Cerebrally stylish and charmingly articulate, she's a true blue stocking. She made her mark as an actress of calibre, assumed a film director's role to quench her understanding of the mechanics of cinema, and moved on to set new standards for tele-interviewing through her show 'Rendezvous'. Meet the elegant Simi Garewal as she shares her thoughts on what makes her live her dreams, every day

There's more than one life to lead
Being just one person makes you take yourself very seriously. It can also be boring. Being many people, or at least trying to put yourself in other people's shoes, can give you great empathy and perspective. That was one of the reasons I took to acting. And gained tremendously from it.

Live life on your own terms
Finally, you are the mistress of your destiny. And you should be able to guide it. Today, filmmakers approach me almost every week for roles on screen. I haven't accepted any. Because I don't want to be anyone else any more... I'm enjoying being myself in 'Rendezvous' and I don't want to give that up now. Isn't that strange? Maybe I have become too much of my own person.

Being prepared helps
Then you don't get taken off guard. I like planning and preparation. Being a painful perfectionist, I work on every minute detail. That way there are no unpleasant surprises, no sloppy bits. However, I still have to learn how not to let my pickiness get to others.

Evolve your own style and personality
We all start with emulating our role models. Mine was Gayatri Devi, to the extent that every time I even bought something to wear I would ask myself, would Gayatri Devi wear this? But as one grows, one has to break free and become one's own person. That is when you come into your own.