Cannes 2025: Simi Garewal Attends Ray Film Screening in Karleo Look
For her Cannes debut, Simi Garewal wore a Karleo outfit made with Indian raw silk and upcycled corsetry, honoring her 1970 Ray film.
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Veteran Indian actor and talk show host Simi Garewal made her first appearance at the Cannes Film Festival on May 19, walking the red carpet ahead of the screening of Aranyer Din Ratri (1970), a film directed by Satyajit Ray in which she played a leading role.
Garewal’s appearance marks a notable return of Ray’s classic to the international spotlight. She attended the 78th edition of the prestigious festival alongside filmmaker Wes Anderson and actor Sharmila Tagore.
Garewal wore a specially designed ivory ensemble created by designer Leon Vaz for the label Karleo. The outfit combined traditional Indian craftsmanship with contemporary aesthetics. Vaz, in an interview with Vogue India published May 20, said the outfit was crafted using Indian raw silks and embellished with rose montes and silk threadwork.
The design featured a flowing skirt, a modern cascading jacket, and a structured corset. According to Vaz, the corset was upcycled from a previous design, adding sustainability to the presentation. Garewal completed the ensemble with a floral statement necklace, pearl earrings, and multiple rings, creating a cohesive look rooted in Indian textile traditions yet aligned with modern couture sensibilities.
In the same interview, Vaz explained that adapting to the updated Cannes red carpet guidelines required significant design modifications. “The aim was to create a look that would represent Indian textiles on a global stage. The textures, details, and monochromatic layering were intentionally done to work within a single colour family while maintaining visual depth,” he said.
Garewal’s choice to debut at Cannes at 76 with a vintage film screening also drew attention on social media, where she shared a promotional video previewing her red carpet appearance.
Her look and the film’s inclusion have added momentum to India’s continued cultural representation at international festivals, with Garewal’s outfit reflecting both heritage and contemporary fashion sustainability.
The Cannes screening of Aranyer Din Ratri is part of the festival’s restored classics segment, which highlights landmark films from world cinema.
