I introduced Pamela to the late Yash Chopra at a wedding

The talk show host Simi Garewal talks about introducing cousin Pamela to the late Yash Chopra at a wedding 

Not many know that Simi Garewal and Yash Chopra's wife Pamela are first cousins. Simi's mother Darshi and Pamela's father Mohinder Singh were siblings. Interestingly, it was Simi who had introduced Pamela to Yash at a wedding! 

Says Simi, Pam's father was in the Navy and was stationed in Delhi. She had accompanied me to a wedding where a lot of film folk including Yashji were present. Their marriage in 1970 was a grand affair with lots of naach gaana. I still remember actress Mumtaz dancing in the baaraat.
Simi adds that Pam always liked music and dance. She loved to sing Punjabi songs and would teach me how to sing with the right accent. Whatever Punjabi songs I know, I owe it to her. Pam had also learnt bharatnatyam and I recall as youngsters during holiday time we would be dancing till 2 am. She would keep on saying tha thei thei thath till I would get the steps right.

Simi adds, Initially, she would be there at the music sessions for Yashji's films. Yashji would take a lot of inputs from her till the children (Aditya and Uday) came along. Yashji always remained a priority in Pam's life. She was totally devoted to him.

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Simi Garewal launches own website as a bridge with fans

After guarding her personal life for years, Simi Garewal decided to share it with fans through her personal website launched on her 64th birthday Wednesday  She calls it a bridge between her and her fans and feels that people will "get an insight into my personal life - and me personally".

"All my life I have been a very private person. I have stayed out of the gossip columns and tabloids, because I love my privacy. But I realised,

because of that I seem to have built invisible walls around me," she said in statement. "I believe, for the first time, people will get an insight into my personal life - and me personally," she added.

She has launched a well-stocked personal site and promises to update it regularly.

The website www. simigarewal .com gives people an insight into the actress' family, cinema, TV shows, style, thoughts and even about her love and married life.

"It wasn't easy finding all the photographs required for the site. Writing reams of material - each word has been written by me - so it's extremely personal," Simi said in a statement.

She has spent four months working on the website, and has included old photographs, videos and anecdotes to make it personal.

"Luckily, I've always kept a detailed diary that recorded every conversation all through my life - so it really came in handy now. I've also put together the designs and music. This site will have full episodes of all my TV shows in high definition quality. Surfers can also read my experiences of working in my favourite films," she said.

The website also gives an account of her encounters with icons like late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, Bollywood showman Raj Kapoor and Oscar winning director Satyajit Ray, as well as her personal comments on the guests who graced her chat show "Rendezvous".

There was a specific motive behind launching such a portal, says Simi, who charmed audiences with her elegance in movies like "Mera Naam Joker" and "Karz".

"Over the years I have received wonderful messages and a great deal of affection from my loyal fans, which has really touched me. So, I thought, why keep these walls that separate us? Why not build bridges instead - so I can reach out to them - and they to me?" she said.

"My site is going to continue to grow. I will constantly update and add to it. And I hope it will become interactive soon," she added.

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Why is Simi suddenly going all public?

Actress-chat show host defends her image as a private person but says she is now ready to reach out 

Apart from being the lady in white, Simi Garewal is known for her inimitable style of hosting chat shows. Being so very concerned and empathetic, she makes her star guests pour their hearts out.

The actress-turned-filmmaker-turned-anchor celebrates her birthday on October 17. To mark her big day, Simi is launching her personal website. She describes it to be like her biography. After being part of showbiz for decades, Simi feels it is time to break her self-imposed wall of privacy...

Why this sudden need to go public?
I have always been a private person. I have stayed out of gossip columns because I love my privacy. But I realised that I seem to have built invisible walls around me. I have received messages and affection from my fans, which has really touched me. So, I thought, why keep these walls that separate us? Why not build bridges instead so I can reach out to them and they to me?
What is so unique about it?
I have visited most of the websites of film folk from around the world. I found them quite business-like. My website is personal each word has been penned by me. I have worked on the designs as well. I'm pretty nifty with Adobe.

It's like my biography starting from my family, my films, docus and TV show. I have also spoken about love, marriage, my fashion style and my thoughts. Luckily, I've always kept a diary it really came handy now. 

I think few people are aware of my body of work. They will read my experiences of working in films. They can read my stories on Rajiv Gandhi, Raj Kapoor, Satyajit Ray and others. Also, about my guests on the chat shows.
You have done films, docus, made ads as well as produced and hosted chat shows. Which role do you enjoy the most?
Over the years I have interviewed over 200 people! I have enjoyed my chat shows which were in front of the cameras. For my docus, interviews were conducted behind the camera. Creatively, I enjoy the writing, direction and editing part the most.

Given an opportunity in which chat show would you like to be a guest?
I've been invited on several chat shows, but I haven't accepted any. I prefer asking questions.
When is the next season of your chat show coming up?
I have been offered to do India's Most Desirable in Hindi. I'm still mulling over it. I have other plans too.

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Simi Garewal goes desi!

Simi Garewal has been approached for a new season of her television chat show but in Hindi

Simi Garewal has been approached to do a Hindi version of her chat show with celebrities. Interestingly, the offer has come from not the channel she has been associated with, but from another channel.

The actress-turned-anchor had hosted and produced the first season of the show with whom she termed as the most desirable stars. They spoke about both their personal and professional life.

The list included Deepika Padukone, Ranbir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma, John Abraham, Ranveer Singh and Sonam Kapoor among others. Now she has been offered to do its second season but in Hindi.

Says a source, “The show aired on a niche channel which only airs English fare. A Hindi entertainment has asked her to host a second season for them.

The aim is to reach out to a wider audience. As she is able to enlist A-list stars for her programme, the channel feels they can grab more eyeballs if done on a Hindi entertainment channel. And also because of Simi’s inimitable style (of being so very concerned and empathetic) and her way of making her guests pour their hearts out.”

Adds the source, “Simi is exploring the option. She is comfortable in Hindi as well though her name is synonymous with English chat shows. Moreover she began as a Hindi film actress decades ago and was seen in films like Mera Naam Joker, Chalte Chalte and Karz. So it is not that Hindi is alien to her.”

Confirms Simi, “Yes, I have been asked by the CEO of Colors to make my show for their channel.”

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Simi Garewal's big screen plans

Almost 25 years after she directed a film, Simi Garewal is planning to go behind the camera again

The actress-turned chat show host is penning the script herself. She plans to tie-up with an international name for the project.

As she produces her television shows, she has a production house in place. After so many years of making chat shows, Simi feels it is now time she explore filmmaking again.”

A source close to Simi says, “It’s true that she is planning to make a film but it is too early to talk about it at this juncture.” Simi’s directorial venture was the Mithun Chakraborthy-Anooradha Patel starrer Rukhsat which released in 1988.

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