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Parveen Babi: Remembering The Bold Diva On Her Birth Anniversary

Parveen Babi, a well-known and veteran Bollywood actress, was born in Junagadh, Gujarat, on April 4, 1949. However, the year of her birth is mentioned at that place as 1954 instead of 1949.

Her father, Vali Mohammed Khan Babi, was a system administrator under the Nawab, a man of stature in a Muslim family with royal ties. Her mother, Jamal Bakhte Babi, brought warmth to their only child’s world. Born 14 years after their marriage, Parveen was a late, cherished gift.

When Parveen Babi came into the industry, Zeenat Aman was a very big personality in the Hindi film industry. Many people saw the shadow of Zeenat Aman in Parveen Babi, and some even jokingly said that Parveen Babi is the poor people’s Zeenat Aman.

Parveen Babi

She was one of the boldest and successful actresses of her generation. She was also known for her varied film performances. Parveen Babi began her Bollywood career in 1973 with the film Charitra. Following this, she appeared in films such as Majboor, Deewar, Amar Akbar Anthony, Kala Patthar, Suhaag, Kranti, Kalia, Razia Sultan, and Idasa.

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Parveen Babi

A Childhood of Contrasts

Growing up in a sprawling bungalow near Gir Forest, Parveen was a dreamer. She’d wander the estate, sketching designs and losing herself in books—English poetry was her escape. But privilege came with shadows—her father’s death when she was six left her and her mother in a quiet, reflective life. That loss? It shaped her resilience.

Education and Awakening

Parveen shone at St. Xavier’s High School in Junagadh and then moved to Ahmedabad for college. At St. Xavier’s College, she studied English Literature and graduated in the early ‘70s. Her Bohra Muslim roots clashed with her modern vibe—jeans, boots, and a free spirit. It was here, at a college fest, that director B.R. Ishara spotted her, changing her fate.

Bollywood Beginnings: A Star is Born

Debut in Charitra

In 1973, Parveen stepped into Bollywood with Charitra. At 24, she was raw—long legs, sharp cheekbones, and a Western flair that stood out. The film flopped, but her screen test for Majboor (1974) with Amitabh Bachchan turned heads. Playing Neela, she sparkled, and Bollywood took notice.

Early Hits and Glamour

By 1975, Deewaar cemented her as a sensation. As Anita, a bar dancer romancing Amitabh’s Vijay, she was bold—smoking, drinking, loving without apology. That year, Kaala Sona with Feroz Khan added action to her resume. Her style—cropped tops, bell-bottoms—became a trend. I still swoon over her Deewaar looks—pure fire.

Parveen Babi demonstrated the power of her superb acting in these films. Aside from films, she was frequently questioned about her personal life. Parveen Babi’s name was linked to several well-known artists of the time. Actors such as Kabir Bedi, Mahesh Bhatt, and Danny Denzongpa admired her. Not only that, but Kabir Bedi had decided to abandon his wife in favour of Parveen Babi.

Real NameParveen Moammed Ali | Parveen Wali Mohammad Khan Babi 
ProfessionActress, Model, and Interior Designer
HeightCentimeters– 170 cm
Meters– 1.70 m
Feet – 5’ 7”
Eye ColourBlack
Hair ColourBlack
DebutCharitra (1973)
Last FilmIraada (1991)
Date of Birth4 April 1949 (Monday)
BirthplaceJunagadh, Gujarat
Date of Death22 January 2005 (Saturday)
Place of DeathSeventh-floor house in Palm Beach, Riviera Heights, Juhu in Mumbai
Age (at the time of death)55 Years
Death CauseMultiple Organ Failure caused by Diabetes 
Zodiac signAries
NationalityIndian
HometownJunagadh, Gujarat
SchoolMount Carmel High School, Ahmedabad
College/UniversitySt. Xavier’s College, Ahmedabad
Educational QualificationBachelor of Arts in English Literature 
ReligionMuslim (By Birth)
The Christian faith (Converted) -She was christened at Malabar Hill’s Protestant Anglican Church.
Food HabitNon-Vegetarian 
AddressSeventh-floor house in Palm Beach, Riviera Heights, Juhu in Mumbai (at the time of her death)
HobbiesPlaying the piano, painting, and reading literature
Relationships & More
Marital Status (at the time of death)Unmarried
Affairs/Boyfriends• Siddharth Bhattacharjee
• Amitabh Bachchan 
• Danny Denzongpa
• Kabir Bedi
• Mahesh Bhatt (Director)
• Abdul Ella (Businessman) 
Husband/SpouseN/A
ChildrenNone
ParentsFather– Vali Mohammed Khan Babi (System administrator with the Nawab of Junagadh; died in 1959)
Mother– Jamal Bakhte Babi (Died in 2001)
SiblingsNone
Favourite ActorRaj Kapoor, Dev Anand, Feroz Khan, Dilip Kumar, Sanjeev Kumar
FavouriteActressWaheeda Rehman and Meena Kumari
Favourite SingerLata Mangeshkar, Mohammed Rafi, Asha Bhosle
Assets/PropertiesSea-facing flat with four bedrooms in Juhu and a parental haveli in Junagadh  
Jewellery and deposits worth Rs 20 lakh in banks plus other investments. 

The Golden Years: Bollywood’s Glamour Queen

Blockbusters with Big B

The late ‘70s were Parveen’s reign. Amar Akbar Anthony (1977) cast her as Jenny, a chic Christian girl in a comedy classic. Kaala Patthar (1979) and Suhaag (1979) paired her with Amitabh again—each a hit. Her chemistry with him? Electric. Fans dubbed her his lucky charm, and I get why—those films still feel timeless.

Versatility Shines

She wasn’t just glamour. Shaan (1980) gave her Sunita, a stylish foil to Shashi Kapoor. The Burning Train (1980) had her as Seema, poised amid chaos. Kaalia (1981) turned her into Shalini, fierce and loving. Her dance in Namak Halaal (1982)—“Raat Baaki”—is etched in my memory, all sequins and sass.

A Personal Reflection

I watched Amar Akbar Anthony with my mom—she’d gush over Parveen’s elegance. That’s when I fell for her too—her vibe was effortless, her star power undeniable.

Kabir Bedi

This is revealed in the actor’s biography, ‘Stories I Must Tell: The Emotional Life of the Actor.’ Nobody can ever forget Kabir Bedi and Parveen Babi’s love story.

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These two had been dating for a long time. In his biography, Kabir Bedi revealed that living in an open marriage with his wife, Protima Gupta, was initially very beneficial but later caused him more problems.

parveen babi

This reduced their closeness, according to Kabir Bedi. He didn’t feel the love he desired, and he expressed his feelings of loneliness and emptiness. On the other hand, Parveen Babi was a person in her life who filled the void left by Kabir Bedi’s loneliness.

He wrote ‘Protima Gupta and I had an open marriage,’ the actor wrote in his book. It felt good at first, but there came a point when I became very restless because our closeness had come to an end. I was starting to feel lonely because I didn’t have the love and affection I needed. Parveen Babi gradually filled this void over time.’

Mahesh Bhatt and Parveen Babi

The love story of Mahesh Bhatt and Parveen Babi is said to have begun in 1977, when she broke up with her then-boyfriend, Kabir Bedi. While nursing a broken heart, she became attached to Mahesh, a common friend of the couple. As he comforted her, they grew closer and eventually fell in love.

Death

She was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, and she came to light as a result of various incidents related to her mental health as well as diabetes. Babi died on January 20, 2005, as a result of multiple organ failures.

Controversies

Parveen Babi

Parveen had accused several well-known people, including Amitabh Bachchan, Bill Clinton, Robert Redford, Prince Charles, and Al Gore, of plotting her death. Still, she was unable to produce any evidence in this regard, and her accusation was dismissed by the court.

Parveen Babi was also detained by security at John F. Kennedy International Airport in the United States because she could not provide any identification documents and was acting strangely. Authorities had placed her in a general ward with mentally ill patients. However, on the recommendation of the then-Indian Consulate, she was acquitted.

In 1993, Parveen Babi filed an affidavit in which she stated that she had evidence against Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt in the Mumbai bombings case. However, because of her Schizophrenia, she was afraid to leave her house.

Parveen Babi Filmography

YearTitleRoleDirectorNotes
1973CharitraShikhaB. R. IsharaDebut film; portrayed a college student facing familial struggles.
1974MajboorNeeluRavi TandonAn action film with Feroz Khan.
1974Dhuen Ki LakeerUnknownKishore SahuEarly supporting role.
1974Khote SikkayShabnamNarendra BediAn iconic role as a conflicted prostitute, one of Bollywood’s greatest films.
1975DeewaarAnitaYash ChopraPlayed Amitabh Bachchan’s love interest; a blockbuster hit.
1975Kaala SonaDurgaRavi NagaichRomantic thriller opposite Feroz Khan.
1975Do JhootUnknownS. RamanathanLesser-known drama.
1976BulletSapnaVijay AnandAction-packed role with Dev Anand.
1977Amar Akbar AnthonyJennyManmohan DesaiPlayed Amitabh Bachchan’s love interest; blockbuster hit.
1977Chandi SonaRitaSanjay KhanGlamorous role in a crime drama.
1977Khoon PasinaShabnamRakesh KumarAction drama with Vinod Khanna.
1978Muqaddar Ka SikandarSoniaPrakash MehraCameo role in Amitabh Bachchan’s cult classic.
1979SuhaagAnuManmohan DesaiStarred with Shashi Kapoor; box-office success.
1979Kaala PattharAnitaYash ChopraMining disaster drama with an ensemble cast.
1980ShaanSunitaRamesh SippyStylish action-thriller with Shashi Kapoor.
1981KrantiSureliManoj KumarPatriotic epic set during British rule.
1982Namak HalaalNishaPrakash MehraMemorable comedy with Amitabh Bachchan; iconic songs.
1982AshantiSunitaUmesh MehraAction film inspired by Charlie’s Angels; co-starred Zeenat Aman.
1982Yeh NazdeekiyanKiranVinod PandeControversial erotic drama.
1983MahaanManjuS. RamanathanShared screen with Amitabh Bachchan and Zeenat Aman.
1983Razia SultanKhakunKamal AmrohiHistorical drama about India’s first female ruler.
1985Bond 303KavitaRavikant NagaichSpy thriller; lesser-known project.
1985TelephoneAnitaP. ChandraHorror-thriller about a haunted phone line.
1988AkarshanSpecial AppearanceTanvir AhmedFinal film before retirement.
1991IradaUnknownUnknownThe first collaboration with Amitabh Bachchan was commercial success.
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