Parveen Babi was an Indian actress. She was born in Junagadh and did her early schooling in Aurangabad and later attended St. Xavier's College, Ahmedabad. Her father Vali Mohammed Babi, a Gujarati Muslim, was an administrator with the Nawab of Junagadh. Babi was born fourteen years after the marriage of her parents and was an only child.

She was one of the most successful Bollywood actresses in the 1970s and was known for her portrayal of strong women who did not care about the conventional norms of society. Parveen Babi, a screen rival of Zeenat Aman.

Parveen Babi was launched by one of the most controversial directors of his times - B R Ishara - and her leading man too made his debut in this very film. The leading man was cricketer Salim Durrani. The film was 'Charitra'.

As often happens a sexy Parveen Babi who had displayed all her assets in the film was lapped up despite being a mediocre actress but a stiff Salim Durrani didn't find any takers for him. Babi's success can be attributed to her being media savvy. She didn't just reveal. She made it a point to figure in the gossip columns of all glossies, providing sensational interviews and a controversial life style. Babi baby was among the first of the mod crowd, popularly known as crowd. She might not have been the first to openly smoke and drink but Babi surely was the first to openly take drugs!

And along with Danny, Kabir Bedi, Protima, Mahesh Bhatt and others she advocated free love too!

Her marriage with Kabir Bedi, however, caused a major scandal. Kabir was already married. Though he and wife Protima advocated an open relationship, the wife couldn't take her husband's walkout. She maintained a stiff upper lip, though and even announced her engagement with I S Johar. But this all and drugs affected her mind. She suffered from schizophrenia and at least twice, disappeared from the industry.

In the late 1970s, Babi had a tumultuous, widely-publicised affair with Mahesh Bhatt. When, in 1982, Bhatt made a sensational film, Arth, based on his affair with Parveen Babi, with Smita Patil playing Babi's role, she was deeply affected.
 

This new Babi was a different person. She had put on weight and still hallucinated. She issued a signed press release, in which, among other things she accused Amitabh Bachchan of plotting to murder her. No one wanted a heroine who had lost her marbles, and gained fat instead. Not even if she was Parveen Babi. Distinctly overweight, it was difficult to recognise Parveen Babi in the last one-third of her life.
 

A semi-autobiographical film about his extra-marital relationship with Babi, and Woh Lamhe (2006) based on actual facts about his relationship with her. These experiences triggered of schizophrenia which was not completely treated or supported and ultimately resulted in her final loneliness without any support system.

As far as the film industry was concerned, Parveen Babi died a long time ago after she was reportedly diagnosed as schizophrenic. In recent years, one seldom heard or saw her except for an appearance on Shekhar Suman's talk show a year ago, where she appeared as normal as could be.
 

“People said that Praveen Khala has stopped opening door for any one, but she will always remain our loving aunt, who warmly insist that we come and visit her. The last time when I was in Mumbai, she called me over and showered my children Murtaza and Ahtesham with love and gifts. She was the best”, said a teary Nasreen Babi, whose mother Rahim Sultan Bibi and mother-in-law were Parveen’s cousins.

Parveen Babi died a lonely, isolated death. Parveen Babi may have died on Friday. Parveen Babi was found dead in her Mumbai apartment on January 20, 2005 after her residential society secretary complained to the police that she had not collected milk and newspapers from her doorstep for two days. Parveen Babi was found to have gangrene of the foot as a complication of her diabetic condition. The police ruled out any foul play. She was buried next to her mother at Santa Cruz, in Mumbai on January 23, after her funeral was made according to Islamic teachings.

Babi's most glorious moment was when she was featured on the cover of Time magazine in 1976 to represent the new face of Hindi cinema.

Then, suddenly, everything began to go wrong for this defiant girl. According to her close friends, Babi began to lose her mind.

ABOUT HER SELF :

Birth name: Parveen Wali Mohammad Khan Babi
Date of Birth: 4 April 1949
Date of death: 20 January 2005
Height: 5'7" or 1.70 m
City: Junagadh
Country: India
Father: Vali Mohammed Babi
Religion: muslim
Marital status: single
Ex-boyfriend: Mahesh Bhatt, Kabir Bedi, Danny Denzongpa.
Education: St. Xavier's College, Ahmedabad
Other facts: she was born fourteen years after the marriage of her parents and was the only child
Hobbies: interior decoration
Occupation: bollywood actress
Debut Film: Charitra

FILMOGRAPHY :

Akarshan (1988)
Avinash (1986)
Sitamgar (1985)
Amir Aadmi Gareeb Aadmi (1985)
Telephone (1985)
Bad Aur Badnaam (1984)
Kanoon Meri Mutthi Mein (1984)
Film Hi Film (1983)
Rang Birangi (1983)
Door-desh (1983)
Arpan (1983)
Chor Police (1983)
Jaani Dost (1983)
Mahaan (1983)
Razia Sultan (1983)
Dil... Akhir Dil Hai (1982)
Ashanti (1982)
Desh Premee (1982)
Khud-Daar (1982)
Mangal Pandey (1982)
Namak Halaal (1982)
Taaqat (1982)
Yeh Nazdeekiyan (1982)
Meri Aawaz Suno (1981)
Ahista Ahista (1981)
Khoon Aur Paani (1981)
Kranti (1981)
Kaalia (1981)
Raksha (1981)
Shaan (1980)
Do Aur Do Paanch (1980)
Abdullah (1980)
The Burning Train (1980)
Ek Gunah Aur Sahi (1980)
Gunehgaar (1980)
Suhaag (1979)
Kaala Patthar (1979)
Aahuti (1978)
Pati Patni Aur Woh (1978)
Amar Akbar Anthony (1977)
Chalta Purza (1977)
Chandi Sona (1977)
Chor Sipahi (1977)
Darinda (1977)
Mastan Dada (1977)
Bullet (1976)
Bhanwar (1976)
Mazdoor Zindabaad (1976)
Deewaar (1975)
Kala Sona (1975)
Majboor (1974)
36 Ghante (1974)
Charitraheen (1974)
Dhuen Ki Lakeer (1974)
Trimurti (1974)
Charitra (1973)