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.

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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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 Name	Parveen Moammed Ali | Parveen Wali Mohammad Khan Babi
Profession	Actress, Model, and Interior Designer
Height	Centimeters– 170 cm Meters– 1.70 m Feet – 5’ 7”
Eye Colour	Black
Hair Colour	Black
Debut	Charitra (1973)
Last Film	Iraada (1991)
Date of Birth	4 April 1949 (Monday)
Birthplace	Junagadh, Gujarat
Date of Death	22 January 2005 (Saturday)
Place of Death	Seventh-floor house in Palm Beach, Riviera Heights, Juhu in Mumbai
Age (at the time of death)	55 Years
Death Cause	Multiple Organ Failure caused by Diabetes
Zodiac sign	Aries
Nationality	Indian
Hometown	Junagadh, Gujarat
School	Mount Carmel High School, Ahmedabad
College/University	St. Xavier’s College, Ahmedabad
Educational Qualification	Bachelor of Arts in English Literature
Religion	Muslim (By Birth) The Christian faith (Converted) -She was christened at Malabar Hill’s Protestant Anglican Church.
Food Habit	Non-Vegetarian
Address	Seventh-floor house in Palm Beach, Riviera Heights, Juhu in Mumbai (at the time of her death)
Hobbies	Playing 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/Spouse	N/A
Children	None
Parents	Father– Vali Mohammed Khan Babi (System administrator with the Nawab of Junagadh; died in 1959) Mother– Jamal Bakhte Babi (Died in 2001)
Siblings	None
Favourite Actor	Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand, Feroz Khan, Dilip Kumar, Sanjeev Kumar
FavouriteActress	Waheeda Rehman and Meena Kumari
Favourite Singer	Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammed Rafi, Asha Bhosle
Assets/Properties	Sea-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.

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 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

Year	Title	Role	Director	Notes
1973	Charitra	Shikha	B. R. Ishara	Debut film; portrayed a college student facing familial struggles.
1974	Majboor	Neelu	Ravi Tandon	An action film with Feroz Khan.
1974	Dhuen Ki Lakeer	Unknown	Kishore Sahu	Early supporting role.
1974	Khote Sikkay	Shabnam	Narendra Bedi	An iconic role as a conflicted prostitute, one of Bollywood’s greatest films.
1975	Deewaar	Anita	Yash Chopra	Played Amitabh Bachchan’s love interest; a blockbuster hit.
1975	Kaala Sona	Durga	Ravi Nagaich	Romantic thriller opposite Feroz Khan.
1975	Do Jhoot	Unknown	S. Ramanathan	Lesser-known drama.
1976	Bullet	Sapna	Vijay Anand	Action-packed role with Dev Anand.
1977	Amar Akbar Anthony	Jenny	Manmohan Desai	Played Amitabh Bachchan’s love interest; blockbuster hit.
1977	Chandi Sona	Rita	Sanjay Khan	Glamorous role in a crime drama.
1977	Khoon Pasina	Shabnam	Rakesh Kumar	Action drama with Vinod Khanna.
1978	Muqaddar Ka Sikandar	Sonia	Prakash Mehra	Cameo role in Amitabh Bachchan’s cult classic.
1979	Suhaag	Anu	Manmohan Desai	Starred with Shashi Kapoor; box-office success.
1979	Kaala Patthar	Anita	Yash Chopra	Mining disaster drama with an ensemble cast.
1980	Shaan	Sunita	Ramesh Sippy	Stylish action-thriller with Shashi Kapoor.
1981	Kranti	Sureli	Manoj Kumar	Patriotic epic set during British rule.
1982	Namak Halaal	Nisha	Prakash Mehra	Memorable comedy with Amitabh Bachchan; iconic songs.
1982	Ashanti	Sunita	Umesh Mehra	Action film inspired by Charlie’s Angels; co-starred Zeenat Aman.
1982	Yeh Nazdeekiyan	Kiran	Vinod Pande	Controversial erotic drama.
1983	Mahaan	Manju	S. Ramanathan	Shared screen with Amitabh Bachchan and Zeenat Aman.
1983	Razia Sultan	Khakun	Kamal Amrohi	Historical drama about India’s first female ruler.
1985	Bond 303	Kavita	Ravikant Nagaich	Spy thriller; lesser-known project.
1985	Telephone	Anita	P. Chandra	Horror-thriller about a haunted phone line.
1988	Akarshan	Special Appearance	Tanvir Ahmed	Final film before retirement.
1991	Irada	Unknown	Unknown	The first collaboration with Amitabh Bachchan was commercial success.