Parveen Babi was born on April 4, 1949 in Junagadh and completed her early schooling in Aurangabad and later attended St. Xavier`s College in Ahmedabad. Parveen Babi was born to Vali Mohammed Babi, a Gujarati Muslim. He was an administrator with the Nawab of Junagadh. Parveen Babi was born as a late child; fourteen years after the marriage of her parents and was their only child.
Career of Parveen Babi
Parveen Babi was known as one of the most successful Bollywood actresses during the 1970s. She made her film debut with B R Ishara`s film Charitra opposite cricketer Salim Durrani in 1973. She was different from the other contemporary actresses for her portrayal of iconoclastic women. She was the first Indian actress who was featured on TIME magazine`s cover, in 1975. She was paired opposite the stalwart of Indian films - Amitabh Bachchan in majority of her films. They worked together in the cinematic blockbusters like Deewaar (1975) Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), Kaalia (1981), Shaan (1980), and Khuddaar (1982).
Parveen Babi shared her screen with Zeenat Aman in films like Mahaan (1983) and Ashanti (1981), with Vinod Khanna in The Burning Train, with Jeetendra in Meri Aawaaz Suno and others. The American TV show Charlie`s Angels inspired the latter film and Shabana Azmi played the third role. In films like Deewar (1975), Shaan (1980) and Namak Halaal (1982) her screen presence was minimal and the films mainly received the hype because of the hero. However, Parveen Babi attracted her audiences in a special charm and showed her expressive capabilities in the songs she appeared in. In Manoj Kumar`s big hit Kranti (1981), she appeared to be much more prominent in her supporting role that the lead actress Hema Malini. Parveen Babi also acted in offbeat films like Yeh Nazdeekiyan (1982) by Vinod Pandey.
Later Life of Parveen Babi
Parveen Babi was active in the Indian film industry until mid-eighties, and then she had left the film industry to move to New York in 1983. Many of her completed films released in the following years and her last film was released in 1988. She became associated with the spiritual philosopher U. G. Krishnamurti in New York. In 1992, she again returned to Mumbai. After much investigation, it was reported that Parveen Babi suffered from schizophrenia and had become a loner. She lived in her posh penthouse apartment in Mumbai. Mahesh Bhatt made the film Arth (1982), a semi-autobiographical film focusing on his extramarital relationship with Parveen Babi and Woh Lamhe (2006) depicted actual facts about their relationship.
The Indian film industry lost Parveen Babi on January 20, 2005. The death of Parveen Babi was probably due to the complications of her untreated diabetes and the gangrene on her feet. She possibly died in her sleep and was buried next to her mother at Santa Cruz, in Mumbai on January 23 according to Islamic rites.
Filmography of Parveen Babi
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)
