For someone who’s been a style icon since before most of us were born, it’s hard to believe Simi Garewal has never been to the Cannes Film Festival until now. That’s right. The woman behind the iconic white wardrobe, the trailblazing talk show, and some of Indian cinema’s most memorable roles is finally making her Cannes debut in 2025. But this makes us wonder why Simi Garewal is going to Cannes now.

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Why is Simi Garewal going to the Cannes Film Festival?

The reason for all this excitement is Satyajit Ray’s 1970 cult classic Aranyer Din Ratri, which is being screened in the Cannes Classics section — a segment dedicated to the restoration and celebration of important films from the past. And that’s exactly what this is: a restored gem, polished and reintroduced to a global audience.
Joining her at Cannes will be none other than Sharmila Tagore, who also starred in the film as the enigmatic Aparna. The two actors haven’t shared screen space in decades, and seeing them together again, representing a film that shaped Indian cinema, is the kind of legacy moment that the Cannes Film Festival was made for. Adding to that, director Wes Anderson, a great admirer of Satyajit Ray’s work, will introduce the film at Cannes.

Aranyer Din Ratri and its restoration

 

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The film, based on a novel by Bengali author Sunil Gangopadhyay, follows four friends from Calcutta who escape city life for a forest retreat, only to find their deepest insecurities and social biases bubbling to the surface. Simi Garewal plays Duli, a tribal woman who barely speaks but manages to leave a lasting impression. Her presence in the film is hauntingly powerful and surprisingly ahead of its time. Along with Simi Garewal, the movie’s cast includes Sharmila Tagore, Soumitra Chattopadhyay, and Aparna Sen. Back in 1970, this film challenged ideas around urban elitism, sexuality, and class. Now, over five decades later, it’s back — sharper, clearer, and finally getting the global stage it deserves.

The restoration of Aranyer Din Ratri is nothing short of a cinematic resurrection. The film’s restoration is lead by the Film Heritage Foundation, in collaboration with Martin Scorsese’s The Film Foundation. Original camera and sound negatives that were carefully preserved by producer Purnima Dutta have been used to restore the film.

So yes, Simi Garewal is going to Cannes. Not for a new role, not for a comeback, but for a celebration. A celebration of art, of memory, and of a film that continues to speak volumes.

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