, so one side is paralysed. He also had a heart attack and lots of problems. He doesn’t remember people. So don’t be upset. I’m just warning you.”

It didn’t matter if Shashi remembered me or not, I still had to go to him. I bent down to look into his tired face. His eyes lifted and focused on me and he said: “Hello Simi.” I felt like laughing and crying. I just wanted to hug him. I’m grateful he was bestowed with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award and I hope it meant much to him. He looked healthy and wonderful while receiving it — just like my Siddhartha.

Now, to know that he has gone forever fills me with a deep sadness. No one can fill the empty space he leaves behind. His sheer beauty. His gentle demeanour. And also, at times, a wicked sense of humour! He has touched so many hearts through his films and his passion for cinema. And that’s where he will remain — on the silver screen — and in our hearts.

Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 25, 2017)

Actress Simi Garewal, who seamlessly transitioned to the role of a talk show host with her eponymous show, Rendezvous, is gearing up for a comeback with a new season being picked up by Colors Infinity. “It’s going to be a brilliant line-up of stars,” promises the 69-year-old veteran star.

Meanwhile, Simi recently reunited with her Karz-director, Subhash Ghai, and co-star Rishi Kapoor for a ‘matinee show’ of the 1980 thriller that never had a premiere ahead of its theatrical release. In Ghai’s office, ahead of the screening, which was part of an endeavour to revive classics at Mumbai’s heritage theatre, New Excelsior, the trio reminisced how Karz had fallen short of a silver jubilee run but had gone on to become a cult film. “Karz has been cloned by many but they never worked since the original remains etched in the audience’s mind,” Simi reveals, recalling how during the recent screening, youngsters ran to the front of the screen, dancing to the film’s songs.

“Chintu and I agreed that we’ve never seen anything like it before!” But Simi contends that the occasion doesn’t qualify as a jog down memory lane as Rishi and she “meet all the time”. “My last episode of Rendezvous was with Chintu and Neetu in Melbourne. They’re the most honest couple, not worried about their image or celebrity-status. Chintu was at his wittiest,” she signs off with a smile.

Simi Garewal on the ailing Jayalalithaa, who she once had on her television chat show for atwo- part special
Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; December 6, 2016)

Jayalalithaa featured in Simi Garewal’s chat show, Rendezvous With Simi Garewal, in 1999. Simi, who is currently out of the country, has been keeping herself updated about the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s health condition.

Simi says, “Jayalalithaa is one awesome woman. They don’t make them like her anymore. I am praying for her. I had interviewed her in Chennai. The conversation kept flowing and I had to telecast the episode in two parts. It was a warm, amiable Jayaji, she even sang a song! I was told several things about her, but she proved to be contrary to the image created about her. She was an interviewer’s delight. She is a great fighter and has won many battles. I am waiting for her to win this one too. Talking about her in a few lines just won’t do justice to her.”

DNA (October 5, 2016)

Simi Garewal recently shot an episode of her chat show Rendezvous with Simi Garewal with Rishi and Neetu Kapoor in Melbourne. She got them to talk about everything from the the ups and downs in their relationship, his hilarious and at times controversial tweets and their son Ranbir Kapoor. When asked about his relationship with Ranbir, Rishi confessed, “There’s a glass wall between us. We can see each other but not feel anything. I had a fear of my father. I was in awe of him. I had great respect for him. It took him a long time to say have a drink in front of me. I used to call him sahab. Now that we (Ranbir Kapoor) don’t live under one roof, there’s more communication. He talks to his mother more than me. But I don’t think Ranbir will be a father like me.” While Neetu recalled a time when she was away for a few days and Ranbir was at home. “I kept calling him to ask how’re you doing. He said I’m fine, I’m having dinner with papa and all that. So when I got back, I was like how was it? He said we had a few quiet moments. He said koi baat hi nahin huyi. Hum dinners pe jaate thhe aur khana khate thhe. I have to be there in the house for a conversation to happen between them,” she revealed.

Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 18, 2016)

The 'Bajirao Mastani' filmmaker celebrated his film's National Award wins with old and new filmi friends in attendance
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 30, 2016)

Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 27, 2015)

Subhash Ghai reveals that Karz was conceived out of a need to retaliate against a comment he'd heard from the film fraternity that while he was an excellent director who could make blockbusters of crime thrillers like Kalicharan and Vishwanath, he had no sense of music. The observation haunted him and was the inception for this musical thriller which, 35 years after its release, still has six year olds crooning, "Om Shanti Om."

With the thought of a musical in his mind, Ghai stumbled upon a 1975 American supernatural suspense thriller, The Reincarnation of Peter Proud, directed by Cafe Fear maker J. Lee Thompson. "I didn't understand the film but I liked the idea of a mother recognising her son's soul even in a different body," reminisces the filmmaker, who, holding on to the thought, took off to Ooty alone, returning after 20 days with the first draft of Karz, which he narrated to his screenplay writer Sachin Bhowmick.

"Sachinda thought it was a good murder mystery in the mould of Vishwanath and Kalicharan. He was surprised when I told him I wanted to make it like a musical thriller. When he suggested I stick to doing what I was good at, I told him that I was good at many things, people just didn't know it. He smiled and asked for a second draft," recalls Ghai, who went back to Ooty to figure out how to integrate a musical theme into the plot and found his answer in Om.

Having studied Vedic science, he knew that Om was one word which vibrates in the soul. In a moment of epiphany, he decided to create a musical note which would be the soul of the film.

After completing the second draft he narrated the story to Laxmikant-Pyarelal, telling them he wanted them to compose the music. "But you are known for your traditional Indian scores, I want a more westernised orchestration," he told the duo, who accepted the challenge and came up with the first song, "Dard-E-Dil, Dard-E-Jigar", a ghazal penned by Anand Bakshi, which Rishi Kapoor aka Monty sings when he sees Tina (Munim) and falls in love with her at first sight.

"While we were recording this song, I asked Pyarelalji to give me some theme tunes. He played six of them for me on the piano. I picked number three, a haunting tune which played through the film as the script and music travelled together," says Ghai.

Besides music, he also used Hindu mythology and the concept of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh being reborn as different avatars to tell a story of intrigue and murder, revenge and retribution which continues beyond death, into another life to climax at the same Kali temple where Part 1 ended. Rishi was Ghai's choice for Monty, the reincarnation of Ravi Verma, because "he's a great dancer and lover, and one of the best actors we have".

He was paired with an innocent Tina Munim. Ghai named her character Tina and told her to simply be herself.

The biggest casting challenge was Kamini. "I didn't want a conventional vamp to play the sly princess... the elegant countess, I wanted Simi. But she wasn't ready to accept a performance-oriented role because it had grey shades. It took two months to convince her," he admits.

Three decades later, Karz is unforgettable for Simi's class act and Rishi Kapoor's cult song, "Om Shanti Om". Ghai wanted to travel through Om to the film's theme and while his music directors loved the idea, they were at a loss to come up with a happy song about a man in love which began with the words "Om Shanti Om" and moved to "Mere Umar Ke Naujavanon" in the second line. But like their director and lyricist, they proved equal to the task and were rewarded with the Filmfare Award for Best Music Director. The trophy vindicated Subhash Ghai whose innate sense of music was never questioned again.

In 2008, Karz was remade by Himesh Reshammiya as Karzzzz. Quiz Ghai on it and he says once he sells the rights of a film, he never contributes, interferes with or even sees the remake. "It's a deal between two companies, my job is over once I sell the rights," he reasons, admitting he has never wanted to remake any of his films. "But a sequel to Karz is a definite possibility."

Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; March 5, 2014)

Simi Garewal has decided to push back the new season of her chat show, India’s Most Desirable. The actress-turned-anchor feels that there should be a time gap between celebrity chat shows as it leads to audience fatigue.

Back in 2011, Simi’s show had gone on air immediately after season 3 of Karan Johar’s Koffee With Karan came to an end. This time, however, she feels audiences need a break.

Adds the source, “To add to this, Aamir Khan’s issue based show Satyamev Jayate is currently being aired on TV, so airing Simi’s show right after Koffee With Karan gets over will not be a good move.” Simi’s show Rendezvous with Simi Garewal first aired in the year 1997 and enjoyed a good run till 2007. Simi then decided to reinvent the show and in 2011, she renamed it India’s Most Desirable.

Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; February 13, 2014)

Simi Garewal is set to return to the big screen. She may be synonymous with her chat shows in recent times, but it appears that the actress-turned-TV host is giving acting another go.

During the ’60s and ’70s, she was seen in several films and by the early ’80s, she switched to producing small screen shows.

Says a source, “When the makers approached her, she was taken aback. It has been nearly three decades since she has acted in a film. It was an out of the blue offer for her, but with interesting scripts being made into films now, this was a new challenge for her.” Adds the source, “Things are in the initial stages right now, so everyone concerned is tightlipped about the project. They don’t want any names to be revealed at this juncture as the makers want to make an announcement once things are finalised.” It is learnt that Simi will be essaying a pivotal role in the film. Considering that she is known for her trademark white attire, it remains to be seen how she will step out in her Bollywood film avtar.

Simi has featured in films such as Mehboob Khan’s Son of India (1962), Raj Kapoor’s Mera Naam Joker (1970), Satyajit Ray’s Aranyer Din Ratri (1970), Mrinal Sen’s Padatik (1973), Raj Khosla’s Do Badan (1966), Sunder Das’ Chalte Chalte (1976) and Subhash Ghai’s Karz (1980). She later turned to television shows like It’s A Woman’s World, Rendezvous With Simi Garewal and India’s Most Desirable.