Parveen Babi, a Film and fashion icon who ruled the hearts of cine-goers with her beauty and distinguished Western looks. Some of her most memorable films include Deewaar, Amar Akbar Anthony, The Burning Train, Shaan, Kranti, Namak Halaal, and Arpan. She was the first Indian film star to appear on the cover of the prestigious Time magazine in 1976.
Parveen, along with the equally iconic Zeenat Aman, revolutionised the portrayal of Hindi film heroines. They cused the shift from the traditional, conservative image to that of a modern, independent woman. Unlike the typical leading ladies of that time, they exuded confidence, embracing Western influences and behaviours like drinking and smoking. Parveen represented the “new” Indian woman—sophisticated, intelligent, and self-reliant. With her slim figure and elegant demeanour, she challenged the stereotype of buxom, melodramatic actresses. She helped in redefining the perception of female characters in Indian cinema.
Parveen, along with the equally iconic Zeenat Aman, revolutionized the portrayal of Bollywood heroines, shifting from the traditional, conservative image to that of a modern, independent woman.
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Early Life Of Parveen Babi
Parveen Babi was born on April 4, 1949, to a noble family in Junagadh, India. Her father, “Vali Mohammed Khan Babi,” was a Pashtun. He worked as an administrator with the Nawab of Junagadh, while her mother, Jamal Bakhte Babi, hails from Amreli. Parveen was born fourteen years after her parents’ marriage and was their only child. She lost her father to cancer when she was just six years old.
Parveen She completed her schooling at Mount Carmel High School, Ahmedabad. She then went to St. Xavier’s College in Ahmedabad, where she earned a Bachelors degree in English and Psychology. She also completed her Master of Arts in English.
Professional Career
Parveen Babi’s career in the entertainment industry began with modeling in 1971. Babi was a successful model at the time of her film debut in 1973 with B. R. Ishara’s “Charitra,” which also marked the debut of star cricketer Salim Durrani.
She made her acting debut in the film Charitra (1973), closely followed by Kishore Sahu’s Dhuen Ki Lakeer (1974), but it was her role in Ravi Tandon’s Majboor (1974) that brought her recognition. Her breakthrough came with Yash Chopra’s Deewaar (1975), which established her as a leading actress.
It was the start of her long working relationship with Amitabh Bachchan; they did several super-successful films together, including Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), Suhaag (1979), Kaala Patthar (1979), Shaan (1980), Do Aur Do Paanch (1980), Kaalia (1981), and Mahaan (1983).
Besides Amitabh, she appeared in several commercially successful films with Shashi Kapoor, Feroz Khan, Jitendra, Dharmendra, and Vinod Khanna. Her films like Kala Sona (1975), The Burning Train (1980), Meri Aawaz Suno (1981), Namak Halaal (1982), Jaani Dost (1983), and Sitamgar (1985) were both critical and commercial success.
The It Girl of Hindi Cinema
In 1983 came “Arpan,” directed by J. Om Prakash, where she gets widespread acclaim for her portrayal of Sona, a singer who becomes entangled in a complex web of relationships. In the film, the famous songs “Tauba Kaise Hai Nadan Ghunghroo” and “Likhne Wale Ne Likh Dale” picturised on her.
One of the most memorable films of her career was Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s classic comedy “Rang Birangi,” which features Parveen Babi as Nirmala Sharma (Neema), the neglected wife of Ajay, played by Amol Palekar, a workaholic entrepreneur.Parveen’s portrayal of Nirmala was both charming and poignant, capturing the essence of a woman seeking to rekindle the spark in her marriage. Her chemistry with Amol Palekar and her ability to balance comedy with emotional depth made her performance stand out.
During the 1980s, she performed in several well-known movies, such as Kranti (1981), Jaani Dost (1983), Razia Sultan (1983), and Mangal Pandey (1983). In 1982 she starred with Zeenat Aman and Shabana Azmi, in the action film Ashanti (1982). The film was based on the American television show Charlie’s Angels.
A Devil in Paradise
Parveen Babi’s struggle with schizophrenia began in the late 1970s, but the first panic attack of her life came as early as 1969 during the Ahmadabad riots when a young Babi witnessed the attacks in her newbornhood. The early signs of her condition often dismissed as eccentricities or character quirks. It wasn’t until her behaviour became increasingly erratic that the severity of her condition recognised.
In the early 1980s, she faced a further decline in her capabilities. But in 1983, suddenly, everything turned upside down—she did not show up for shoots, disappeared for months, and lost touch with family and friends. She left for the US, and when she came back, she was not herself.
She was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, a condition characterised by delusions and hallucinations. Despite her immense talent and success, Parveen’s mental health struggles began to overshadow her professional achievements. Her condition led to episodes of debilitating paranoia, causing her to take breaks from film sets and eventually withdraw from public life. She often believed that people were conspiring against her, including her co-stars and directors.
The End Of It
There were good days between her episodes when she gave glimpses of her former self, but they are few and far between. In her few public appearances in the later days, you can notice the sharp wit and intelligence she possessed. But the media too used her for sensational headlines and never understood her struggles. She was mocked and ridicuiled publicly. These things led to her becoming a recluse and isolating herself from most people.
She used to live alone in her flat, as it was very hard for her to trust anyone, and nobody was there to really understand her. Unable to call for help and with no one around to monitor her, she finally succumbed to a gangrenous injury on her leg. When her body was found, she was dead for over 72 hours on January 20, 2005.
Personal Life
She had high-profile relationships with actors Danny Denzongpa, Kabir Bedi, and filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt. However, her condition, along with many other factors, strained these relationships, leading to turbulent and often public breakups.
Despite these relationships, at the end, she was alone, sick, and afraid of everyone. Once a bright, intelligent, and beautiful woman, loved and admired by millions, she was reduced to a mere shadow of herself.
She also started a career as an interior decorator in 1983. Despite her glamorous image, she was known for her intellectual pursuits and was an avid reader. After withdrawing from show business, she took up music, piano, painting, architecture, literature, writing, cultural and archaeological study, politics, photography, sculpture, and human rights issues.
Legacy of Parveen Babi
Parveen Babi left 70% of her wealth for the welfare of underprivileged women and children from the Babi community, 10% for the upliftment of the underprivileged in the Christian community, and the remaining 20% to her uncle for executing her final request.
Her co-star, the legendary Zeenat Aman, wrote about her, “Parveen’s struggle with mental health illness came at a time when the country was still so insensitive and ignorant on these matters. After her death, I often ruminated on how she was remembered. The tabloids focused on her romantic relationships and “episodes,” but Parveen was much more than who she dated or what she said when she was unwell. I feel she never truly got the chance to say her piece (sic).”
Parveen Babi’s struggle with schizophrenia highlighted the stigma associated with mental health in the entertainment industry. Her condition was often sensationalised by the media, overshadowing her contributions to cinema. Despite her struggles, she remains an iconic figure, remembered for her beauty, talent, and the courage to face her mental health challenges.
Parveen Babi on IMDB
