Two icons of Indian cinema, Sharmila Tagore and Simi Garewal, brought timeless grace to the Cannes Film Festival 2025, marking their much-awaited red carpet debut. The duo arrived for the restored screening of Satyajit Ray’s 1970 masterpiece Aranyer Din Ratri (Days and Nights in the Forest), featured in the Cannes Classics section.
Sharmila, walking the red carpet with daughter Saba Pataudi, turned heads in a regal green saree. Her dignified presence set the tone for the celebration of Ray’s film, which was restored by the Film Heritage Foundation in collaboration with The Film Foundation, Janus Films, and the Criterion Collection, with funding from the Golden Globe Foundation. The screening was presented by Wes Anderson, a noted admirer of Ray.
Simi Garewal, known for her iconic talk show Rendezvous with Simi Garewal, made her entrance in a pristine white gown by Karleo, staying true to her signature style. She appeared alongside producer Purnima Dutta, Film Foundation’s executive director Margaret Bodde, and FHF founder Shivendra Singh Dungarpur.
The restored Bengali classic features a stellar ensemble — Soumitra Chatterjee, Sharmila Tagore, Simi Garewal, and Aparna Sen — and tells the story of four urban friends seeking solace in nature, confronting class, desire, and self-discovery.
This appearance by Sharmila and Simi wasn’t just a fashion moment — it was a cultural milestone, bridging generations through cinema, memory, and enduring elegance.
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