My westernised upbringing didn't let me fit in industry initially: Simi Garewal

Veteran actor Simi Garewal says her westernised upbringing initially cause a hindrance in her acting career but she decided to deal with it by doing films with the likes of Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen and Raj Kapoor.

While Garewal worked in Kapoor's "Mera Naam Joker", she teamed up with Ray for "Aranyer Din Ratri", with Mrinal Sen in "Padatik" and Raj Khosla in "Do Badan".

"I did face difficulties here but that was not due to other people. They were my own difficulties. Like my own upbringing had thrown up. My westernised upbringing initially did not help me fit within the industry at that time.

"Though if I would have come in now, I would have fit in well. When I came in, the industry was different. It was hard for me to fit in. Initially, there was a struggle. I did try and make the adjustments and tried to fit in. But I stayed the way I was," Garewal, who grew up in England, told PTI in an interview.

Recalling her experience of working with some of the most iconic filmmakers of India cinema, the actor said she feels "privileged".

"I was working with two prolific directors Raj Kapoor and Satyajit Ray at the same time. It was an amazing experience to shoot with two top directors - one in commercial and other in art cinema. This is an experience that very few people would have had," she added.

Garewal, 71, has been appreciated for several of her performances but "Mera Naam Joker" still remains her favourite.

"I gave a lot of myself in that film. The dialogues that I spoke, came from me. Even the clothes that I wore were all created and styled by me. Though a lot of people like 'Karz', "Mera Naam Joker" is still my favourite."
"I have written a few scripts one is a human drama, another is a fantasy superhero, these two are my favourites. There is a musical as well. A lot of people have told me they are good ideas. I can't do direction now, it is too much of hard work, it is too tiring. I can't take that kind of heavy-duty work. I do not mind selling my scripts and watching other people make it."