Simi Garewal Backpedals on Dussehra Post, Removes ‘Naughty Ravana’ Remark Amid Social Media Storm

New Delhi: Veteran Bollywood actress Simi Garewal sparked a fierce online debate with a playful Dussehra message on X, only to delete it hours later in the face of widespread condemnation.

Dussehra, celebrated across India as the triumph of righteousness over malevolence, traditionally involves the ceremonial burning of Ravana’s effigy to symbolize the defeat of evil. In a post that veered into irreverent territory, Garewal penned a direct address to the demon king from the Ramayana epic, urging a downgrade of his villainous label.

“Dear Ravana… Every year on this day, we mark the win of good over evil… But… on a technical note… your actions deserve an upgrade from ‘Evil’ to ‘Slightly Naughty’,” she opened, injecting humor into the sacred narrative.

Garewal defended her take by highlighting what she saw as Ravana’s redeeming qualities during Sita’s captivity. She noted how he ensured “decent meals, lodging, and female bodyguards (admittedly not the most attractive) for Sita” after her abduction. She praised his “humble” marriage proposal, pointing out he refrained from violent retaliation like acid attacks upon rejection. Even in defeat, she wrote, Ravana displayed wisdom by requesting absolution from Lord Rama before his death. “And… I suspect you outsmarted at least half the members of our Parliament in terms of education,” she quipped.

Wrapping up with casual camaraderie, Garewal concluded: “Believe me, pal… no grudges over torching your likeness… It’s just tradition. Happy Dussehra.”

The post, shared on the festival day, ignited immediate backlash on X. Netizens accused Garewal of trivializing Ravana’s abduction of Sita and sanitizing his role as a symbol of unbridled evil. One sharp rebuke read: “Dear Simi Garewal, If he kidnapped you, this so-called romance would vanish, and you’d be at the station berating officers for downplaying it as ‘just a snatch with marriage intentions, sis.’ No hard feelings, but you’ve clearly lost touch.”

Another user delved deeper into lore: “Prior to Sita, Ravana attempted to assault Nal Kubera’s wife, earning a curse of doom for any forced advances. His restraint with Sita wasn’t chivalry—it was self-preservation from that very prophecy.”

Garewal, a fixture in Indian cinema since the 1960s, rose to prominence with roles in films such as Karz, Saathi, and Do Badan. She later captivated audiences as the host of the iconic talk show Rendezvous With Simi Garewal, which debuted in 2001 and ran for years.