Latest news with #Simi
India.com
6 hours ago
- General
- India.com
Meet woman, who cracked IIT and UPSC exam in same year, became India's youngest IAS officer, her AIR was..., she is...
The Civil Services Examination(CSE) is one of the toughest exams in India. The exam is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission in three phases. Initially, candidates appear for the preliminary round. Once they qualify, the aspirants are required to appear in the mains round and then in the personality test subsequently. Simi Karan, an IAS officer from Odisha, realized her dream of being part of the civil services at a very young age. She achieved this at the age of just 23 after getting her engineering degree earlier from IIT in the same year she cleared the UPSC exam. Originally from Odisha, Simi Karan spent the majority of her childhood in Bhilai, Chhattisgarh. According to the DNA report, Simi's father served as an employee of the Bhilai Steel Plant while her mother was a school teacher. Simi was an intelligent and hard-working student at school. After completing her schooling, she studied electrical engineering at IIT Bombay. While in university, she was invited to teach children living in the neighbouring slum areas, and seeing for herself the struggles those children faced, impacted her greatly and encouraged her to make an impact. This experience led her to prepare for the civil services and work towards making a real difference. 'I never focused on the hours of study, but rather set short-term goals (daily, sometimes even hourly) to focus on achieving… So, the schedule fluctuated accordingly, but on an average, I studied for 8-10 hours. I would also like to highlight that I focused on the quality of study, limited resources and made time for entertainment like jogging, watching stand-up comedy to relax my mind, Simi Karan shared thoughts on her UPSC journey. In 2019, Simi's dedication bore fruit when she achieved an outstanding All India Rank of 31, securing her position in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). Simi secured 820 marks in the written examination, 201 marks in the personality test. Overall, she scored 1021 marks in the UPSC Civil Services(Main) Examination, 2019.
India.com
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- India.com
'I was very impure, lustful as hell...' Rekha once made SHOCKING revelations about her life, admitted was in love with....
There was a rumour about the evergreen beauty of Hindi cinema, Rekha, that whoever she marries, he dies. Rekha married a businessman at the age of 34, who died a few months after the marriage. Earlier, there was news of Rekha's marriage to actor Late Vinod Mehra, but the actress denied it. At the same time, the entire B-town is aware of Rekha and Amitabh Bachchan's affair, but their love could not be consummated. But there was a time when Rekha made a shocking statement about herself that left everyone surprised. Rekha's Shocking Revelation About Herself During an interview with Simi Garewal on her popular chat show 'Rendezvous with Simi Garewal', Rekha went in the look of a married woman. The actress was wearing a yellow colored saree and a necklace around her neck. Rekha had parted her hair into two parts and left them loose. When Simi asked, When will you get married? When Rekha answered this, Simi was shocked. Rekha said, 'You mean a man?' On this, Simi said, obviously not a woman. Interrupting Simi, Rekha immediately said, Why not? I am an impure woman, full of lust. If you ask me, I will say that I am for myself, I love myself, I am married to myself, my profession and my loved ones. When And To Whom Did Rekha Marry? Rekha married famous Delhi businessman Mukesh Agarwal on 4 March 1990 and her husband died 6 months after the marriage. It was an arranged marriage. A few years later, Rekha's name was also linked with Akshay Kumar. Rekha played the role of a lady don in Akshay Kumar's blockbuster film 'Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi' (1996). Rekha and Akshay Kumar had great chemistry in the film. In the late 80s, Rekha, who had a close bond with Vinod Mehra, decided to take their friendship forward. It is believed that the duo even secretly tied the knot, which was later denied by Rekha. The relationship did not last long as the actor's mother did not like Rekha. Meanwhile, Vinod Mehra's close friend and popular TV host Tabassum however had confirmed their relationship. On her show 'Phool Khile Hain Gulshan Gulshan', she said, 'He did most films with her. They grew close, they wanted to get married, but sadly that could never happen.'
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Simi Garewal: I had given up that dream of Cannes long ago
Simi Garewal Simi Garewal recently made her Cannes red carpet debut, more than five decades after shooting Aranyer Din Ratri . The Satyajit Ray classic was restored in 4K and screened at the Cannes Classics section. 'It's something I never dared to hope for! I gave up that dream long ago and for this to suddenly happen now it's more than a dream – it's a gift from the universe,' she says. In a conversation, the veteran actress talks about the film, the roles for women in cinema and more. 'FROM A MODERN, WESTERNISED GIRL, I TRANSFORMED INTO A RUSTIC, UNINHIBITED ADIVASI' Simi played Duli, a tribal woman in the Aranyer Din Ratri (1970) – a role that was far from her real-life image. But Satyajit Ray saw something in her. 'Manik da , so gentle yet intense, led me to portray a character so different to who I am. I mean here was I, a modern, westernised girl transformed into a rustic, uninhibited adivasi ! It doesn't get more challenging than that,' she says. She remembers watching the film again, decades later, and being shocked by how fully she had disappeared into Duli. 'For an actor, it's creative fulfillment to 'become' another person. When I watched the film I couldn't see even a jhalak of Simi anywhere. It was Duli.' She adds, 'I loved the film, the comedy, the slice of life. It looked so natural, so organic. But that's Ray's forte, capturing reality on celluloid.' 'IT SEEMS CINEMA CATERS PRIMARILY TO MALE AUDIENCES' Simi says she has not watched too many recent films. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Protegé a toda tu familia con Verisure Alarmas. ¡30% OFF y Zerovision 100% GRATIS! Alarmas Verisure Ver oferta Undo 'But I will ask – where are the roles for women in cinema?' she questions, adding, 'It's all male-oriented. The female is simply decorative, and always the hero's sidekick. And that's not representative of today's India, where women are strong, independent and achievers in their own right. So, it seems cinema caters primarily to male audiences. The only roles for women are on OTT, and TV, with its serials, caters to women. A gender divide.' 'AT THE MOMENT, I'M WRITING MY AUTOBIOGRAPHY' Simi says that she's currently working on her autobiography. 'At the moment, I'm writing my autobiography. I am writing every single word myself. Nobody else has read it, nor looked over my shoulder while I write. It's between my keyboard and me. It's very personal. I haven't held back. I'm on the last few chapters now, presently on Rendezvous with Simi Garewal . You will read everything about my life in my autobiography – from my childhood in London to my joining films (against great family opposition) Every detail about working with Raj Kapoor, Manik da , my films, my private life, my loves, my marriage – my whole life is written in these pages. ' 'WHITE IS A HAPPY COLOUR FOR ME' Simi chose to wear her signature white at Cannes too. Talking about its significance in her life, the actress says, 'Why white? I feel good when I'm wearing it. Sometimes I put on another colour, yellow or blue, and I immediately take it off because it disturbs my sensibility. White is a happy colour for me,' says Simi. Her thoughts on walking the red carpet? 'I wish Manik da was here to see this...' Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
TechCrunch
28-05-2025
- Business
- TechCrunch
Litehaus raises €1.46M pre-seed to build home-building platform
All Thibault Launay and his wife Simi wanted nearly five years ago was to build a dream home in Portugal, where they both now live. But what they encountered instead was a broken system. 'Fourteen months of delays, 20% budget overruns, and endless stress managing over 10 subcontractors,' Thibault recalled. They bought the land in December 2020, got the construction license in early 2022, and started building that year. 'That was supposed to finish in February 2024,' he said. But it's May 2025, and the home still isn't done. 'We realized,' he continued, 'if we're struggling with this, so are millions of others.' So Thibault, himself a serial founder and entrepreneur, and Simi, a consultant and also a founder, launched Litehaus, a company that touts to help landowners and property developers build homes in a more efficient and sustainable way. It tackles a pressing need in both the U.S. and the European markets: the ability to build affordable homes. Litehaus, which launched early last year, calls itself the 'Uber of construction,' with Thibault saying the company just wants to connect all the currently fragmented parts of the home-building process. It matches landowners and property developers with other professionals such as construction companies, architects, contractors, and interior designers. The company allows users to track costs, coordinate schedules with the hired workers, and track the progress of the building in real time. 'As a go-to-market strategy, we decided to focus mainly on modular construction, allowing us to build 30% cheaper, 40% faster, and 60% more sustainably,' Thibault said, adding that meant 90% less waste and 50% less CO2 emissions compared with traditional construction. Others in the modular construction space include the US-based Ginosko Modular and Flummerfelt and the India-based Schnelle Prefabs, according to Pitchbook. Techcrunch event Join us at TechCrunch Sessions: AI Secure your spot for our leading AI industry event with speakers from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Cohere. For a limited time, tickets are just $292 for an entire day of expert talks, workshops, and potent networking. Exhibit at TechCrunch Sessions: AI Secure your spot at TC Sessions: AI and show 1,200+ decision-makers what you've built — without the big spend. Available through May 9 or while tables last. Berkeley, CA | REGISTER NOW Litehaus has at least one U.S. construction company in its network as it looks to further its expansion in the country. Right now, it is focused on becoming 'Europe's fastest-growing construction tech startup,' Thibault said. Plus, the European construction industry could use more innovation. Investors in America pour billions of dollars into rising construction technology, and, as usual, there is much room for the European tech industry to catch up. Investors here and across the pond clearly agree. Last week, Litehaus announced a €1.46 million pre-seed round, led by the U.K.'s Cornerstone VC, with participation from Explorer Fund, one of Portugal's largest private equity funds; Claster Group, a Luxembourgish family office; and angel investor Pascal Levy, a venture partner at Long Journey Ventures here in the U.S. 'The shortage of housing across Europe has triggered a crisis, driving up the cost of living as home ownership becomes increasingly out of reach,' Rodney Appiah, a managing partner at Cornerstone VC, said. 'When I first met Thibault and Simi, I was struck by their compelling vision: to make building a home as simple as buying one, catalysing the construction industry to bring greater transparency, sustainability, quality, and trust to the home-building process.' Image Credits:Courtesy of Thibault and Simi Launay Thibault called the fundraising journey 'intense.' He said he and Simi had known their lead investors for years through mutual friends. Thibault, who is from France, is the founder of an immersive gaming studio in Portugal, but has also invested in numerous companies, both as an angel investor and through his work at firms 50 Partners and Origins, based in France and New York, respectively. Before that, he worked at a French mining company and in green tech. Simi, meanwhile, was born in Nigeria and grew up in London. She ran a contemporary art gallery, a wellness brand for women of color, and worked as a consultant and strategist for various firms on law and Africa. 'I've always wanted to build businesses that change people's lives,' Simi told TechCrunch. 'Providing affordable homes at scale isn't just a market opportunity—it's one of the most meaningful ways we can create deep, lasting impact.' She is now in charge of marketing, communication, and design at Litehaus; her husband, Thibault, handles fundraising, business development, and tech. 'When it came time to raise, we moved quickly with partners who already knew us and shared our vision from day one,' Thibault said. He said the fresh capital will be used to help scale the money and hire more talent in engineering, product, marketing, and operations. It's quite funny that Thibault and Simi built a company, raised over a million euros, and had two kids, before their home, a process they started working on over four years ago, was finally finished. 'We are actually moving in next month,' Thibault said. 'We move in next month after a 14-month delay on completion. This is the pain point we are trying to solve for millions of people.'
News18
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Simi Garewal Makes A ‘Powerful Statement' At Cannes 2025
Last Updated: Simi Garewal makes a sustainable Cannes red carpet debut in custom Karleo by Karan Berry and Leon Vaz couture. Captivating in couture, Simi Garewal looked like a vision in white when she made her Cannes red carpet debut with a sustainable twist. Gracing the Cannes red carpet in an ethereal ensemble designed by Mumbai-based couture brand, Karleo by Karan Berry and Leon Vaz, Simi's custom-couture ensemble featured a full-sleeved embellished coat with pearl detailing paired with a long, voluminous skirt and corset. Making a powerful, sustainable statement by repeating her clothes, Simi Garewal 's Cannes debut is just like her 'Iconic and Classic'. Simi's corset was first styled on her in 2022 at a fashion awards ceremony in Mumbai. Celebrating Satyajit Ray's Aranyer Din Ratri (Days and Nights in the Forest) at the 78th annual Cannes Film Festival, evergreen star Simi Garewal, along with her legendary co-star Sharmila Tagore and American filmmaker Wes Anderson, attended the Highest 2 Lowest red carpet on May 19, 2025 wearing the iconic, custom piece. Sharing his opinion on Simi's decision to repeat the garment, designer Leon Vaz says, 'We believe it's a powerful statement about sustainable fashion and timeless style. It showcases the enduring quality of our designs at the same time, making it more normal for celebrities to repeat clothes." Simi has had a long-standing relationship with Leon Vaz and Karan Berry of Karleo, and having her wear their designs for her Cannes debut is special. 'Our association with Simi [Garewal] has been a long and collaborative one, spanning several years. Working on her Cannes debut was an absolute pleasure," says Leon, adding, 'As a brand that takes pride in its evening and bridal gowns and accessories we were glad to take inspiration from India to design this red carpet look since it's an Indian film (Aranyer Din Ratri) represented by an iconic Indian celebrity at one of the biggest film event of the year." Speaking about celebrating her signature colour palette, Leon shares, 'White has always been a symbol of elegance and sophistication for Simi. This year, we wanted to create a look that was both classic and modern, and that reflects her style. Also, as a brand in India for white weddings, this is the perfect pairing. But we have still taken different shades of white – beige, off white, creme, pearl white and ivory, snowy white – and brought them all together in one outfit." Inspired by the classic Elizabethan style and crafted in silk satin and crepe de chine from India, the corset was embellished with caviar beads and cut bugles to add a mirror shine to the mother-of-pearl finished embroidery materials. The corset was further highlighted with tiny lochrosen crystals. First Published:
