Bazaar India speaks to three stars from Bollywood’s Golden Era about their journeys

There is no denying that Bollywood has evolved by leaps and bounds. However, nothing matches up to the glorious movies that were produced in the 90s. They were action and drama-packed with vivid plot points and songs that we still hum today. Bazaar India sat down with three of the most prominent lead ladies of that time—Nafisa Ali, Neetu Kapoor and Simi Garewal to discuss their work, personal lives and so much more. 

From Neetu Kapoor's time as a child actor to Simi Garewal's infamous talk show, Rendezvous with Simi Garewal, and Nafisa Ali's journey as an avid social activist, these women are elegance personified and an inspiration to us all. 

Nafisa Ali, Actor and social activist 

A prominent Indian figure embodying the essence of versatility and resilience, Nafisa Ali emerged as a notable actress in the Indian film industry during the 1970s and ’80s, with performances in movies such as Junoon (1978) and Major Sahab (1998). Looking back at her younger days, she recalls that her father and mother doted on her and gave her the opportunity to follow her dreams and aspirations. “I excelled in sports and arts but I was not a topper in school...I believe that everyone can’t have everything in their lives,” she laughs. Luckily, her parents didn’t push her on the academic front as long as she slipped on a banana peel from class to class. “My father (Ahmed Ali) learnt from his father (S Wajid Ali] that your degree is not going to get you where you want to be,” adds the 66-year-old. Nafisa’s father is one of the most renowned photographers in India whose archives have been created for international appreciation and recognition. “I had a great dreamer-dad who followed his passion and I naturally followed his footsteps,” she shares. 

Capturing hearts with her beauty and grace, Nafisa—the former model exclaims she has been one all her life given her father was a photographer. “I was like the ‘Murphy Baby of India’...I was just about 18 months or so when I was first photographed by him.” Passionate about photography just like her father, Nafisa mentions that she feels comfortable both in front of and behind the camera, as she sees life as a beautiful photograph. “I try capturing all the special moments...always,” she smiles. 

Nafisa’s journey extends beyond cinema—an avid social activist, her fervent advocacy for various causes ranges from political to medical issues, and showcase her commitment to creating positive change. “I always fight for justice and equality, I detest the hate politics, which we are unfortunately seeing so much of in India.” Nafisa believes that everyone can bring about change, it is just the matter of comprehending and understanding the reality of making a difference by not letting injustice take the front seat. 

After being diagnosed with peritoneal and ovarian cancer in November, 2018, Nafisa—for the first time—started feeling unwell, which she says was “not in her books”. She recalls her chemotherapy treatment: “I would never see my reflection in the mirror because I thought that I looked pretty awful! But, my friends assured me, as I never seemed any different to them. After all, being positive is the key!”

Complementing her passion for empathy is the charisma and elegance she owns—both these qualities were instrumental in her being crowned Miss India (1976), “I was a tomboy in school and my parents encouraged me to be well groomed. I still remember my father placing two mirrors in the sitting room and making me walk like a ‘lady’ with books on my head!” 

Nafisa believes in being minimal and grounded, “I have never been glamorous or worn make-up—I never did it back then nor do I do it now.” She believes beauty must go beyond physical attributes; one must be beautiful mentally, emotionally, and physically.

Neetu Kapoor, Actor

Neetu Kapoor was just about five years old when she started working in films. “I was too young to look up to anyone. Movies were just a part of my life,” she says when asked if she had any icons in the industry. However, as she grew older, she began to admire women such as Gayatri Devi, Waheeda Rehman, and Nutan for their grace and elegance. “For me, elegance is simplicity. I admire these women—the way they’d speak and how they would project themselves,” she says.

For Neetu, ‘iconic’ is anything with longevity. It could be music, a performance, even films—something that people remember. Iconic to her, would be, RD Burman’s music and Raj Kapoor’s films. Talking about her stint in films—she was the leading lady in more than 60 films from when she was 13 to 21 (it’s when she got married to actor Rishi Kapoor)—the 64-year-old actress gets nostalgic. “We worked under tough circumstances but we also had a lot of fun. I used to complete three shifts a day, all while portraying different characters—so I had to switch between them. We really learnt it the hard way. But, we (the team) were a family. Today, there is a disconnect—everything’s too professional, which is good but it is not the same as what we had,” she says, adding that she often tells her son (actor Ranbir Kapoor) that he doesn’t know what he has missed out on. “I tell him ‘What we enjoyed, you guys can never have’,” she says. To be a prolific actor, Neetu feels that it is not just enough to be hard-working and good looking. “You need to have that connect with the audience for them to fall in love with you and to want to make you theirs,” she says, quoting the example of actors Shah Rukh Khan and Sridevi.

Does she identify with any of the characters she has portrayed? “Not really, since I was a chorni (thief) in most of my movies,” she laughs. “Those days, movies were not true to life, they were over the top,” she says. Neetu would like to be remembered for the movies that she co-starred in with her husband, Rishi, and the songs that—till today—are popular and have remixed versions. “That is our legacy,” she shares. Defining the role of films in her life, Neetu concludes, “I met my husband thanks to movies. We did about 13-14 movies together and our friendship grew. So, what movies really gave me was my husband and two beautiful children who I cherish.”

Simi Garewal, Actor 

“When I landed in ‘planet’ Mumbai from London as a 15-year-old, to become an actor, I did not even know a single person who is remotely connected with the industry. I had no mentors, no guides, no godfathers, or godmothers. I had to learn how to navigate this new terrain, how to avoid the pitfalls, and circumvent the craters, all on my own. I didn’t always succeed, and it was always by ‘trial and error’. To make matters worse, I wasn’t even fluent in Hindi,” shares the veteran actor, producer, and director. 

Passion, she reflects, can act as a pair of blinkers that blocks out obstacles and impediments, allowing one to focus solely on the end goal. Her goal was to act in Hindi cinema, and this drove her to persevere against all odds. “I marvel how, these days, the new girls join this industry and they fit in so quickly! Overnight, they acquire managers and an entourage of PRs, make-up and hairstylists to aid them. Back in the day, were no such things. So, you can imagine what a slog it was. When I look back now, I wonder how I did it,” she says. 

Despite hailing from a non-filmy background—her family was extremely understanding. “Like any love affair, it was demanding, it claimed sacrifices, it was both frustrating and fulfilling. But believe me, you can’t survive the pressures here without the support of a loving family,” says the 75 year old. Simi’s acting years were marked by continuous growth. She watched, observed, and learned, evolving with each experience. However, after 50 films, she felt a shift in her creative desires. “Actors don’t have creative autonomy. I wanted to write, direct, edit, and be able to have some freedom of expression and that only comes with creative control. It seemed like a natural progression for me to venture into writing, production, and direction. I launched my own production company and started with TV shows, (It’s a Woman’s World), then I wrote and directed a full-length Hindi feature film (Rukhsat). I produced several award-winning TV commercials, made a three-part documentary on Rajiv Gandhi and one on Raj Kapoor; and of course, 150 episodes of Rendezvous with Simi Garewal, and then India’s Most Desirable,” she says. 

Among the 50 films she acted in, a few hold a special place in her heart. “Raj Kapoor’s Mera Naam Joker. I loved being Mary, the Anglo-Indian teacher whose young student falls in love with her. Rajji always said that this chapter was his ‘directorial trump card’. Rishi Kapoor was my co-star in Joker and we went on to work in three films subsequently. He became my lifelong friend; he was my pal, my playmate, and he could make me laugh till my stomach hurt. And now I ache because I miss him,” she reminisces. 

Reflecting on her journey, Simi reminisces about the film Karz, where she initially rejected the role of a villainess. However, a conversation with director Subhash Ghai convinced her otherwise. The impact of her character, Kamini, left a lasting impression on audiences. “When the film hit the theatres, I remember, everywhere I went people played or hummed the guitar theme—or they’d sing Ek hasina thi. I couldn’t believe the response! The other day I was driving my car and this guy drove up to my window and yelled ‘Arre bachke rahiyo Kamini gaadi chala rahi hai!’ (Be careful Kamini is driving the car) That’s the lasting impact of films!” she exclaims.