On October 17, 2024, Simi Garewal celebrated her 77th birthday, reminding fans of her timeless charm. She is a famous Indian actress, director, producer, and talk show host. Her life is full of inspiring stories. She worked in many films and hosted a popular TV show. This article tells her story in simple words. It covers her early life, career, personal life, and achievements.
Early Life and Family
Simi Garewal was born on October 17, 1947, in Ludhiana, Punjab, India. Her full name is Simrita Garewal. Her father, Brigadier J.S. Garewal, was an officer in the Indian Army. Her mother, Darshi, was a homemaker. Simi belongs to a Jatt Sikh family. She has a sister named Amrita. Her family moved to London, UK, when Simi was very young. She was only six years old at that time.
In London, Simi studied at Newland House School. She grew up speaking English. This gave her a strong English accent. She loved watching films as a child. At five, she saw a Hindi movie called *Awaara*. She fell in love with acting after that. She told her parents she wanted to be an actress. But they did not agree. Simi was stubborn. She went on a hunger strike to convince them. Finally, her parents said yes.
When Simi was a teenager, she moved back to India with her mother and sister. She wanted to work in Bollywood. But it was not easy. She tried acting in England first. She gave auditions at Twickenham Studios. But they rejected her because of her Indian looks. In India, people rejected her for her Western looks. Simi did not give up. She joined Filmalaya Acting School in Mumbai to learn acting.
Simrita Garewal Age, Wikipedia, Biography, Net Worth, Husband, Children, Sister, Family
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Simrita Garewal |
| Date of Birth | October 17, 1947 |
| Place of Birth | Ludhiana, Punjab, India |
| Family | Father: Brigadier J.S. Garewal (Indian Army); Mother: Darshi; Sister: Amrita |
| Education | Newland House School, London; Filmalaya Acting School, Mumbai |
| Early Life | Moved to London at age 6; returned to India as a teenager to pursue acting |
| First Film | Tarzan Goes to India (1962, English film) |
| Notable Films | Do Badan (1966), Saathi (1968), Mera Naam Joker (1970), Aranyer Din Ratri (1970, Bengali), Siddhartha (1972, English), Kabhi Kabhie (1976), Karz (1980) |
| Controversy | Nude scene in Siddhartha (1972) caused controversy in India |
| Directorial Works | It’s a Woman’s World (1983, TV series), Living Legend Raj Kapoor (1984, documentary), India’s Rajiv (1991, documentary), Rukhsat (1988, Hindi film) |
| Production | Founded Siga Arts International; produced TV commercials (one won an award in Australia, 1988) |
| Talk Show | Rendezvous with Simi Garewal (1997–2007, 5 seasons, 140 episodes); Simi Selects India’s Most Desirable (2011) |
| Awards | Screen Award for Best Talk Show (1999), Indian Television Academy Award (2003), other awards for Rendezvous |
| Signature Style | Known as “The Lady in White” for wearing white outfits on her talk show |
| Personal Life | Dated Shatrushalyasinhji Digvijaysinhji (Maharaja of Jamnagar) at 17; relationship with Ratan Tata; married Ravi Mohan (1970, divorced 1979); no children; attempted to adopt a girl named Vijaya (2013, unsuccessful) |
| Hobbies | Baking cakes, playing snooker, video games, spending time with her dog Chutki |
| Lifestyle | Night owl, enjoys wine at parties, supports charities for orphanages and education |
| Pets | Has a dog named Chutki Garewal |
| Social Media | Runs a YouTube channel (over 510,000 subscribers as of 2023); active on social media |
| Recent Activity | Posted about Ratan Tata’s death in 2024 |
| Legacy | Inspired women with strong roles; changed TV interviews with Rendezvous; known for elegance, talent, and kindness |
Starting Her Acting Career
Simi’s acting journey began in 1962. She was only 15 years old. Her first film was *Tarzan Goes to India*, an English movie. She played a small role with actor Feroz Khan. People noticed her talent. Soon, Bollywood directors offered her roles. But there was a problem. Simi’s Hindi was not perfect. She had an English accent. This made it hard for her to get big roles. She mostly got small or supporting roles.
In the 1960s and 1970s, Simi acted in many Hindi films. Some of her famous movies were *Do Badan* (1966), *Saathi* (1968), and *Mera Naam Joker* (1970). She worked with big directors like Raj Khosla and Raj Kapoor. She also acted in Bengali films. She played a role in *Aranyer Din Ratri* (1970) by Satyajit Ray. Another Bengali film was *Padatik* (1973) by Mrinal Sen. Simi was bold. In 1972, she acted in an English film called *Siddhartha*. She did a nude scene in it. This caused a big controversy in India. The film was released only after some scenes were cut.
Simi’s role in *Karz* (1980) was very popular. She played a vamp named Kamini. People loved her acting. She also acted in *Kabhi Kabhie* (1976) and *Chalte Chalte* (1976). Her cousin’s husband, Yash Chopra, made *Kabhi Kabhie*. Simi’s acting was strong, but she never became a top heroine. Her accent and Western style limited her roles. Still, she made a mark in Indian cinema.
Becoming a Director and Producer
In the 1980s, Simi wanted to do more than acting. She started writing and directing. She formed her own company called Siga Arts International. In 1983, she made a TV series for Doordarshan called *It’s a Woman’s World*. She hosted, produced, and directed it. People liked her work. In 1984, she made a documentary called *Living Legend Raj Kapoor*. It was shown on Channel 4 in the UK. Raj Kapoor was her mentor, and she admired him.
In 1991, Simi wrote and directed a three-part documentary called *India’s Rajiv*. It was about the Indian politician Rajiv Gandhi. The documentary was praised worldwide. Simi also directed a Hindi film called *Rukhsat* in 1988. She acted in it too. She produced TV commercials as well. One of her commercials won a prize in Australia in 1988. Simi proved she was not just an actress. She was a talented director and producer too.
Rendezvous with Simi Garewal
Simi became a household name with her talk show *Rendezvous with Simi Garewal*. It started in 1997 on Star World India. The show had five seasons and 140 episodes. Simi interviewed famous people like actors, cricketers, and business tycoons. Her style was warm and classy. She asked deep questions. People loved watching her show. She won many awards for it. These included the Screen Award for Best Talk Show in 1999, the Indian Television Academy Award in 2003, and others.
Simi always wore white clothes on her show. People started calling her “The Lady in White”. Her show was different from others. It was calm and thoughtful. In 2011, she started another show called *Simi Selects India’s Most Desirable*. It was about single celebrities and their love lives. This show aired on Star Plus. Simi also has a YouTube channel. She uploads her interviews there. The channel has millions of views.
Personal Life
Simi’s personal life had many ups and downs. At 17, she fell in love with her neighbor, Shatrushalyasinhji Digvijaysinhji. He was the Maharaja of Jamnagar. They dated for three years. Later, she was in a relationship with industrialist Ratan Tata. They remained friends even after parting ways. In 1970, Simi married Ravi Mohan, a businessman from Delhi. But the marriage did not last. They lived apart after a few months. They divorced in 1979. Simi and Ravi had no children.
In 2013, Simi shared a sad story. She wanted to adopt a girl named Vijaya from an orphanage. She completed most of the legal steps. But at the last moment, the girl’s biological parents came back. Simi was heartbroken. She loves dogs and has a pet named Chutki Garewal. Simi enjoys baking cakes, playing snooker, and video games. She also likes wearing white clothes because they make her feel positive.
Hobbies and Lifestyle
Simi is a private person. She does not share much about her life. But she loves simple things. She enjoys baking and playing games. She is a night owl. She works best at night and sleeps late. Simi is also kind. She supports charities quietly. She helps orphanages and promotes education for poor children. Her elegant style inspires many people. She started a YouTube channel in 2012. It has over 510,000 subscribers as of 2023.
Simi is a dog lover. Her pet, Chutki, is very special to her. She sometimes drinks wine at parties. She admires actor Dev Anand. His words helped her during tough times. Simi also got Botox done once. She said it was to avoid frown lines. She is open about her choices. Her fans love her honesty.
Legacy and Impact
Simi Garewal is a role model. She faced many challenges but never gave up. Her work in films and TV is unforgettable. She played strong women on screen. This inspired many women to follow their dreams. As a director, she told meaningful stories. Her talk show changed how interviews were done in India. She brought grace and depth to TV.
Simi’s life shows that hard work pays off. She started with small roles. But she became a big name. Her white outfits and calm voice are iconic. She is still active on social media. In 2024, she posted about her friend Ratan Tata’s death. It touched many hearts. Simi’s story is about courage, talent, and kindness.
Conclusion
Simi Garewal is a true star. Born in 1947, she worked hard to achieve her dreams. From acting in films to hosting a famous talk show, she did it all. Her life had struggles, but she stayed strong. She is known for her elegance and talent. At 77, she continues to inspire people. Simi Garewal’s story proves that with determination, anything is possible. Her legacy will live on in Indian cinema and television.
