Parveen Babi

Parveen Babi (Gujarati: પરવીન બાબી, Hindi: परवीन बाबी, Urdu: پروین بابی) April 4, 1949 - 20 January 2005) was an Indian actress, who is most remembered for her glamorous roles alongside top heroes of the 1970s and early 1980s^[1] in blockbusters like Deewar, Namak Halaal, Amar Akbar Anthony and Shaan

Personal life and education

Parveen was born in Junagadh, Gujarat in a Muslim family. She did her early schooling inAurangabad and later attended St. Xavier's College, Ahmedabad. Her father Vali Mohammed Babi, was an administrator with the Nawab of Junagadh. The family owned considerable land areas and had some royal ancestry. Parveen was born fourteen years after the marriage of her parents and was the only child. She lost her father at the age of seven.

Parveen did not marry but had live in relationships with married men: director Mahesh Bhatt, actors Kabir Bedi, and Danny Denzongpa. She was also strongly rumoured to have had an affair with her co-star Amitabh Bachchan. Mahesh Bhatt later wrote and directedArth (1982), a semi-autobiographical film about his extramarital relationship with Babi, and wrote and produced Woh Lamhe (2006) based on actual facts about his relationship with her.^[4]

Career

She made her film debut with the film Charitra opposite cricketer Salim Durrani in 1973 while still in college.^[5] The film was a resounding flop but Parveen was noticed and was snapped up for several more films. Her first major hit was Majboor (1974) opposite Amitabh Bachchan. Parveen was known for her portrayal of iconoclastic women who did not care about the conventional norms of society. Along with Zeenat Aman, Parveen helped change the image of the Indian film heroine. Their Western looks and anglicised accents signaled new trends in what was fashionable.

She was the first Indian actress to have been featured on TIME magazine's cover ^[6], in July 1976, much to the consternation of her contemporaries. In her most successful films, she was paired opposite Amitabh Bachchan, who was one of the biggest stars of the decade, in cinematic blockbusters like Deewaar (1975) Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), Shaan (1980), Kaalia (1981), and Khud-daar (1982), a pairing which became very popular. However, she also gave hits opposite actors like Shashi Kapoor in Suhaag (1979 film) (1979), Kaala Patthar(1979) and Namak Halaal (1982), Jeetendra in Meri Aawaaz Suno (1981) and Vinod Khanna in The Burning Train (1980).

She was often compared with her contemporary Zeenat Aman due to their common image as sex symbols. In fact, she acted alongside Zeenat in Mahaan (1983) and Ashanti (1982) (inspired by the American television show Charlie's Angels, with the third role played byShabana Azmi). [1] In films like Deewar (1975), Shaan (1980) and Namak Halaal (1982) her screen presence may have been minimal (the films largely working around the hero) but Parveen brought a certain attractive aloofness to the roles and songs she appeared in. In Manoj Kumar's big hit Kranti (1981) she overshadowed Hema Malini who played the main lead. Parveen also acted in offbeat films like Vinod Pande's Yeh Nazdeekiyan (1982) playing the role of the "other woman" opposite Marc Zuber.

Her success did not run into the mid-eighties as she had left the film industry to move to New York in 1983. Many of her completed films released in the following years right up until her last film, Iraada, which released in 1990.

Later life

After rumours about Babi suffering from schizophrenia began making rounds, she sought mental solace through alternative contemporary spirituality. She followed "Osho" for a few years and later became involved with the teachings of U.G.Krishnamurti in New York. She returned to Mumbai in 1992 where she was unrecognizable as her former self after having put on a considerable amount of weight. She accused many foreign dignitaries including Bill Clinton and her former co-star, Amitabh Bachchan, of conspiring to kill her but her petition in court was dismissed for lack of evidence. In 2002, she again hit the headlines when she filed an affidavit in the special court hearing the 1993 serial bomb blasts case, claiming that she had gathered clinching evidence against actor Sanjay Dutt showing his involvement in the case, but she did not turn up in court after being summoned saying that she was afraid of being killed.

Death

She was found dead in her Mumbai apartment on 22 January 2005 after her residential society secretary alerted the police that she had not collected milk and newspapers from her doorstep for three days.^[7] The police suspected that she might have died three days previously, though the cause of her death was not immediately known. She was found to have gangrene of the foot as a complication of her diabetic condition. The police ruled out any foul play. Later it was said that the cause of death appeared to be complications from diabetes.

After her death, her body was taken to Cooper Hospital, where it lay unclaimed till evening. Soon after, filmmakers Mahesh Bhatt and Ashok Pandit offered to perform the last rites if there was no claimant. However, her close relatives in Junagadh were informed and the closest relative was found to be H.H. Begum Farhat Sultana Babi of Balasinor. She along with her son, Nawabzada Salauddinkhan Babi rushed to Mumbai and after completing the formalities the body of Parveen Babi was handed over to her by the Mumbai Police for the last rites. Her burial was conducted according to Islamic rites and Babi was buried next to her mother at Santa Cruz, in Mumbai on 23 January 2005.^[8]

Filmography

• Charitra (1973)
• Dhuen Ki Lakeer (1974)
• 36 Ghante (1974)
• Trimurti (1974)
• Majboor (1974)
• Kala Sona (1975)
• Deewaar (1975)
• Bullet (1976)
• Bhanwar (1976)
• Rangeela Ratan (1976)
• Mazdoor Zindabad (1977)
• Maama Bhanja (1977)
• Amar Akbar Anthony (1977)
• Mastaan Dada (1978)
• Chandi Sona (1977)
• Darinda (1977)
• Chalta Purza (1977)
• Chor Sipahee (1977)
• Aahuti (1978)
• Pati Patni Aur Woh (1978)
• Kaala Patthar (1979)
• Suhaag (1979)
• The Burning Train (1979)
• Shaan (1980)
• Ek Gunaah Aur Sahi (1980)
• Do Aur Do Paanch (1980)
• Gunahgaar (1980)
• Meri Aawaaz Suno (1981)
• Khoon Aur Paani (1981)
• Ameer Aadmi Gareeb Aadmi (1981)
• Kaalia (1981)
• Raksha (1981)
• Kranti (1981)
• Ashanti (1982)
• Mangal Pandey (1982)
• Desh Premee (1982)
• Dil Aakhir Dil Hai (1982)
• Bad Aur Badnaam (1982)
• Taaqat (1982)
• Yeh Nazdeekiyan (1982)
• Namak Halaal (1982)
• Khud-daar (1982)
• Jaani Dost (1983)
• Razia Sultan (1983)
• Chor Police (1983)
• Kanoon Meri Muthi Mein (1983)
• Mahaan (1983)
• Rang Birangi (1983)
• Arpan (1983)
• Teri Baahon Mein (1984)
• Sitamgar (1985)
• Telephone (1985)
• Bond 303 (1986)
• Avinaash (1987)
• Aakarshan (1988)
• Iraada (1990)

Landmark films^[9]

Year	Film	Costars
1974	Majboor	Amitabh Bachchan
1975	Deewar	Amitabh Bachchan
1977	Amar Akbar Anthony	Amitabh Bachchan
1979	Suhaag	Shashi Kapoor
1981	Kaalia	Amitabh Bachchan
1981	Meri Awaaz Suno	Jeetendra
1982	Namak Halal	Shashi Kapoor
1982	Ashanti	Mithun Chakraborthy
1982	Khuddar	Amitabh Bachchan
1983	Rang Birangi	Amol Palekar

Posted in: Indian film actresses (celebrity)