
Veteran Indian actress Simi Garewal stunned in her first-time appearance at the 78th Cannes Film Festival, turning heads in a beautiful white outfit that combined Indian artisanship with international chic. Garewal was 76 as she walked the red carpet for the 4 K-restored screening of Satyajit Ray's 1970 Aranyer Din Ratri, in which she acted.
Garewal's look, created by Indian couture house Karleo, was a flowy ivory skirt with rose montes and delicate silk thread details. The look was completed with a contemporary cascading jacket made of raw silk and decorated with traditional Indian prints. A freshwater pearl corset, which was upcycled from an old piece, finished the look.
Designer Leon Vaz of Karleo gave some insight into the making of the outfit, highlighting using Indian fabrics such as raw silks and motifs worked on to a modern cut. He said that the design went through some changes to adhere to new Cannes Film Festival rules, with the intention of putting India on the international platform.
Garewal paired her white outfit with a statement white floral necklace, classy pearl earrings, and striking rings, being faithful to her classic white affinity. Her appearance, along with fellow vintage star Sharmila Tagore, was greeted with open arms, with social media hailing them as "royalty" and clapping for their timeless elegance.
The screening of Aranyer Din Ratri by celebrated director Wes Anderson at the premiere in Cannes was a tribute to Indian cinema's timelessness and global respect for Ray's work. Garewal's Cannes debut was not only tribute to her illustrious career but to the grandeur of Indian talent globally.